Derrick Fogle, also known as the “Hacky Sack Man,” has been kicking for 33 years.

“I was going to a party in Colorado when I was 17, and there were some guys playing (hacky sack), and they invited me to play,” Fogle said. “It was just fun, so I went out and bought myself a hacky sack and started playing around and, eventually, I just got really good at it.”

Playing “hacky sack,” also known as footbag, changed Fogle’s life on a level he never expected.

“When I was a kid, I had a lot of trouble as a teenager, and I was transposed when I started playing hacky sack,” he said. “It taught me the value of hard work and determination and persistence. It’s been really empowering to me, and it’s given me a feeling of accomplishment.”

Fogle has come a long way since his first kick outside the party in Colorado. When he first came to Columbia about 20 years ago, he looked for public places to promote footbag. Naturally, he turned to Speakers Circle.

Ever since he started kicking at MU, Fogle said he has learned to feed off the students’ energy and becomes encouraged in the growth of the sport when students ask him if they can kick with him.

Scott Davidson, Fogle’s friend and fellow footbag enthusiast, said Fogle is a good example of the footbag community with the way he publicizes the sport and acts to those who play.

Davidson met Fogle at the 1985 World Footbag Championships in Colorado.

“I was kicking in the park with one of my friends and this guy rode up on a mountain bike and asked if he could kick with us,” Davidson said. “It was just nice to meet someone friendly who had been there before and was just all-around friendly.”

Fogle’s hard work in this sport has paid off. He competed in and ran tournaments and even held a world record at one point for 5-minute timed consecutive hits.

Currently, he ranks as ninth in rallying — kicking a footbag back and forth with someone over a net, similar to volleyball — with 20,004 kicks in a row. He was also inducted into the Footbag Hall of Fame in 2005.

Although footbag has been a major part of Fogle’s life, it’s been around in his family’s lives as well.

Fogle has taken his children along to various competitions and public venues. Clint Fogle, Derrick’s daughter, used to tag along to his tournaments.

“I remember my dad always would go play hacky sack every Thursday, and that was really cool,” Clint Fogle said. “I don’t remember a lot from when I was little, but I do remember he took my brother and me to a hacky sack tournament in St. Louis. It was neat to see him do what he loved.”

Derrick Fogle said his love of hacky sack is more than just a hobby. It has become a way to mentally and spiritually cleanse himself.

“The one real reason I play is because I love doing it,” he said. “I feel like I get so much out of it. It helps me stay physically and mentally healthy and so many other positive things. Everything else goes away. But then I miss the bag and I don’t remember how long it’s been because it’s just me and the motion and the sound.”

Those around him have seen the hard work he’s put into it and realize just how special his passion is.

“I’ve never had the drive to be that devoted to anything, especially sports,” Clint Fogle said. “He’s been doing it my whole life. And he’s 51 now, so I guess at some point I thought he would stop, but he hasn’t yet.”

Davidson said he has also been inspired by the way Derrick Fogle continues to hacky-sack, even after all these years.

“It’s good to see people do what they love to do and follow their passions,” he said. “I can’t wait until we can play together in Speakers Circle.”

Through all of Fogle’s experience, he said he has continued to learn about himself and hopes to motivate others through what he’s done for so long.

“I want to inspire people and show them a demonstrable example of what you can do,” he said. “When people see me out there doing it, maybe not play hacky sack, but something non-destructive that you can love and you can enjoy yourself.”