(These are selected from my favorites from hundreds received and gleaned from the web...)
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The fun and teamwork that is inherent in our game makes footbag by far the best game ever invented. It is truly beautiful in its simplicity. In the circle game (which is how most of us were introduced to it in the first place) everyone is invited to play no matter the skill level, and everyone is automatically on the same team… If I am "hacking" in a circle, I will try to stand next to any beginner to help pick up their shanks. I think this is the big factor in the popularity of the game. It is simple. You attempt to use what initially is a foreign part of your anatomy to keep a small bean bag from hitting the ground. Your circle becomes as many other people as the bag can hypnotize.... I feel that our efforts as pros have been mostly to take the game beyond these simple beginnings. I think that the game speaks for itself.--Steve Dusablon <steve.dusablon@rosequarter.com> |
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"It's a great thing that totally different people can come together in the pure joy of just kicking a little bag. I think that footbag boosts the human spirit and creates a feeling of comraderie and friendship among any group of people." -- Ben Hefferon, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
"...I have been playing footbag for almost 17 years and the themes of peace and understanding are ones my friends and I share. Additionally I have been a scout leader for 5 years and very much appreciate your sharing information to help my young Cubscouts. This is a sport that is very important to me. You see I was in an accident 4 years ago and lost the use of my legs for 18 months. Hacky was an integral part of my recovery after many surgeries and PT. I am very fortunate to have my best friend be a physical therapist and to have him see the benifits, both physical and mental, of incorporating the sport into my ongoing recovery. Also, as a parent I feel within my rights to say your mom would be proud! Take care." -- Rod
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"I work as a computer programmer in a small company. One day I saw a couple of guys in the design department playing with a nerfball. I had never kicked a footbag before this, but I bought a really cheap one and brought it in to show them. Before long we were kicking it around in a circle with people from software, graphics and marketing. Not only have the six of us become good friends, but it makes work more enjoyable and cuts down on stress. We actually feel that we are much more productive since we have been kicking and we have a much more positive attitude about our work... Then, recently we were amazed to see another group of six or seven people playing from another company in the same building!" -- Michael Greuter, Seattle, Wa.
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"When playing we construct a cone of energy around the circle by means of our inspired and concentrated hacking. As the intensity and duration of the play progresses, the cone is raised from its foundations up toward its apex. Occasionally the cone is completed and closed off and we dwell merrily within. This is always our goal: to dwell merrily within. At this time the cone begins to glow pink and red and even throb and vibrate to the exclusion of all outside distractions. A dance of the spirit and a release from worldly bonds into an athletic fairyland of dancing leprechauns and wood nymphs..." -- A Navy Diver, San Diego |
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"Back in Aug. 93, Barb and I took our first vacation together. We weren't engaged yet - this was kind of a big test! The week before the Harrisburg tourney, we set out for Smoky Mt. Nat'l Park.While in the park we drove to the top of Mt Mitchell. At the base of the observation deck I kicked for a few minutes and noticed a family with two young boys stop to watch me. I tossed the bag to one of them and said "here, you try". Soon the three of us had a little circle going and were having some good fun even though we completed very few hacks. They seemed to really enjoy it so as the game broke up I gave them a footbag and told them to keep practicing. About ten minutes later, back at the parking lot I noticed the family head to their car. I saw they were from Mississippi and I waved goodbye. As I was getting into our car I noticed one of the boys running toward me. I hoped his parents were not making him return the footbag and was happy when he handed me a booklet instead. We thanked each other and went our separate ways. The booklet was called 'The Four Spiritual Truths'. It was an episode of giving and sharing that I'll always remember." -- Scott Durphy, Richmond, Va.
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"Daniel, I wanted to drop you a personal line to convey how impressed and moved I was with the "journals" section of the FPI site. I found your descriptions of your journey through Central America alternately depressing and uplifting, and I felt as if I could understand the experiences you relate. I am unreservedly proud of your ad hoc ambassadorship to Central America. I am writing to you to describe a slightly similar set of experiences I have had because you have made me think of footbag in a way that I never had before...
