The Around the World Trick: Your 4-Week Roadmap to Cleaner Touches and Real Control

I still remember the first time I landed a clean Around the World. It was in my grandma’s backyard, using a half-deflated ball that barely bounced. I had been chasing that feeling for weeks—the one where the foot circles the ball mid-air and catches it without a wobble. The moment it clicked, I threw my arms up like I’d just scored a World Cup final goal. That’s the thing about freestyle football: the smallest victories feel huge. And if you’re reading this on Freestyle Flow, you probably know exactly what I mean.

A lot of people think the Around the World (ATW) is just a show-off move. But here at Freestyle Flow, we treat it as a foundation trick. It builds your touch, timing, and that invisible connection between your foot and the ball. In four weeks, I’m going to walk you through exactly how to get it clean—no fluff, no overcomplicated drills. Just the same steps I use with my students when I coach them one-on-one.

Week 1: Making Friends with the Ball (No Juggling Marathons)

I know the urge to jump straight into the circular motion is strong. Fight it. Week one is about building the feel, and honestly, most people skip this part and then wonder why their ATW looks like a newborn giraffe trying to kick a balloon.

The Toe Tap Foundation

Before you even think about circling the ball, you need to be able to pop it up with control. Sit down on a chair or a low wall, rest the ball on your dominant foot, and just tap it straight up a few inches. Focus on making the ball spin as little as possible. A spinning ball is a runaway ball. Do this for 20 reps, then switch feet. At Freestyle Flow, we always train both sides early, even if your weak foot feels useless right now. Trust me, it pays off.

The Stall and Drop Drill

Now stand up. Hold the ball on your foot like a waiter carrying a tray. Keep your ankle locked, toes slightly up. The goal is to balance the ball for 10 seconds without it rolling off. Once you can do that, slowly lower your foot and let the ball drop to the ground. Then catch it on the bounce with the same foot. This teaches your ankle to stay stable, which is the secret sauce of a clean ATW catch. Do this 50 times a day. It sounds boring, but it’s the kind of boring that makes you good.

Week 2: The Circle Without the Chaos

Week two is where the shape of the trick starts to appear. But we’re still not juggling the ball first. We’re going to isolate the leg movement so your muscle memory doesn’t panic when the ball is in the air.

The Ghost ATW

Stand with the ball on the ground in front of you. Now, with your dominant foot, trace a circle around the ball—go out, around the front, and back to the starting position—without touching it. Your foot should skim just above the grass. Do this slowly, then speed it up. Pay attention to the path: you want a tight, controlled circle, not a wild leg swing that looks like you’re trying to kickflip a skateboard. I cue my Freestyle Flow students to imagine they’re drawing a small hula hoop with their big toe.

The Hop and Circle

Now add a tiny hop on your standing leg as you circle. The hop is what gives you the air time to get your foot around the ball before it drops. Practice the hop while doing the ghost circle. The rhythm should feel like: hop, circle, land. No ball yet. Just your body learning the timing. I used to do this in my kitchen while waiting for pasta to cook. Little moments, big progress.

Week 3: The Halfway ATW (Your New Best Friend)

This is where the magic happens. Full ATW attempts too early just create bad habits, so we’re going to break the trick in half. At Freestyle Flow, we call this the “Half ATW,” and it’s the single biggest confidence builder.

The Foot Catch from a Drop

Hold the ball at waist height, drop it onto your dominant foot, and pop it up to about knee height. As the ball rises, circle your foot around the outside of the ball—but stop halfway, right at the top of the ball’s trajectory. Your goal is to touch the ball with the inside of your foot at the highest point and bring it back down into a foot stall. Don’t try to complete the full circle yet. Just get used to meeting the ball at the top with a soft touch. The ball shouldn’t bounce away; it should stick. This drill teaches you that the ATW is not a kick—it’s a catch disguised as a circle.

The Other Half

Once you can catch it from the halfway point, start from the inside and work the other direction. Drop the ball, pop it up, and circle from the inside out, stopping at the top again. This is often harder because your hip has to rotate differently. Be patient. I’ve seen people spend two weeks on this alone, and they end up with a much cleaner full trick than those who rush.

Week 4: Putting It All Together (And Fixing the Ugly Bits)

Now you’re ready to connect the full circle. By this point, your foot knows the path, your ankle knows how to stay locked, and your eyes know where the ball should be. Week four is about flow and cleaning up the little mistakes.

The Full ATW from a Drop

Start just like the Half ATW, but this time, don’t stop at the top. Let your foot continue the circle all the way around and catch the ball on the same foot as it comes down. The key is to keep your eyes on the ball’s center and not on your foot. Your foot knows what to do; your brain needs to trust it. If the ball flies away, you’re probably circling too fast or too wide. If the ball hits your heel, you’re starting the circle too late. Film yourself. On Freestyle Flow, we always say your phone camera is the most honest coach you’ll ever have.

Common Stumbles (And How to Fix Them)

• The ball spins like crazy: Your pop-up isn’t clean. Go back to the toe tap drills from week one. A flat, spinless pop is everything.
• You can’t get your foot around in time: Your standing leg isn’t hopping high enough. Exaggerate the hop—get your whole body a little higher. It buys you that split second.
• You catch it but it bounces off immediately: Your ankle is too stiff on the catch, or you’re trying to catch it on the laces. Aim to catch the ball on the flat part of your foot, just behind the toes, with a slight give in the ankle. Think of catching an egg.
• The circle looks more like a triangle: Slow it down. Trace smooth circles on the ground again, then take it back to the ghost ATW. Muscle memory needs reminders.

Adding Juggling Entries (The Fun Part)

Once you can land the ATW from a drop consistently—say, 7 out of 10 times—try it from one juggle. Toss the ball up with a simple foot pop, let it bounce once if you need to, then do the ATW. Then remove the bounce. Then try it from two juggles. This is where the trick becomes a real freestyle tool, not just an isolated skill. I still warm up my ATWs with a few controlled juggles because it simulates the chaos of a real session.

The Culture Behind the Trick

The Around the World isn’t just a milestone; it’s a handshake with the global freestyle community. You’ll see it in battles, in street meet-ups, and in the warm-up routines of some of the best footballers on the planet. When I travel and meet other freestylers, the first thing we often do is trade ATW variations—inside, outside, double, crossover. It’s a language. And at Freestyle Flow, we believe that language should be accessible to anyone willing to put in the work.

Don’t rush the four weeks. If you need five, take five. If your weak foot takes eight, give it eight. The timeline matters less than the feeling of the ball obeying your foot rather than the other way around. I’ve seen people with zero coordination learn this trick in a month, and I’ve seen naturally talented players stall out because they refused to break it down. The difference is always the willingness to look a little silly while doing the boring stuff.

So grab your ball, find a flat patch of ground, and start with the toe taps. Let me know how it goes—I’m always around on Freestyle Flow, sharing the struggles and the breakthroughs. Because that’s exactly what this sport is about.