The emergence of footbag goes back to the 70s of the XX century. It arose, one might say, almost by accident. John Stahlberger of Oregon, USA, originally just used a small filled bag-like ball to develop a sore knee. Then he and his friend Mike Marshall thought about how to popularize the game. At first the game was called "Hack the Sack". In the 90s, it gained massive popularity and became an organized sport.
Currently, there are 2 main types of footbag.
Freestyle footbag is a solo sport: during the competition, the player performs an exhibition performance, consisting of various combinations with a bag. The judges evaluate the choreography, the variety and complexity of the combinations, the sense of rhythm, as well as the player's agility.
Netgame footbag is a team sport: a team of players kicks the ball over a 1.5 meter net. This game is a mixture of tennis and volleyball. For the game, a small shapeless ball made of suede or leatherette materials, filled with some substance, be it salt, sand, plastic granules and other fillers, is used.
Why is this sport useful?
Playing footbag promotes the development of coordination and quick reaction, develops leg muscles, improves the general physical condition of the body, normalizes breathing, and improves blood circulation. This funny game is not only interesting and entertaining, but also useful for the whole organism.
How to start?
You can start playing footbag on your own. There are tons of training materials available now. You can buy the ball for the game in a specialized store or sew it yourself. Clothing should be chosen that is comfortable and does not restrict movement when playing. Choosing the right shoes is very important for practicing footbag. It should be, first of all, light and have a wide toe and a wide inner part of the foot - this will provide ease of movement and make it easier to catch the ball. Having learned a number of tricks and having achieved a certain skill, you can take part in competitions that are held annually in different cities.
Do not confuse footbag with sox. Sox became popular in our country in the 90s, while footbag became famous in the early 2000s. Sox is very similar to footbag, but, in fact, it is not a sport. Sox is a game that does not have clear rules, a refereeing system and does not require specific training. A group of people, standing in a circle, simply throws a small ball between themselves and enjoys the process of the game. Footbag is a recognized sport and has a number of clear rules.
