Attack of the sack

As spring weather at Western Washington University arrives, it’s common to see groups of three to eight people standing shoulder to shoulder in the sun on campus lawns, bouncing around a small beanbag. At Western, students love the community this hands-free pastime – known as hacky sack – creates. 

“You can hacky sack with one person or you can hacky sack with 10,” said Cy Bouker, a second-year dual French and business major with over a year of experience hacky sacking at Western.

Bouker said his favorite place to hacky sack is Red Square. With all the foot traffic, finding friends to build a circle with comes naturally.

The sport was invented in 1972 in Oregon by Mike Marshall and John Stalberger. Since then, its popularity has grown among high school and college students across the United States.

High rates of hacky sacking occur in the Pacific Northwest, with players at Western agreeing on a few rules. 

First, no hands are allowed. Consensus holds that anywhere below the elbow is off-limits, meaning heads, hats, hips and chests are all fair game. 

Next, when starting a round of sacking, you can’t throw the bag to your own feet. This is known as a self-serve.

Most sackers agree that the most difficult rule to follow is a no-apology policy. It’s hard to resist the temptation to say “sorry” for missing a perfect pass or for accidentally stepping on your neighbor’s toe. 

Afina Comstock, a third-year engineering major at Western, said that many of her classmates enjoy hacky sacking together. Gathering over 10-minute breaks in classes and labs, they use the activity as a method of relaxation, finding solace from stressful schoolwork in the rhythm of the game. 

“Our whole cohort has gotten so much better since freshman year,” Comstock said. 

While improving their hacky sacking skills, Comstock said she also noticed an increase in social connection.

Stu Montgomery, assistant director of Western’s AS Outdoor Center, places community among the core values of encouraging students to socialize and spend time outdoors. He said that the Outdoor Center constantly considers the importance of fostering belonging when planning events. 

Montgomery has noticed that students who attend outdoor activities together build strong, cohesive friendships. When orchestrating events for the Outdoor Center, community and nature go hand in hand.

Montgomery said that many students choose Western for its direct access to wilderness, especially the tree-lined lawns surrounding academic buildings.

The Western Facilities Development & Operations department is responsible for ensuring suitable areas for students to spend time outdoors. Large grassy areas across campus used for hacky sacking require year-round maintenance, according to Director of Facilities Maintenance & Operations Wayne Galloway.

“A well-designed green space can reduce student stress, improve mental health and enhance cognitive function,” Galloway and his team wrote in an email. 

The department’s commitment is reflected in the ease of creating sacking circles. Bouker and his hacky sack accomplice, second-year Western student Andrew Rohlfing, said they never have difficulty finding a place to hacky sack on campus. 

While the location is important, both sackers place priority on friendship. Regardless of forbidden apologies and excluded body parts, Bouker said one universal rule takes priority in every hacky sack circle: to have fun.

Bouker and Rohlfing encourage every student who passes by to consider joining a circle. They are open to all skill levels and always practice strong sportsmanship. 

“I’ve never met a hacky sacker who’s mean,” Rohlfing said. “Everyone’s friendly. Everyone’s welcome.”

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