If you’ve recently walked the halls of Mamaroneck High School or even just driven past MHS, you have likely noticed a new phenomenon taking over the school: hacky sacks. For the past few weeks, students have been bringing in hacky sacks and forming circles during lunch, free periods, and even before classes to play. But what exactly has hacky sacking done to our school environment over these few weeks? And what does this indicate about us as students?
Whether playing it or not, it has become evident that the majority of students at the high school enjoy the energy of the new hacky sack surge. Numerous students shared how just seeing people playing together in halls and outside on the front lawn has made the school—even if just by appearance—more mellow and relaxed. “It’s a different vibe,” many students said, in contrast to the more stress-inducing atmosphere of previous months. Maya Joseph (’27) explained that “hacky sack is good for people because it encourages kids to put their phones down and interact with others.”
Also contributing to this shift in energy is the inclusive nature of hacky-sacking. Students explained that it is easy to join a hacky sack circle because people just want to play and are not concerned with keeping the game exclusive. It seems like “the more the merrier” has been central to the welcoming hacky-sacking culture at MHS. Maggie Lanza (’27) shared, “I see groups of kids who I didn’t even know were friends branching out to just be in a rally together.”
Though it may appear to be just another new trend, hacky sack has been around for a while. Originally becoming popular in the 1970s, hacky sack was a staple on college campuses, in high schools, and even at concerts until the late 1990s. However, as the internet grew in popularity, hacky-sacking seemed to decline. This raises the question of why hacky sack has made a comeback in 2026.
Though there is no definitive answer to this question since cultural trends and phenomena arise for a multitude of different and complex reasons, there is something to be said about what this means for our generation of students.
At a time when technology usage is at an all-time peak, we are putting our cell phones down to kick a hacky sack around in a circle. More specifically, in high school, after a long, rigorous school year, spending countless hours behind a computer screen completing assignments, many students seem eager to reconnect with one another and spend more time outdoors.
Whether the hacky sack craze lasts or fades in the coming months, it has undoubtedly left a distinctive impact on our school culture and relayed an important message about our generation of students.
