Spurred on by popular social media accounts, hacky sack is the new pop culture phenom of the spring at New England prep schools.

The game has caught on around prep schools, including here at Williston, with groups visible on campus as well as daily posts making their way online. With the phrase “spreadsacknothate” NEPSAC Prep schools have started to make TikTok and Instagram accounts posting their clips.

The rules of the game require players to try to keep the bag off the ground using their feet, chest, shoulders and head. Players are not allowed to use their hands. The game starts by someone throwing the footbag off someone’s chest or in the air. The game lasts however long the long the bag stays off the ground.

Junior Maddox Pemrick says it’s cool to see the prep schools compete against each other with something besides traditional sports.

“I think TikTok and prep schools brought back the culture of hacky sack and when we started playing it here at Williston, we had a big group of people playing,” Maddox said. “It was cool to see everyone gathered around playing with the sack and just laughing and having fun.”

Hacky sack differs from cornhole or frisbee due to the unpredictable nature of the game and not knowing who will hit the hacky sack next or where it will go.

Postgraduate Ethen Fines loves to see people outside playing sack or just hanging out with friends.

“It brings people together, makes people enjoy being outside and with people,” Ethen said. “If you look on campus every day you’ll always see a group of people playing at any time.”