To play hacky sack, players stand in a circle and keep the bag off the ground using any body part except the hands and arms. That’s the whole idea. The goal is to keep it aloft as long as possible and, in friendly play, to pass it around so everyone gets a touch.
The one rule that matters
No hands, no arms. Everything else — feet, knees, chest, head — is fair game. In cooperative circle play (the classic “hack”), there’s no winning or losing; the group tries to keep a rally going. A “hack” is when everyone in the circle touches the bag before it drops. Serving is casual: a gentle toss to someone’s foot to start the rally.
Your first three kicks
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Inside kick: strike the bag with the flat inside of your foot, ankle turned up. This is the most controllable kick and the one to learn first.
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Outside kick: use the outer edge of your foot for bags drifting wide.
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Toe kick (toe punt): a straight-up pop off the toes to reset a rally.
Keep your knee slightly bent, your foot level, and try to pop the bag straight up to about waist height so you have time to react.
Why the right bag makes learning easier
Beginners struggle most with control, and control comes from the bag. A soft, sand-filled suede bag around 55 grams moves slowly and sits still when it lands on your foot, so mistimed kicks are more forgiving. Lively crocheted or pellet bags dart away and frustrate new players. This is exactly why the 14-Panel OG (58 g, sand-filled suede) is an easy first bag.
Quick answers
How do you play hacky sack? Stand in a circle and keep the bag in the air using anything but your hands and arms, passing it with kicks.
What are the basic rules? No hands or arms; keep the bag airborne. Competitive formats include freestyle (scored tricks) and footbag net (volleyball-style with the feet).
What are the different footbag games? Cooperative circle/hack, footbag net, and freestyle, plus solo practice.
Grab a beginner-friendly bag from the shop-all page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you play hacky sack?
Players stand in a circle and keep the bag off the ground using any body part except the hands and arms, passing it with kicks. The goal is to keep it aloft as long as possible; a “hack” is when everyone in the circle touches it before it drops.
What are the basic rules of hacky sack?
No hands or arms — keep the bag airborne with feet, knees, chest, or head. Casual circle play is cooperative with no winner. Competitive formats include freestyle (scored tricks) and footbag net (volleyball-style with the feet).