Random Skills to Learn in a Day, a Weekend or a Month

One press gives you one skill to start at home, what you need and what counts as having learned it.

Random Skills to Learn in a Day, a Weekend or a Month

  1. Deal cards face down as smoothly as a dealerNeeds a deck and a table. Learned when ten cards land in a neat row.
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How it works

Looking for random skills to learn in a day? This random skill generator picks one you can start at home, such as Tie a bowline or Keep a beat on a pair of spoons, and says what you need and what counts as learned.

Read the full guide

Choose how long you have

After your first press, the menu under the button sorts the skills by time: an afternoon, a day, a weekend or a month. The bands are our own rough guess for a beginner. More filters adds the kind: hands, body, memory, home and repair, outdoors, or music and voice. Tick a skill once you have learned it; ticks stay on this device.

Random things to learn without risk

Every skill starts with things many homes already have. Nothing needs a blade, a flame, mains electricity, a height or getting into water. Each line ends with a small finish line, so you know when you can say you learned it.

Tips
  • Read the finish line before you start, and stop when you reach it.

Questions and answers

What should I learn today?

Choose A day in the menu and press. You might get Shuffle a deck with a riffle and a bridge, Take a compass bearing to a landmark or Sing a major scale in solfège. Each line says what you need and where to stop.

What are some random talents to learn?

Party pieces are on the list: Vanish a coin with the French drop, Glide backward in a moonwalk, Keep a beat on a pair of spoons, Get a loud whistle out of two fingers. Choose Body or Music and voice under More filters for more.

Can you really learn a skill in a day?

You can get a simple one working in a day: a knot, a card shuffle, a stitch. Doing it well takes longer, which is why each card names a small finish line and not mastery.

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All 156 skills

An afternoon 55

  • Balance a broom upright on your palm Needs a broom and a clear room. Learned when it stays up for a slow count of thirty.
  • Beat time like a conductor through a whole song Needs a pencil as a baton. Learned when your hand comes down on every first beat.
  • Bounce a ball on a paddle fifty times Needs a table tennis paddle and ball. Learned at fifty without a miss.
  • Bounce a flat stone five times across calm water Needs flat stones and a bank to stand on. Learned at five bounces from one throw.
  • Clap twice before you catch a tossed ball Needs one ball. Learned at ten catches in a row.
  • Clear a slow sink with a plunger Needs a cup plunger. Learned when the water spins down without stopping.
  • Coil a long cord over-under so it never tangles Needs an unplugged extension cord. Learned when it pays out in a straight line.
  • Count a song in bars of four Needs any song with a steady beat. Learned when you call the first beat of each bar aloud.
Show all 156 skills (148 more)

