A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO FOOTBAG
Freestyle street footbag
The basic aim of the game of freestyle footbag (also known as hacky sack) is to stop the footbag from touching the ground by using your feet, legs, head, chest and shoulders to keep it in the air. It can be played on your own (this is a great way of practising new moves) or with a group of others (the best way to have fun and get inspired). Playing in a circle, one player will pick the footbag up and throw it to someone else to begin the game. All the players then work together to keep it in the air by passing it from person to person. If you are feeling good at this point, the time is right to pull out your advanced moves and impress the group!
The rules
We have put together some loose rules for playing with your friends on the street. These are not officially recognised rules but are the standard codes of practice that we think true footbag players should stick to:
- Keep the footbag in the air without using your hands or arms.
- When starting off a game, always throw the footbag to someone else in the circle - never serve to yourself.
- No apologising if you are the one who lets the footbag hit the floor. This will happen often and footbag is about encouraging new styles, not making people too nervous to play!
- Don't be afraid to try new tricks! A basic trick from someone who is learning the ropes is applauded just as much as an advanced trick from an experienced player.
- And last but not least, the game is all about having fun - advance your skills and show off your latest moves with a smile on your face.
BASIC FOOTBAG MOVES
The pictures below show four basic footbag moves. Once you are proficient at using these, you will put yourself in a great position to begin to introduce more advanced tricks into your play.
The first four pictures demonstrate the main areas of the body that are used for both kicking and 'stalling' the footbag. Stalls are performed in the same way as a standard kick but allow the footbag to stop still on an area of your body rather than travelling back up to you or on to one of your fellow players.
A useful tip when kicking the footbag (either with the inside, outside or top of your foot) is that a lot of the power needed can be generated by using a 'flick' of your foot and ankle, rather than a swing of the leg (as you would with a football for instance).
When stalling the footbag, try to move your foot downwards just as the footbag reaches it. This will cause your foot to cushion its fall rather than letting it bounce off.
The second four pictures demonstrate some more advanced stalls and moves to try.
If you need any further help or advice about using your footbag, please contact us and we will do our best to help you out!
KICKING AND STALLING THE FOOTBAG WITH YOUR KNEE
This is probably the easiest move to begin with as your knee has a large area to catch and/or kick the footbag with. To practise this move, stand on one leg with the opposite leg positioned as shown in the picture and drop the footbag down towards your knee. Begin by simply kicking the footbag back up and catching it, then advance to kicking it more than once.
To stall the footbag on your knee, drop the footbag and try to move your knee slightly downwards just as the footbag reaches it. This will help to cushion the impact of the footbag, and if you time it right you should be able to make it stop still. You can then jerk your knee upwards to get the footbag moving again or simply lower your knee and let the footbag roll down to your foot to continue playing.
KICKING AND STALLING THE FOOTBAG WITH THE TOP OF YOUR FOOT
To practise this move, stand on one leg with the opposite leg positioned as shown in the picture and drop the footbag down towards your foot. Begin by simply kicking the footbag back up and catching it, then advance to kicking it more than once. To stall the footbag on the top of your foot, drop the footbag and try to move your foot slightly downwards just as the footbag reaches it. This will help to cushion the impact of the footbag and if you time it right you should be able to make it stop still. You can then flick your foot upwards to get the footbag moving again. |
KICKING AND STALLING THE FOOTBAG WITH THE INSIDE OF YOUR FOOT
To practise this move, stand on one leg with the opposite leg positioned as shown in the picture and drop the footbag down towards your foot. Begin by simply kicking the footbag back up and catching it, then advance to kicking it more than once.
To stall the footbag on the inside of your foot, drop the footbag and try to move your foot slightly downwards just as the footbag reaches it. This will help to cushion the impact of the footbag, and if you time it right you should be able to make it stop still. You can then flick your lower leg and foot upwards to get the footbag moving again.
KICKING AND STALLING THE FOOTBAG WITH THE OUTSIDE OF YOUR FOOT
To practise this move, stand on one leg with the opposite leg positioned as shown in the picture and drop the footbag down towards your foot. Begin by simply kicking the footbag back up and catching it, then advance to kicking it more than once.
To stall the footbag on the outside of your foot, drop the footbag and try to move your foot slightly downwards just as the footbag reaches it. This will help to cushion the impact of the footbag, and if you time it right you should be able to make it stop still. You can then flick your lower leg and foot upwards to get the footbag moving again.
TOP OF THE HEAD STALL
To do this move, make sure you keep your head as straight as possible with your eyes level with the horizon. Move your head down as the footbag falls onto it in order to cushion its fall.
NECK STALL
This move is done in the same way as the stall on your head, only you have to lean right forward to give the footbag a flat space to rest on the back of your neck.
KICKING AND STALLING THE FOOTBAG WITH THE CLIPPER MOVE
As shown in the picture, this move is very similar to the standard move of kicking (or stalling) the footbag with the inside of your foot, but here you have your kicking foot on the other side of your standing leg. |
BEHIND THE KNEE STALL (THE 'DONKEY' STALL!)
Catch the footbag by bending your leg and trapping the footbag behind your knee as it falls behind you. Release the footbag by straightening your leg very suddenly - if you are playing with friends, make sure there is someone behind you to get it when you do this!
