What is the culture of footbag?

[The Awed Observer]

I'm a student at a college doing a project where I have to intergrate myself into a culture I'm not familiar with. Recently I met someone who is in to footbag. I was amazed by all the stuff he had to say and the passion he has for the sport. Of course I had seen "hackey sack" in front of school, and being raised by hippies but I didn't realize how big, important, and interesting footbagging really is. From what I've been able to tell this is a really tight community and I'm interested in knowing how serious footbaggers feel about the sport, why this is a culture to you, how you feel about the footbagging community, and how footbagging has influenced your life. Thanks for taking a few moments of shredding time to help a clueless chick understand this amazing phenomenon

[shredzilla]

Eh, we're not really that serious about it...

Haha, no really it's a complete lifestyle. I guess it's like a lot of other things, but when you take footbag seriously it becomes every part of your life. From just wearing lavers (shred shoes), to stitching your own footbags, to basically shredding 2 hours a day, making videos of your progress, competing, and reaching different levels of play.

I just wanted to take this opportunity to mention that footbaggers are some of the most dedicated people I've ever met. The ammount of time that goes into beoming guiltless (for the average player) is so far removed from hackysack that it's boggling sometimes. It really takes a love and passion for the sport.

[Zeb Jackson]

I cant even begin to tell you how much EVERYBODY here is dedicated to footbagging! There are soo many people here that just live,breathe,talk,watch, and do everything, as footbag is apart of it!

its an awesome sport where you can progress and become an awesome shredder, and where you can see other people like you that have accomplished goals that you never thought possible for them! Almost everybody here treats everybody else like family.... I will tell you a story about when i first got into the freestlye sport of footbag....

Me, Kyle Hewitt, and Zac Jackson were traveling to boise idaho for the first time ever just so we could shred with pro's of this great sport (which up until about 2 hours later we have never even spoken to them in our lives!) We contacted them through this forum and they gave us thier home number, so we called them when we had gotten to boise, and they gave us directions to thier house.
When we finally arrived at thier house they greeted us like we were good friends or something, always offering us stuff and asking us whats been going on and so forth. But yeah later after about 3 or 4 hours of shredding they had asked us where we were staying, (we were staying with another friend), but none the less they asked us if we wanted to stay at thier house with them and one of the shredders family....This was really tempting but we already had plans of staying somewere else.
After we left i felt like we had a bond, but then i realized that bond was already there because a lot of people here feel like good friends, and half of them have never even seen thier friends in person, but given the opportunity they would gladly shred together, so that they could have fun , share stories, share tricks and just have fun in general!

so yeah footbag is more of one BIG giant worldwide community

Note: as a way of life: when we were shredding at these peoples house, they had the biggest room of thier house devoted to footbagging (the freedom room) its there that they spend most of thier time shredding with firneds and with others...and in that room was well over 100 or more footbags...

so yeah i thought i would share that story because it was a fun trip, and it was relevant to the subject

Edit: to help you more understand what freestyle footbag is like, i recommend looking at all the amazing videos we have to offer on this site
look in the videos forum for them im shre they will help you in some way

- you might also wanna start learning footbag to see why people think its so interesting and fun, and why they spend so many painstaking hours learning the tricks that they know. hopefully this will help ;P

[Kljopa]

Hey
Im Aleksei im playing footbag for about a month i live in Estonia but im russian and i rarely saw anyone play footbag in my town.But month before my friend bought a bag and we played sometimes outside.Later my other friend gave me hi's hook sawned bag.I've started my trainings.I brought my footbag to school.At first only some of my classmates and me played.Now alot of people from different grades play in their own group from the sixth 6th grade to 11th where i am.This week some of the girls from our class asked to play with us i was really happy to see that people like footbag,but sadly i am the only one who loves it but i'll try to share the love with them.Today i gave away my hook sawned bag to my best friend he wanted to play on the breaks in his school ,i ordered a new bag a few weeks ago so i was happy to spread the sport .Ilja stitched me a 32th paneled bag with the custom green-yellow-red flag colour.Ilja is a good player from Estonia his is playing for 4 years now and he is a very talanted stitcher hi's bags are perfect! My attitude to this sport is serious i spent a lot of time training everyday.I want to feel the flow of shreding,catch it and improvise tricks it's like a way to express yourself.If you see a guy shreding on a summer evening from a far you might think that he is doing somekind of a dance.I believe that footbag is a culture for both men and women,i would be amazed to see a girl perform long steady strings.I believe girls think that its unreal to learn but it isn't you just need to be patient.When i've only started my trainings i found a footbag school article on a russian website.I've joined the small but very friendly community.As you see i've joined modified too,but i dont post much.Im looking forward to expand this sport in my school and even maybe my town.
My life changed when i started to play hackey sack.Suprisingly i've started to study better i was always to lazzy to study but still had normal grades untill the 11th class.And now im doing very good.Also i think about quiting smoking i ought to.

