Footbags

Footbags, aka Hackey Sacks, have become an art, in every sense of the word: There are footbags that are, themselves, works of art, like those in this collection. There are players who can achieve new heights of physical balance and agility, individually and collectively, competitively or cooperatively.

I'm especially interested in the cooperative part.

Though a glance at the photos and videos contained on the website of the Footbag Worldwide Information Service is all that you'll need to see the kinds of grace achievable in the pursuit of the competitive footbag sports, like the beautiful game of Footbag Net, I am even more attracted by the people I see standing in a circle and just juggling footbags.

I guess because I get a lot of fun out of playing games like group juggling. And maybe even more because of people who put together things like the Footbag Peace Initiative.

Because juggling footbags together is really a beautifully peaceful kind of play - a game that bridges language and culture, and engages its players in a physical dialogue, where the only object is to play beautifully together.