The return of hacky sacking has recently gained traction among students, quickly becoming one of the most unexpected trends of the school year. What began as short clips posted by several college students calling each other out on TikTok spread rapidly, making its way to private schools in the area before reaching public schools across Montgomery County, including Wootton.
The videos often showed groups of students working together to keep a hacky sack in the air for extended streaks, combining coordination, communication and consistency, while throwing in the occasional special move or stall. As the clips gained popularity online, students began recreating the trend during lunch, free periods and after school, leading to a steady increase in participation. While hacky sacking itself is not new, its resurfacing has introduced the activity to students who had never played before.
At this school, the trend developed quickly as small groups began forming in common areas, creating circles and attempting to build longer streaks. What started as a casual activity soon became more competitive, with students tracking their progress and trying to improve both individually and as a group. The simplicity of the game made it easy for new players to join, while still allowing experienced players to refine their skills. Sacking, as students call it, also has brought together friend groups that weren’t originally close.
The spread of hacky sacking has also been driven by social media beyond TikTok. Instagram accounts dedicated to Montgomery County schools are posting clips, highlights and unofficial rankings that compare different schools’ performances. These accounts have added a new layer of competition, as students now aim not only to improve their own streaks but also to represent their school and outrank the others. “We strive every day to hit clips and get better so we can see our school be the highest ranked in Moco,” junior Blake Williams said.
The introduction of rankings has created informal rivalries between schools, with students paying attention to where they stand and working to move up. As more schools have joined the trend, the competition has become more visible, further encouraging participation. For students, the idea of contributing to their school’s ranking has added motivation to continue playing and improving. The group of sackers have made self-proclaimed varsity and junior varsity teams even though the skill level is the same all around. “I work hard every day and sack whenever I can to hopefully be called up to varsity and make it on one of the clips,” junior Adam Downie said.
Despite the growing competitiveness, hacky sacking has largely remained a social activity. Students often described it as a way to take a break from academic pressure while still being active and engaged with others. The collaborative nature of the game has helped build connections between students, as success depends on teamwork rather than individual performance. “Some of these kids I have never knew… I now enjoy playing sack with them,” junior Luca Phillips said.
As the trend has continued to grow, hacky sacking has become more than just a passing activity. Its combination of accessibility, competition and social interaction has helped it establish a presence within student culture. Whether the trend continues long-term or eventually fades, it has already made an impact by bringing students together in a simple but engaging way.
