The “Around the World” (ATW) is a fundamental and visually appealing trick in freestyle football, showcasing rapid footwork and precision ball control. It serves as a gateway to more complex combinations, demanding a blend of timing, agility, and understanding of physics. The trick involves kicking the ball into the air and circling the foot completely around the airborne ball before making contact again to continue the juggle. Successfully executing the ATW requires precise, fluid motion to capitalize on the brief window while the ball is suspended.
Essential Foundation Skills
Before attempting the ATW, a practitioner must establish a high degree of comfort and control with basic ball handling. The foundation for this trick is consistent juggling, often called “keep-ups,” which builds the necessary muscle memory and foot-to-ball familiarity. It is recommended that individuals can complete at least 50 continuous repetitions of juggling before moving on to the ATW.
Developing control over the ball’s trajectory is equally important, requiring the ability to consistently lift the ball to a predictable height, ideally between the waist and chest level. This controlled lift ensures maximum air time for the foot to complete its circle. Freestylers should practice juggling using the toe area of the foot rather than the laces, as this technique provides better lift and spin control for the trick’s setup.
Understanding Ball Trajectory and Timing
The Around the World trick is a precisely timed maneuver that exploits the physics of projectile motion. When the ball is flicked upward, it follows a parabolic path, momentarily slowing down as it reaches the apex of its trajectory. This brief moment of near-zero vertical velocity, often called the “dead space,” is the narrow window the foot must use to complete the revolution.
The initial lift, or pop-up kick, is performed with a slight upward and forward motion, ideally imparting minimal backspin or sidespin. Too much spin can cause the ball to drift or rotate unpredictably, shortening the available time for the foot movement. The height of the lift, typically around half a meter to a full meter, dictates the duration of the ball’s flight time, giving the freestyler enough time to perform the circular motion.
The simultaneous movement of the foot and the ball’s ascent is crucial; the freestyler should not wait for the ball to peak before starting the leg motion. The foot must begin its circle immediately following the upward strike, moving as a single, rapid action. This fluid, one-motion approach prevents the ball from dropping too low or losing the slight forward momentum needed to stay centered for the catch.
Step-by-Step Execution
The Around the World is a single, continuous motion broken down into three phases: the setup, the revolution, and the recovery. The setup involves a controlled juggle, positioning the ball centrally over the foot performing the trick. The pop-up is delivered using the toe area or laces, lifting the ball to the desired height while keeping the knee slightly bent to generate power.
The revolution phase requires the foot to move quickly in a circle around the airborne ball. In the “outside” ATW, the foot swings away from the body first, moving over the ball and completing the circle back to the starting point. Conversely, the “inside” ATW moves the foot inward, crossing the body before swinging around the ball.
During the revolution, the freestyler must lift the knee high and swing the leg with speed and precision, ensuring the foot clears the ball’s circumference without making contact. Immediately upon completing the circle, the foot must flex and position itself underneath the falling ball. The final step is the recovery, where the foot makes contact, cushioning the impact and popping the ball back up to maintain the juggle.
Correcting Common Errors
A frequent problem encountered by beginners is insufficient ball height, which drastically reduces the time available for the foot to circle the ball. If the ball is too low, the required leg speed becomes nearly impossible to achieve without hitting the ball. To correct this, focus on a sharper, more deliberate flick with the toe, ensuring the ball rises consistently to waist level or higher.
Another common issue is poor timing, where the foot movement begins too late, causing the ball to drop before the circle is complete. The motion needs to be initiated almost simultaneously with the ball’s upward flick, treating the pop-up and the revolution as one connected action. Practicing the circular leg movement without the ball can help build the necessary muscle memory and speed.
Hitting the ball with the thigh or knee during the revolution results from not lifting the knee high enough or swinging the leg too close to the ball. Freestylers should focus on an exaggerated knee lift and an arc wide enough to clear the ball entirely. If balance is a problem, practicing the sequence with a small one-legged squat on the standing leg can help stabilize the body and generate upward momentum for the trick.