“Watch out!”
“Keep your head up!”
“Don’t disrespect the sack!”
These are all things that might be yelled at you when you’re walking through the lower commons, or as the hacky sackers call it—“The Mecca.”
Hacky sack, 0r the “footbag,” is a game where a group forms a circle, and attempts to keep a circular knit ball, filled with beads in the air without using their hands. Notoriously known as a hobby that junior TC Weninger described as “legendary.”
For years, students at LFHS have been playing hacky sack in their free time. As an LFHS student, it is likely there’s a good chance that the sack has affected you in some way.
Usually, it’s played by just a few kids over lunch or during the ten minute passing period. After schools across the country started to make Instagram accounts, where their skills are showcased and schools become ranked, it soon became very competitive, and has spread to over 100kids at LFHS. Every week, Top 20 rankings are released for schools across the country on @is_preps on Instagram.
For many LFHS students, playing hacky sack is an escape in the middle of a busy school day.
“It is a great way to relieve stress from earlier classes and help you energize for more academics,” said senior Ethan Farrell.
Although it has just recently become more popular, the spirit of the sack has lived on through LFHS for some time, bringing many different grades together, uniting people sharing a common interest.
“I remember walking in the door my freshman year of high school, and seeing Murphy Moorhead playing hacky sack with underclassman in the lower commons,” said senior Adler Schlacher.
Hacky sack is also highlighted as a great way to make new friends and meet new faces.
“You can just go find a random circle, and start sacking with people you’ve never met before, and turn them into your best friends,” said freshman Liam Georgi.
Many talented sackers have come out of LFHS, and remembered for their skills, causing the sack to not be forgotten at our school.
“Will Frentzas was a true pioneer of hacky sack, he changed it at Lake Forest. Probably one of the best players I have ever seen touch a hacky sack,” said junior Jack Bruhn.
Although hacky sack seems to have benefits for many kids, it can crowd hallways, causing people to have to squeeze past them when trying to get to class.
“When people are playing hacky sack, they lose their sense of awareness for others—and will run into you or even hit you. My friend was hit with the sack a few days ago,” said senior Bridget Diem.
Not only are students affected by hacky sack, but teachers as well. Kids are asking to leave early to play sack and also showing up late, coming from playing.
“I have had many teacher complaints regarding hacky sack, and I am not against the game, I just think people need to consider the time and place. Outside and not during class,” said Dean of Students, Laura Clegg. “They get caught up in the game which is understandable.”
Since AP Testing is starting in May, administration is working to find a place where hacky sack can be played, since the lower commons (The Mecca), will not be an option during a testing period.
“We are encouraging students to have fun, but with testing we can’t have it being played inside the building. Anywhere outside in the front of the school is great,” said Dean of Students, Frank Lesniak.
Playing hacky sack in the hallways has also raised concerns, as the school is under construction, and there are brand new breakable objects.
“This is not a war on hacky sack, but we are in a high school that has just spent almost 100 million dollars redone. I don’t have a problem with them playing in the designated area, but there is a lot of valuable and fragile stuff in these new hallways,” said English teacher, Peter Lubliner.
Hacky sack can be very beneficial for students, but also raises concerns. The school wants there to be a way for students to have fun, but also be safe and maintain education.
“I think movement and fun is great, and I don’t want to ban it, but just remember time and place,” said Dean Clegg.
