How To Do Around-The-World In Soccer

When it comes to taking the field, many players want to know how to do around-the-world in soccer. After all the player with the best ball handling skills on the field has a greater advantage over their opponent. Not to mention, showing off your ball handling skill to the rest of the players on your team can be fun. Here’s how to do around-the-world in soccer so that you’ll be able to give the opposing team a run for their money.

You will need:

• Soccer ball
• Cleats

1. Stand slightly behind the soccer ball. Positing yourself so that the soccer ball is just in front of your dominant foot.
2. Scoop the ball up. Slide the laces of your cleats under the soccer ball and lift it up. Flicking the ankle quickly will help pop the ball.
3. Cradle the soccer ball. To do an around-the-world in soccer, you wan to cradle the soccer ball  between your shin (or shin guard) and the laces of your soccer cleats. The ball will rest in the crook of your ankle.
4. Lift the soccer ball off the ground. Because gravity will pull the ball down once you make your move, try to lift the soccer ball at least a foot and a half off the ground.
5. Slowly roll the ball toward the outer edge of your foot. To do around-the-world in soccer you want your entire foot to go “around” the soccer ball. So the next piece of motion is slowly letting the ball roll to off the outside of your cleat.
6. Move your entire foot around the soccer ball. Now that the momentum of the soccer ball is in free fall, you want to bring your entire foot around the ball and catch it again so you are back in the starting position. (Hence traveling around the world.) You’ll have to move quickly as the ball has gravity pulling down on it.
7. Cradle the soccer ball again. To do around-the-world in soccer you must end back in the cradling position. Congrats, you have just performed the around-the-world in soccer!

Tips:

• An alternate variation of the move involves juggling the soccer ball from the cradling position. You’ll continuously pop the soccer ball up in the air off the laces of your cleats until you decide to move your foot completely around the ball. Master this alternation after you master the basic one first.
• Learn to do around-the-world in soccer with both feet. The best soccer players have great ball handling skills with both feet. Don’t neglect your non dominant foot!