[mtoolan]

You cannot possibly comprehend unless you play footbag.

[Troyson]

The single greatest decision of my life was to start playing footbag. I am so glad that i have discovered this unique sport and all these great people. There are so many people i have met through this site that i have never seen in person, yet i feel like ive known them forever. The footbag community is such a unique, tightly knit group of people and its just amazing! I love footbag and i look forward to where it will bring me in life!

[King Monkey]

Footbag is a pretty unique sport in that the community is such that you can travel almost anywhere in the world, and if that part of the world has footbaggers in it then you instantly have something in common with those people. Whether you speak their language or not, no matter what race or background you come from, you are almost always welcomed into their circle and can speak with your feet.

Generally that leads to awesome parties and awesome friendships too, and thanks to footbag and i have friends all over Europe and Australia, New Zealand and other countries.
Its also unique in that you can quite easily go to another country and catch up with the best players in your sport. I mean, how many basketballers can say they shared a joint or had a beer with Jordan or Shaq? In footbag your heros are like an email away.

[sen]

Here's an essay I wrote about a week ago.

You might find it helpful.


FOOTBAG

Hacky Sack is a past time where players try to keep a small bag in the air. It is often played in a circle. Footbag is a sport that has grown and evolved out of that past time. It involves keeping a small bag in the air while dexing and spinning around it. It is full of technical components and tons of style. Footbag is the sport and Hacky Sack is now a brand of footbag; A bad brand meant to be nothing more than a toy.
Something great about the sport of Footbag is the community. There a few forums online (my favourite being http://www.modified.ca) where players of all levels can go and talk to the pros, getting tips, watching videos and discussing the sport we love. It’s great to go online and post about a cool run you just hit and then check back later and see that some great players have given you props! Another aspect of the community comes from how close the players are. It’s a young sport and compared to most sports in the world it is played by few people. Therefore the players have a special bond with one another. At any given Competition or Event you can probably find a local player with complete strangers staying at there house. The only thing they have in common is the love of footbag.
Competition is usually friendly and not a fierce race to win. All the competitors continue to show great sportsmanship and that community feeling really shines through. Most competitions include some of or all of the following events: Routines, Shred30, Sick1, and Sick3. Some of these events are also included in an Online competition.
Freestyle Routines is really the most expressive form of competition. It could be compared to Free Skate in Figure Skating because the player can really do whatever they want and creativity and artistic appearance are rewarded. Routines are choreographed to music and are usually two minutes in length. This form of competition is often used to determine who the worlds best freestyle player is. This is a judged event.
Shred30 is a timed event where the player must do as many technical tricks within 30 seconds. There is a scoring formula that takes into account the number of contacts, the number of components within each contact, the number of unique tricks performed and the number of drops. These are then calculated and a score is given. This is a technically scored event.
The Sick1 and Sick3 competitions are very similar to each other. The Sick1 is where each player does one of the biggest tricks they can hit. They have a set number of tries to hit the trick and if they hit it and still tries left they can hit something else. Often the player will do something they are comfortable with first, just so they “have it in the bank.” And then try for a harder move. Sick3 is the same thing only with each player linking 3 big moves together. These are judged events.
Modified (http://www.modified.ca) has some competitions that run bi-monthly. The common ones they have sick1 and sick3 as they are short (shorter video’s to download) and relatively easy to judge. Any member on modified can enter these competitions. Then Nic Bathgate compiles the video’s that are sent to him into the different Categories for each event (Open Sick1, Open Sick3, Novice Sick1, and Novice Sick3). After the video has been released for a while and the pre-selected judges have submitted there ranking, the final ranking is released. Last month I took 16th in Open Sick1 And 11th in Open Sick3. This was actually really good, considering I expected to be in the Novice division. All the results and the videos can be seen at http://www.modified.ca/footbag/viewtopic.php?t=11993.
Most Events don’t have enough funding to make big cash prizes. Therefore if players want to make money from the sport they have to resort to busking and/or street performing. I know of only a couple players who have been able to make a living off of the sport in this way, and I don’t think they were able to keep it up for very long.
Each footbag trick can be broken down into components. This components are called adds. There are currently five different categories of adds. They are delay, body, dexterity, cross body, and unusual surface.
The Delay [DEL] add is awarded when the player stalls or ‘catches’ the footbag on a body surface. Usually it will be on either the inside, outside, or toe of the foot. Although other surfaces can be used. Almost every trick starts and ends with a delay.
There are a number of ways to receive the Body [BOD] add. One is by doing a part of the trick while in the air. This is called Symposium. It usually involves hoping off one foot and doing a dexterity with the same leg while in the air. Another way to get the body add is by using the wrong foot to dex the bag (called Paradox). This means that if the move usually calls for you to use the opposite leg from the setting foot, you would instead use the same leg, making the move much more difficult. Paradox moves require an extra hip pivot. Ducking under the bag will also receive the [BOD] add. Anytime you duck you head under the bag it is called a duck, dive, weave, or Zulu depending on what follows it and is considered an extra component. The last type of Body add is the spin. Not much explanation needed for that one.
Dexterities are possibly the most used component in freestyle footbag. Most tricks have at least one, and some have up to FOUR. A dexterity is when the player circles the bag with their legs. Dexterities can be classed by out to in and in to out to show direction, and when the trick is being describe it will specicify the foot by saying which opposite or same foot as the last component.
Cross body is when the player’s delaying leg is tucked behind the support leg is therefore on the outside of the body, crossing the line running straight up the body. Unusual Surface is simply when you kick or delay the bag using any surface other than your inside, toe, outside, or knee.
Many players strife to play at a certain level. This means that they will only use moves that have at least a set number of adds in them. Tiltless players use only two add tricks and higher. Guiltless (the standard for open players) use only three add and above. The rest of the levels are normally only used to refer to a single run or combo. A tripless combo is four add moves or higher. Fearless is five adds and above. And godly is six adds or higher; probably not higher, as linking six add tricks is quite amazing!
There is a club made up of the top players in the world. It is called the Big Add Posse. BAP started a long time ago with about 6 members who were pushing the sport at that time. Now there are something like 200 members, all who have pushed the sport in some way. They are innovative players who push themselves and others to the limit. I’d like to talk about some of my favourites.
Vasek Klouda is the best in the world right now. He came on to the scene in 2002 and won every event at the World Championships. Since then he has dominated competition. He is insane. Jorden Moir is a young Canadian who is totally changing the perspective of what can be done with a footbag. He is creating new moves and concepts at a speed that hasn’t been seen since Kenny Shultz first came up with the concept of shred. Jim Penske can shred with the best. His speed and technicality make him a pleasure to watch. Lon Smith oozes with style. He can make any combo look smooth and easy. He also always looks like he is having a blast. Chad Devlehovich is a great player. The best part is that he was She’s All That the film staring Freddie Prince Jr. Chad played Freddie’s character during the part where he was on stage playing “hacky sack.” Brett Campbell is from Saskatoon and placed 4th in Shred30 at 2004 World’s in Montreal. A few years before that I got to play with him at a Jam in Saskatoon. He taught me a lot. Peter Irish has been playing for a long time. His symposium Whirls make him look like he can float. So smooth. “Rippin” Rick Reece and Kenny Shultz are the forefathers of the sport as it is known today. They invented many of the concepts and moves that are common to any players repertoire.
Footbag is a young sport and has lots of growing to do. It’s hard to say just where footbag will go. It has been compared to what skateboarding was in the Eighties, so it could blow up at any time. Some think it could end up in the Olympics. Others see a worldwide circuit traveling from city to city showcasing the top players. Only time will tell.


