Footbag

From Freepedia

Image:Footbag.jpg A footbag is a small bean bag or sand bag used as a ball in a number of sports and games. It is typically controlled by the feet, but in some sports every part of the body except the hands and arms may be used. The term footbag is also the generic name for the sports which use the footbag. The main varieties are footbag freestyle, footbag net, and circle kick. Both the footbag and the sports that use it are sometimes referred to as hacky sack, hacky-sack, hackysack, or hackey sack.

Footbag, as an organized sport, is governed by the International Footbag Players Association, a non-profit organization. The IFPA hosts a non-commercial, non-profit website at http://www.footbag.org. The rules of professional play, schedule of events, and results of past events are online at the footbag.org website. It's a great resource for contacting people who play in your area, viewing trick demos, and watching footage from competitions.

The same game has also been practiced with a toy called a Koosh Ball.

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History of footbag

Similar games had been played for centuries in Asia (Kemari) and North America. However, modern footbag was conceived by John Stalberger and Mike Marshall in Oregon City, Oregon in 1972. They coined two terms: "hacky sack" (sometimes spelled hackey sack) which referred specifically to their product, and "footbag" which is the generic name for the game and the product. "Hacky sack" is now trademarked by Wham-O and should technically not be used to refer to the game or the bean bag. In reality, the term "hacky sack" is almost always used, and many people have no idea what a "footbag" is.

Equipment

Although some argue that a certain pair of shoes is necessary, the only piece of equipment that is really required in order to play footbag is a footbag. These come in many styles, colors, and varieties. Some footbags have simple cotton exteriors, while others are made of three to fifteen panels of suede. Some are filled with sand; others, plastic pellets. Many footbags have designs on them, either geometric or pictorial (a happy face, for example). Some footbags are specialized for footbag net; these are generally not good for playing freestyle footbag.

Part of the appeal and popularity of footbag is due to this simplicity of equipment. A footbag can be bought for under $5, easily stored in a pocket, and later retrieved for a quick game of freestyle. Most other sports, by comparison, are not nearly as portable.

Of course, advanced equipment is available for those who want or need it. 32-panel footbags filled with sand aid stalling and more complex tricks; these can cost as much as $30. Additionally, many professional players wear Rod Laver tennis shoes while playing.

Footbag freestyle

Footbag freestyle is a footbag sport where players demonstrate their abilities by performing sequences of difficult moves. The performance is judged for choreography, difficulty, variety, and execution.

Freestyle tricks

Tricks performed while playing freestyle are made up of stalls and dexes. A stall is stopping the footbag on some part of the player. The footbag can then be "set" up into the air again. Stalls are usually accomplished on the top of the foot or on the inside in a cross body position (with your leg behind you), although one can also stall a footbag on either side of the foot, the knee, the chest, or the head. Dexing is moving a part of your body around the footbag while it is in the air.

The scoring in footbag is made up of points called "adds" these adds are awarded for a variety of different things such as a delay (stall), a dex (circling the bag), body (ducking the bag, jumping, or spinning), cross body, or unusual surface. Through these different "adds" all of footbag's

Footbag net

In footbag net, players (either playing for themselves, or with a partner) move a footbag back and forth across a five-foot-high net. This game combines elements of tennis, badminton, and volleyball. Specifically, the court dimensions and layout are similar to those of bandminton; the scoring is similar to old scoring system in volleyball (you must be serving to score); and serves must be diagonal, as in tennis. Footbag net games can be played to eleven or fifteen points, although the winners must win by at least two points.

Circle kick

Circle kick is the most common game played with a footbag, and it is the game people usually refer to when they talk about "hacking the sack". Players stand in a circle, do tricks with the footbag, and keep it moving around the circle. A 'hack' is achieved when every person in the circle contributes a kick.

See also:

External links

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