TroubleShooting

This page lists the most common problems encountered while playing Hacky Sack, and offers solutions to each problem.

We start playing Hacky Sack in a nice big space, but after a while we find we are bunched up against a wall or a tree.
This phenomenon, commonly known as Hack Drift, is very interesting and deserves more research into the causes of it. During play the Hacky Sack Circle slowly but surely moves in one direction. Hack Drift relies on the fact that no-one notices it happening until it is too late. The best soloution to this problem is to place a marker (such as a bag) in the middle of the Circle.

We start off playing fine, but as more and more people join the Circle the Hacky keeps landing in the middle where no-one can reach it.
What you have here is Hack Inflation A game of Hacky Sack will usually tend to attract more players and as the Circle grows larger so does the space in the middle where no-one can reach. There are two solutions to this problem. If you have an extra Hacky why not split the Circle into two. You might have a Beginners Circle and an Elite Circle. The other solution is to place one player in the middle of the Circle. It is best to pick a reasonably good player as this player will get the Hacky most often.

Often when I try to pass the Hacky on to another player it just stays with me, and then, no matter what I do, I can't get rid of it. People accuse me of being a "Hack Hog."
A strange phenomenon called Hack Magnet where it is almost as if the Hacky itself prefers to be with one particular player. The Hack Magnet can strike at any time during a game, but some players are more susceptible than others. The only thing to do is hope that it passes quickly.

During play the Hacky keeps landing on the ground.
What you have encountered here is usually called gravity. This is a force that, effectively, sucks things towards the ground. One way to counter gravity is to play while in free-fall (i.e. while sky diving or in orbit) however this is usually not a reasonale solution. This is what I recommend: Every time the Hacky looks like it' s about to go to ground the nearest player should intercept it using one of his or her body parts (except the hand). At the same time it is a good idea for that player to apply an upward force to the Hacky. This will allow more time for the next player to react before the Hacky starts heading towards the ground again.

Last updated: 24/02/03