Sorry for such a long post.

[mc]

Where are you and who did you meet, if you don't mind me asking? footbag rules! I'll have more to say about the culture tomorrow.

[Anz]

Footbag...

Footbag is something bloody incredible. Footabg is the best sport of them all, but at the same time it's the best art of them all. It's a lifestyle which doesn't show but to other footbaggers.

Footbag IS a coulture. It has nothing to do with politics or ceremons. It brings people together with no material. We all share the same way of thinking and the same goals. We share our own language, our own terms.

Our community is so small that everybody knows each other even if they've never met. And when you do meet, you'll quickly become the closest friends.

Footbag makes me jocund.

[mahhkohh]

yeah footbag is just so cool.you are outstanding everywere.go to a soccer court and start shredding...

i remember when i got to my first ever event...it was so cool.i got there and knew noone,aside from one person,and that was the guy that nearly forced me to go there.everyone was so gentle and helping in every aspect.when i got there i knew only one guy,as i left i felt like leaving a whole bunch of friends.its just indisscribable(sp?)best example is the world champs event.i mean,you go there,there are people from everywere in the world,a dn all share the same pasiona ndthen you see a guy you have chatted with,maybe you have seen him in a shred video....and its like meeting old friends...

footbag is just great,if ya realy wanna know why get deeper into the sport...