...I am a just-graduated college BS living in central Illinois. I have been playing footbag seriously for about two years, and I am a pretty mediocre intermediate-level player (by WFA standards). However, in local terms, I'm the only thing going. Two summers ago, I was getting bored kicking by myself and frustrated by the fact that none of the "pros" were around to learn from. Even the meager crowd of college kickers was mostly absent. As I kicked alone on the quad to improve my skills, a small group of high school kids started to kick occasionally with me. I began to have cult status -- I was the "hackysack guy"! Footbag was pretty popular at the local high schools, especially with the "alternative" or outcast crowd. Kids who'd never met me would recognize
my Rod Lavers and ask for a performance. This continued through last summer. A lot of the local kids are immature, rowdy, and quick to brag on all manner of subjects and I've often packed up my bag and gone home rather than kick with them. It made me frustrated with the sport and made me callous towards all but a few of the high school kids I met. However, something else happened because of my reputation and the fact that my kicking skills were way ahead of the kids' -- they actually started listening to me...
...For instance, one kid once told me, "Man, rubbers are just for queers- I don't use 'em." You've reminded me that my response to that -- the kind of feedback this kid gets, coming from someone he
looks up to, carries weight to change attitudes.
Lately, I've been volunteering at the
local men's homeless shelter. Meeting the bums, and finding out the stories behind
their situation (which are almost always due to mental illness, drug and alcohol
addiction, or a messy divorce and not simply laziness) has caused a change in my attitudes
that I got along with my comfortable, white upbringing. A few months ago, a couple of
the men who live there saw me out on the quad playing footbag and it became a big hit.
Now, in the cluster of men waiting for the doors to open for dinner time, it's not unusual
to see ten or twelve black men, from 20 to 35 or so, in two circles of footbag. I always
thought of it as a good way to pass the time. So, how perfect -- using footbag as a
positive idea to these men! I think I might just casually bring some thread and suede
with me the next time I go to volunteer. I imagine showing up at the shelter and casually
sewing myself a new bag. "What's that?", "Well, I suppose I brought enough thread
and suede for a few extras... It's not hard at all,
watch this..." And I would make it clear that anyone can kick, but to kick in my circle,
you have to show up sober... Maybe some of the men in the shelter will realize that the
best way to get out of the shelter would be to cooperate with each other, by living
together and sharing expenses. Maybe some of the bright guys (and there are bright
guys) will finally take me up on my open offer to teach computer skills (it is very
difficult to convince a proud, black man of 40 that he has something to learn from a white
kid barely out of his teens). Maybe they'll just get along better and there won't be as
many brawls (which always end up with someone getting banned from the shelter for a
month and sleeping on grates in the interim). I don't know how successful this project
you've put into my head will be, but I have no doubts I can have some sort of positive
influence just by remembering my footbag every time I volunteer...
I had never thought of footbag as more than a personal challenge and way to
meet friends before I read through your page. I'm impressed as hell at what you and
your friends did in Central America, and I've never been prouder to be a footbagger. -- Nick Hall
Third and Fourth Graders Respond to the Footbag Peace Initiative:
"Dear Daniel dog, Thank you for making a footbag with us and my mom likes the swayad leather." -- Sincerly Jamie, age 8
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"Dear Daniel Bodkin, Thank you for coming to help us make hacky sacks. I liked that the hacky sack could be a peacemaker just by playing the game. I thought the game was hard at first but I got really good at it. I hope you come again. It was fun sewing hacky sacks. They were baeutiful hacky sacks!" -- Sincerely, Travis - age 9
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"Dear danny, Thank you for coming to our classroom and sharing your skills and stories about footbag. I didin't know there were so many pople that played footbag. You are really good at footbag. I hope you win at the championship." -- Sincerely, Christine - age 8
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"Dear Daniel, Thank you for teaching me how to play footbag. When I told my mom she said she had a footbag and then we played with it. It was fun. And the song you taught me I memorized. How did you like the cake at the party? I really really liked it. Almost every day I play footbag with my mom and my sister. Thanks!!!" -- Noah Bond - age 8
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