How to do the Around the World soccer skill

A soccer skill that I have been trying to learn is called Around the World. This skill takes time and practice. The good thing is you need only yourself and a ball to make it work.

To do the Around the World, you juggle the ball with your dominant foot and make the ball spin while rotating your foot around the ball in a circular motion.

This trick requires you to master below-the-knee juggling because when you attempt the trick, the ball needs to stay balanced and close to you. You also need to master kicking the ball with the edge of your dominant foot so the ball can spin and you have more space to catch it.

Here are the steps you need to make it work:

1. Balance the ball on your foot.

2. Lift your knee with the ball still balancing on your foot.

3. When your knee is almost even with your waist, let the ball roll down the outside of your foot.

4. As the ball rolls off, you then lower your leg (quickly in a circular motion) so it goes around the ball and under it again.

5. Finally, you can either try to balance the ball on your foot or start juggling again.

Why is something like this important to soccer players? You want to be able to control the ball whether it is on the ground or in the air. This move helps you learn ball control and balance.

Marie Hand and Thomas House’s sixth- and seventh-grade students, Bridgehampton School