[DoctorJay]

It is very interesting to see for what people footbag is attracting- just look at the sport itself to kick a bag in the air.
Most of those people have to see that it is not that easy and in most of the towns there are no clubs.
You will be confronted with the fact that you won't get rich by playing footbag and going to a tournament is not that easy nor cheap because it is a long distance to go in comparison to a match of your local soccer game.
Parents were not able to understand this sport.
Really there are many factors why you actually could think of stopping to play .
I got no choice it was quite early very clear that this gamewas fascinating me.
I cannot speak for others but that was my history and my path to this community and to this sport. I guess there are others who had a similiar way.



Let us see that this person have to spend lots of time to play this sport and found out about an online community where he can meet other players to talk to about daily stuff and about footbag.

The combination of the lack of footbaggers in the local area, the typical kind of personality who is attracted by such a sport, build the base of this community I guess.



I played tennis before and I have to say that I won't play if there was no club no other people and no regular training schedules.


Right now I am quite impressed how much impact my the sport had in my last few years.

I am keen to know what the sport will bring to me the upcoming years.

[Bander87]

http://umanitoba.ca/manitoban/2005-2006 ... y.sack.php

[jake]

Footbag to me is just great because its fun a workout and its like a big familly. Everyone doesnt care how bad you are as long as u have a love for the sport. I mean really how many other sports support people just starting? some do but not as much as footbag does and i believe this is why its soo popular and people progress at it because if people believe in you it just becomes that much easier. If you alwyas have people telling you oh you suck some people on the outside just joke about it but u know inside it doesnt feel good and it makes u think do i suck? is there a point to doing this if everyone is going to make fun of me because im not as good as them? and i think the answer is no there isnt a point doing something if even when to you a move is good but since they are better they give you no credit. This is why footbag is such a great sport because people support you and its fun whats not to like?

[Wasabi]

I really can't put my ideal on footbag into words in one post really. It's just so long to even comprehend and discuss... Like Millzilla mentioned, its a complete lifestyle. Complete. I'm even having a hard time paying attention in college without having a bag in my hands to break-in, rest my feet while I'm sitting in class, or talk about anything else other than footbag.

To me, I just want to spend my days outside and schooling. If not schooling, than playing with advanced players to learn from them as much as possible. And if I don't want to play, I want to learn about stitching, playing with filler, and think about what design of a bag might be suitable for play. It's really in terms of footbag that both my mind and body are in sync to each other. I have such a deep passion with it that I want to make a name for myself in a way with footbag. Maybe you can say it's a personal dream. Or rather a small goal that I'd want to accomplish in the light of the few close friends that i know.

In terms of the community, I love it. I love the people, and the friends and connections I've built with these individuals. Whether it's shredding with them or playing a bit of 4-square, explaining the critique of how bags are stitched, or just talking about footbag online, I'm absorbing knowledge that's precious to me from this sport. Even the bags I purchase from people express the effort of that one person taking the time to make a bag for me. Shred shoes make an important statement saying that "I play, and enjoy playing footbag," which is impacting on its own. The specific mods that you do to make playing the sport comfortable is shown right in front of you - absurd to the general eye but recognizable to other respectable players. Whether they are Rod Lavers, G-units, or Climacools, we used these to play footbag in a style of our own and to make an impression before others. From suck to amazingly great, skill is a factor in some way, but I'd like to think that the dedication to the sport is the most important thing of all. That by learning just a little bit of footbag will make you a part of the sport, and it's general spread to the world as an enjoying and alternative way to work out and have fun at the same time. And before all of that, there are the people that you see playing, and how much they admire what they do in their free time always. You find what other interests people have other than footbag, and try to visualize their lifestyle and understand how it can integrate you into footbag and the people into it even more.

I know I have more to add, but I really can't think of anything else. There's just so much to talk about.

[jake]

i know what you're saying about always wanting to do something that has to do with footbag I LOVE FOOTBAG

[Slowsis]

Where are you and who did you meet, if you don't mind me asking? footbag rules!

[Zac Jackson]

The single greatest decision of my life was to start playing footbag.

word, me too!

[The Awed Observer]

This is absolutely amazing how tight everyone seems to be and how passionate! My project is due next week (finals week blah!) but just because my paper will be done, doesn't mean my interest in footbag is too. My friend was going on about how great this sport is and I was like "whoa he's way into this" now I see that EVERYONE is way into it! I didn't think I would be too interested, especially since the only time I did anything remotely like footbag was hacky with the kids at the bus stop in the morning, but if you dropped it they pegged ya and I always dropped it so I never wanted to play. But with everyone here so passionate about it it makes me want to know what I'm missing! thank you guys for all the responses it has helped out a lot!

[Zeke]

If you need a break, check out the addicted to footbag thread. Some funny stuff there.