An afternoon, continued

  • Count to thirty-one on one hand in binary Needs one hand. Learned when you count up and back down without stopping.
  • Cut a five-pointed star with one snip Needs paper and scissors. Learned when one straight cut through the folds gives an even star.
  • Deal cards face down as smoothly as a dealer Needs a deck and a table. Learned when ten cards land in a neat row.
  • Finger knit a cord Needs yarn and one hand. Learned when the cord is as long as your arm.
  • Finish a rice bowl using only chopsticks Needs chopsticks and rice. Learned when the bowl is empty and the table is clean.
  • Fold a towel into thirds, hotel style Needs three towels. Learned when the stack shows only folded edges.
  • Get a fitted sheet into a neat rectangle Needs a fitted sheet and a bed to work on. Learned when it stacks like a flat sheet.
  • Gift-wrap a box so that no tape shows Needs paper and double-sided tape. Learned when every seam sits on an edge.
  • Hoot like an owl through cupped hands Needs two hands. Learned when the hoot carries across a yard.
  • Hum a tune through a comb and paper Needs a comb and a strip of thin paper. Learned when the buzz carries the melody.
  • Keep a tarp line tight with a taut-line hitch Needs a tarp, cord and two trees. Learned when you can slide the knot to tighten the line.
  • Keep two balls circling in one hand Needs two balls. Learned at ten catches in a row with each hand.
  • Lace a shoe in a straight-bar pattern Needs one shoe. Learned when the bars lie flat and even.
  • Locate Polaris using the two pointer stars Needs a clear northern night and the Big Dipper. Learned when you can point to the North Star within a minute.
  • Make a sundial that tells the hour Needs a stick, stones and a sunny day. Learned when the shadow meets your marks on time the next day.
  • Match a screwdriver to a screw head Needs a set of screwdrivers. Learned when you tighten a cross-head and a slotted screw without a slip.
  • Memorize a shopping list with a memory palace Needs ten items and a room you know well. Learned when you recall all ten the next morning.
  • Pack a day bag so that nothing rattles Needs a bag and what you would carry on a walk. Learned when you jump and hear nothing.
  • Pick out the bass line in a song Needs headphones. Learned when you can hum the bass part on its own.
  • Play a scale on glasses of water Needs eight glasses, water and a spoon. Learned when tapping them in a row gives a scale.
  • Play cat's cradle with a loop of string Needs a loop of string and a second pair of hands. Learned when you pass it back and forth three times.
  • Put a slipped bike chain back on Needs a rag. Learned when the pedals turn the wheel again.
  • Read a tape measure to its smallest mark Needs a tape measure. Learned when you and a second measurer agree three times.
  • Read Roman numerals up to a thousand Needs the seven symbols, I to M. Learned when you read the year on a building or a title page.
  • Read the 24-hour clock without converting Needs a phone set to 24-hour time. Learned when 17:40 means something at a glance.
  • Read the care symbols on a clothing label Needs three labels from your closet. Learned when you can say how to wash, dry and iron each.
  • Rub your stomach in circles while tapping your head Needs nothing. Learned when you swap hands without a pause.
  • Sew a button back on so it stays Needs a needle, thread and a button. Learned when the button survives a firm tug.
  • Sew a running stitch in a straight line Needs a scrap of fabric, a needle and thread. Learned when the stitches are all the same length.
  • Shade a circle so it looks like a ball Needs a soft pencil. Learned when a friend can say where the light is coming from.
  • Signal SOS three ways Needs a flashlight, a whistle and a pencil. Learned when three short, three long, three short is a habit.
  • Silence a door hinge that squeaks Needs household oil and a rag. Learned when the door swings without a sound.
  • Square any number ending in five in your head Needs paper to check. Learned when you square 15 to 95 without writing.
  • Stay locked to a metronome click Needs a metronome app. Learned when your claps hide the click for a full minute.
  • Tell cumulus, stratus and cirrus clouds apart Needs a few days of sky. Learned when you name the clouds on three different days.
  • Tell the length of any month on your knuckles Needs your two fists. Learned when you answer for any month without a calendar.
  • Tell the wind direction without a flag Needs grass to drop or smoke to watch. Learned when you match the forecast three days running.
  • Tie a bowline Needs a length of rope. Learned when you can tie the fixed loop with your eyes closed.
  • Tie a clove hitch around a post Needs a rope and a chair leg. Learned when you can tie it without looking and it grips the leg.
  • Tie a figure-eight stopper knot Needs a cord. Learned when you can tie it one-handed and it stops the cord slipping through a ring.
  • Tie a four-in-hand necktie knot Needs a tie and a mirror. Learned when you can tie it without the mirror.
  • Tie a square knot and spot a granny knot Needs one cord. Learned when you can tell the two apart at a glance.
  • Tighten the arm of a pair of glasses Needs a tiny screwdriver. Learned when the arm no longer swings loose.
  • Toss a ball behind your back and catch it in front Needs one soft ball. Learned at five catches in a row.
  • Turn a map until it matches the compass needle Needs a map and a compass. Learned when the landmarks around you line up with the paper.
  • Whistle a whole tune in key Needs one song you know well. Learned when a listener names the tune.
  • Work out how far away lightning struck Needs a storm watched from indoors. Learned when you divide the seconds to the thunder by five for miles.

