Starting this year, a resurgence of classic backyard games has swept the nation, with teenagers across the United States reviving recreational pastimes such as frisbee, wiffle
ball, cornhole, spikeball, and especially hacky sack. The recent comeback of these sports has reached student life at Princeton High School as well, with students all across
campus participating. With little equipment necessary and a spontaneous nature, these backyard games are bringing students together, encouraging them to unplug and stay
active throughout the day.

### Hacky Sack

The origins of hacky sack can typically be traced back to
1972 at a local festival in Oregon, where co-inventors Mike
Marshall and John Stalberger met. Marshall introduced
his friend to a hobby learned from his time with Native
Americans, kicking a bean bag back and forth for hours on
end. Entranced by this rudimentary but engaging hobby,
they birthed their company Hacky Sack.

Starting in the Northeast just after spring break, many
high schoolers were introduced to the new sport. Spreading
like a wildfire through social media, schools have even
started forming hacky-sack teams that range from the
varsity level to exclusively freshman. PHS has decided to
join in on the fun too.

Most recently, PHS varsity sacks has been participating
in a state wide hacky sack tournament featuring a $4,000
prize for first place. Each submission consists of a video,
showcasing one round of hacky sack, with the public
voting for the winner. Members of PHS’s own varsity sack
team have been putting up flyers to promote participation
in voting. Winning both the rounds of 64 and 32, this
strategy seems to be working. The future success of our
varsity sack team rides on both the skills they can bring to
the table and the school spirit we can back them up with.

These sacks are technically called foot bags, with Hacky
Sack being just a brand name. But nevertheless, retailers
of all kinds are scrambling to keep up with the demand.
Co-owner Joanne Farrugia at Princeton’s local toy shop
Jazams emphasizes this point.

“We brought in several hundred and then sold out pretty
quickly, and then brought in more, sold out pretty quickly”
said Farrugia. “Now we have another huge order coming
in. So, hopefully that will last a little while.”

With this craze infecting the hallways of PHS, students
have been finding every chance to play. Many see this
revival being a good thing for the students, with one being
Marion Walsh ’29.

“I think it benefits society because people are together,
having fun, [getting] physical exercise, [and] forming
friendships and bonds over such a beautiful game,” said
Walsh. “It’s just a part of my life now, and I wouldn’t have
it any other way.”

The hold that hacky sack has on this generation can
be attributed to its sociable and simple nature. Constant
overlap in action forces communication, making hacky
sack a great way to build connections. Along with this,
all that is needed is a sack smaller than the size of your
palm, allowing games to take place anywhere, anytime.

### Frisbee

Another backyard game that is popular in the
United States today is frisbee. Although activities
similar to frisbee can be dated back to the 8th century
B.C., the sport was mainstreamed in the United
States after the inventor Fred Morrison created a
plastic disc inspired by flying saucers. Since then,
frisbee has grown into a sport played in at least 70
countries around the world.

Frisbee encompasses many different playstyles,
ranging from ultimate frisbee to disc golf. Ultimate
Frisbee is played in a similar way to American football,
except that instead of a football, players throw a disc
around. In recent years, many competitive Ultimate
leagues have been established across the United
States for all ages. Disc Golf is usually perceived as
a more casual way to play frisbee, usually found in
parks or on beaches.

Since many frisbee games can be played either
competitively or casually, the sport impacts all kinds
of PHS students, one of them being PHS Frisbee
Club Captain Julian Grossman ’28.

“[If you’re] on the same team, it’s a very good
bonding experience,” said Grossman. “[You] get
[to] exercise and be with friends.”

Grossman has been the captain of the club since
the start of the 2025 school year and his love for
frisbee stems from its uniqueness. Many students
specifically choose frisbee over other sports because
they value the sport for the people that they can
bond with and get to know while playing.

### Spikeball

Ever since its appearance on Shark Tank in 2015, Spikeball
has taken the world by storm. The company has managed
to sell over five million nets since then and the sport has
become a staple part of recreational backyard or beach
hangouts.

Similar to how wiffle ball is modeled off of baseball,
Spikeball is a hybrid of volleyball and four square. Two
teams of two players take turns bouncing a ball back and
forth off of an ankle high circular net. Each team gets up
to three touches — similar to volleyball — to pass the ball
and spike it back onto the net. If a team misses the net, hits
the rim, or uses too many touches, a point is awarded to
the opposing team.

This backyard game has intrigued PHS students so much
that they have decided to form a club. Run by Romy Johnson
’26 along with other PHS students, the club provides an
environment for students to enjoy Spikeball while meeting
new people in the process.

“I think it’s just a fun activity for me to do with my
friends. It doesn’t require you to be super athletic, and it’s
not like you’re getting tired because you’re just standing
there, but it’s still fun and engaging,” said Johnson.

There are other factors that also may influence the
appeal to Spikeball. Many people enjoy the connections
that they are able to make with friends while playing while
others view the game as a break from studying or work.

Spikeball’s appeal may also come from its convenience.
The entire setup fits inside a drawstring bag, which allows
people to play it in various environments. But what
makes Spikeball stand out from other backyard games?

“Spikeball is a bit more interactive, it’s a bit more
intense, getting the ball onto the net, running for it
sometimes, there’s [these] fun moments that come out
of it,” said Ethan Tang ’29. “Something like catch [is] just
boring. There’s not a lot of stuff that happens.”

photo: Katherine Chen

Left to right: Moksh Rajpal ’28, Nikola Tholens ’28, Bruno Giacoppo ’28, and Lucius Rufo ’28 play hacky sack by the flagpole.

Backyard games make a comeback

Birds can be found in every genre of literature, whether that is horror, drama, or fantasy. However, these feathery friends of ours aren’t just here for the sake of having animals in a book. Birds and animals that take flight usually represent something important:

“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou

“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” is an autobiography published in 1969 by the poet Maya Angelou. The title of the book was inspired by Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poem “Sympathy,” which used the symbol of a caged bird to reflect the struggles of marginalized social groups. Angelou’s story recounts her childhood experiences with racism and trauma in the South, an area plagued by segregation. By juxtaposing a caged and a free bird, Angelou emphasizes the difference in the way that traditionally oppressed social groups like Black Americans live in comparison to privileged populations.

The caged bird acts as a symbol of oppression and the racism and discrimination that Black Americans face. However, despite being confined, it continues to sing, representing the resilience of the Black American community and their fight for justice. Today, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” continues to illustrate the struggles of marginalized groups. Angelou’s work has catalyzed various social justice movements, inspiring these communities to share their own experiences and advocate for equality.

“To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee

Published in 1960, Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” illustrates what life was like in the South during the Great Depression. The novel is written through the perspective of Scout Finch, as her father Atticus defends a Black man, named Tom Robinson, who was falsely accused of assaulting a white woman. Through her perspective, readers learn the harsh reality of racism and justice, a Robinson battles a heavily biased legal system that is against him from the start, simply due to the color of his skin.

The mockingbird is used as a symbol of innocence, righteousness, and those who are unfairly treated by society. Atticus teaches his children that killing a mockingbird is morally wrong, as they do no harm, only bring music and beauty to the world. Atticus’s warning against killing mockingbirds reflects his defense of “mockingbirds” like Tom Robinson, who, like many vulnerable groups, suffers injustice solely for existing. The novel’s message about morality, having empathy for others, and fighting against injustices in society remains relevant and important to the present day, where many marginalized groups are constantly put at a disadvantage.

Bruno Giacoppo's Work