Over the past month students and teachers at Waterford High School have seen a trend in students with hacky sacks. Groups of students find their way to the hallway before class and spend entire lunch periods outside hacking away.
Mrs. Moore, assistant principal, said, “I love seeing hacky sack make a comeback; It’s been really fun to watch students out there during lunch talking, laughing, and just enjoying being together”. She also adds, “Any time students are putting their phones down and connecting with each other in a positive way, that’s a win.”
Students nationwide have taken to social media and started making their own leagues and tournaments. Hacky sack is said to have blown up after students at New England prep schools posted videos online of people hacky sacking. These videos went viral and the first league was started: The NEPSACK, an amazing play on words of the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC).
Waterford has its own “official” student team in the CIACSACK, consisting of around 40 other student-made town teams.
All of the teams post videos online of their best rally on TikTok but also Instagram. Teams are ranked and videos are reviewed by the community, but groups have to be aware of certain banned and illegal moves. The “chicken wing” (hitting the sack from the elbow and below) and the “Umbrella/Trampoline” (bouncing the sack off of a shirt) have both been ruled Illegal nation-wide. A controversial ban of the shoe “Hey Dudes” has been put in place. It bounced back and forth leaving it to the state’s decision before ultimately being completely banned by the National Sack Federation.
Aside from the illegal moves and controversial bans, the hacky sack community thrives. Almost every post features the hashtag “#Spreadsacknothate” and “#Oneloveonesack” focusing on coming together and spreading positivity. Two of the most well known hacky sack creators @hackysacktrav and @kirkuleez1 have been helping spread positivity also.
The CIACSACK locked in 40 teams for the first ever CIACSACK season. The season consists of five regular season games, the top 32 teams ranked on wins and losses will qualify for the playoffs. Teams will have showdowns until one is crowned the CIACSACK Champion! Matchups are released by the CIACSACK account and each team has 24 hours to send in their best rally. Whoever has the better rally, based on creativity, skill, execution and teamwork will win.
Waterford took on the number one team in the state; Weston Trojans (@trojans.sack) and were handed a loss. Freshman Griffin Fiano said, “I think there was some controversy on the call, but overall we can always be better.” Waterford Sack since has had a match against the week two number one seed Fairfield Prep and were handed their second loss. Waterford Sack has had to forfeit their past couple of games due to lack of video submissions from students. Additionally, the administration has started to note how many hacks had to be rescued. Students have gotten them stuck in the rafters, stairs, and even the roof of the school!
From quick hallway games to long lunch rallies, students from all grades can be found coming together to play hacky sack. The recent rise in popularity has turned free time, especially lunch periods, into a space where students can come together and unwind. What started as a simple game has quickly grown into a shared experience across the school, bringing a new sense of energy and community to everyday routines.