A day 49

  • Balance a spinning basketball on a fingertip Needs a ball. Learned when it spins for a slow count of five.
  • Balance in tree pose on either leg Needs a wall within reach. Learned when you balance for a slow count of thirty on each side.
  • Bring a dull pair of leather shoes to a shine Needs polish, a cloth and a brush. Learned when the toe caps shine.
  • Catch off a wall with your non-writing hand Needs a tennis ball and a wall. Learned at twenty clean catches off the wall.
  • Close a seam with a backstitch Needs two scraps of fabric. Learned when the seam holds as you pull the pieces apart.
  • Count backward from one hundred by sevens Needs nothing. Learned when you reach two without a slip.
  • Crochet a chain of fifty stitches Needs a hook and yarn. Learned when the loops are the same size from end to end.
  • Cross a room with a hardback balanced on your head Needs a hardback book. Learned when you get there and back without touching it.
  • Dance a box step to a slow song Needs a clear floor. Learned when your feet keep the square for the whole song.
  • Edge a piece of felt with a blanket stitch Needs felt, a needle and thick thread. Learned when the stitches are evenly spaced all the way round.
  • Estimate a tree's height with a stick Needs a straight stick and room to back away. Learned when your answer matches a height you can check.
  • Get a loud whistle out of two fingers Needs clean hands and patience. Learned when the whistle carries across a field.
  • Glide backward in a moonwalk Needs socks and a smooth floor. Learned when you glide backward for six steps.
  • Join two ropes with a sheet bend Needs two cords of different thickness. Learned when the join survives a hard tug.
  • Keep a hoop spinning on your waist for a full song Needs a hoop. Learned when it stays up from the first note to the last.
  • Launch a kite without running Needs a kite and a steady breeze. Learned when it climbs from your hand while you stand still.
  • Make a blade of grass squeal between your thumbs Needs a wide blade of grass and two thumbs. Learned when you get the squeal on the first try.
  • Make the classic origami crane from memory Needs one square of paper. Learned when you fold it with no diagram in front of you.
  • Measure a distance by counting your paces Needs a measured hundred meters. Learned when your count predicts a new distance within a few steps.
  • Memorize the first twenty digits of pi Needs the digits written down. Learned when you write them from memory the next day.
  • Memorize three phone numbers you rely on Needs your contact list. Learned when you dial each from memory a week later.
  • Multiply any two-digit number by eleven in your head Needs paper to check. Learned at ten right answers in a row.
  • Name the eight planets in order from the Sun Needs a sentence you make up as a reminder. Learned when you can also say them backward.
  • Pass a football so it spins without wobbling Needs a football and a partner. Learned when it does not wobble over ten paces.
  • Patch a punctured bike tube Needs a patch kit, tire levers and a pump. Learned when the tire is still hard the next morning.
  • Patch the knee of a pair of jeans Needs a patch, a needle and thread. Learned when the patch outlasts three washes.
  • Peg ten words to number rhymes Needs pen and paper. Learned when a rhyme for each number brings back all ten words in order.
  • Play eight bars on a recorder or tin whistle Needs the instrument and a fingering chart. Learned when eight bars pass with no squeak.
  • Project your voice to the back of a room Needs a big room and a listener at the far wall. Learned when they hear every word and you never shout.
  • Put on socks while standing on one leg Needs socks. Learned when both go on without a hop or a hand on the wall.
  • Put up a frame so it hangs dead level Needs a hook, a pencil and a level. Learned when the bubble sits in the middle. Ask before making a hole.
  • Read a poem aloud with the pauses in the right places Needs one poem. Learned when a listener follows it without seeing the page.
  • Read the contour lines on a trail map Needs a map of a hill you know. Learned when you can point to the steepest side from the map alone.
  • Read three kinds of animal tracks Needs mud, sand or snow and a track guide. Learned when you name the animal for three prints you find.
  • Remember the name of everyone you meet at a gathering Needs your next gathering. Learned when you say five new names as you leave.
  • Rethread a drawstring through a hoodie Needs a safety pin. Learned when the cord comes out of the other eyelet.
  • Shuffle a deck with a riffle and a bridge Needs a deck of cards. Learned when no card escapes in ten shuffles in a row.
  • Sing a major scale in solfège Needs a starting note from any instrument. Learned when you sing do to do, up and down, in tune.
  • Sketch a box that looks solid, using perspective Needs pencil, paper and a ruler. Learned when the box looks solid from two different angles.
  • Spell your name in the radio spelling alphabet Needs the list from Alfa to Zulu. Learned when you can spell any word aloud without the list.
  • Spread a deck of cards into an even fan Needs a deck. Learned when every card's corner shows.
  • Stack and unstack twelve cups in a set pattern Needs twelve plastic cups. Learned when you finish the pattern up and down with no fumble.
  • Take a compass bearing to a landmark Needs a baseplate compass. Learned when the bearing leads you to the landmark.
  • Take up a pant leg with a hand-sewn hem Needs needle, thread and pins. Learned when the folded edge holds and the stitches barely show.
  • Tap three beats against two Needs two hands and a table. Learned when one hand taps three while the other taps two for a minute.
  • Throw a flying disc with a forehand flick Needs a disc and open grass. Learned when it flies flat to a partner ten paces away.
  • Use a tide table to plan a beach walk Needs the table for a beach near you. Learned when you predict low tide and the beach agrees.
  • Work a ball of dough until it turns smooth Needs flour, water, yeast and a clean counter. Learned when your loaf rises and keeps its shape.
  • Write a legible sentence with your other hand Needs pen and paper. Learned when a stranger can read it.

A weekend 37

  • Beatbox a basic drum pattern Needs only your mouth. Learned when you loop a bass drum, a hi-hat and a snare for a minute.
  • Braid a four-strand cord Needs four strands of yarn. Learned when the braid is even for the length of your forearm.
  • Bump a volleyball to yourself Needs a volleyball. Learned at fifteen forearm passes in a row.
  • Cinch a load with a trucker's hitch Needs rope and something to tie down. Learned when the load stays put as you shake it.
  • Darn a worn sock heel Needs a darning needle, yarn and a ball inside the sock. Learned when the mend survives a day of wear.
  • Do ten keep-ups with a soccer ball Needs a ball and open space. Learned at ten touches before it lands.
  • Draw the continents and oceans from memory Needs a world map and blank paper. Learned when your sketch has every one labeled.
  • Hold a harmony line against a melody Needs a recording of a simple tune. Learned when you keep your own line while the tune plays.
  • Keep a beat on a pair of spoons Needs two metal spoons. Learned when you keep a steady beat through a whole song.
  • Keep a three-ball cascade going Needs three balls or rolled socks. Learned at twenty catches in a row.
  • Keep a week of weather notes and spot a pattern Needs a notebook and a window. Learned when your notes let you guess tomorrow right.
  • Kick a footbag ten times without a drop Needs a footbag or a small beanbag. Learned at ten kicks, using both feet.
  • Knit a small garter stitch swatch Needs two needles and a ball of yarn. Learned when the swatch has straight edges and no dropped stitch.
  • Knot a keychain with macramé square knots Needs cord and a key ring. Learned when the knots lie flat in an even row.
  • Know five local birds by their song Needs early mornings and a bird guide. Learned when you name each one before you see it.
  • Learn a fourteen-line sonnet word for word Needs one sonnet you like. Learned when you say every line to someone without a prompt.
  • Loop a body percussion pattern Needs your hands and feet. Learned when a pattern of stomps and claps repeats for a minute.
  • Match ten countries to their capitals Needs an atlas and one continent. Learned when you match all ten with the names covered.
  • Memorize the order of thirteen shuffled cards Needs one suit from a deck. Learned when you recite the order after studying it once.
  • Name the notes on a treble staff Needs a page of sheet music. Learned when you name every note of a simple tune in order.
  • Name the weekday for any date with the doomsday rule Needs a calendar to check yourself. Learned when five random dates come out right.
  • Pick out the constellations of a single season Needs a star chart and dark, clear nights. Learned when you can trace each one for a friend.
  • Play a C major scale with both hands Needs a keyboard. Learned when both hands reach the top note together.
  • Put up a tent single-handed Needs a tent and a yard. Learned when it stands taut without help or the instructions.
  • Rally a ball against a wall twenty times Needs a racket, a ball and a wall. Learned at twenty hits without a miss.
  • Say all 24 Greek letters in order Needs the list of letters. Learned when you say alpha to omega in order, twice.
  • Sew a small notebook from folded paper Needs paper, a needle and thread. Learned when the pages turn without pulling loose.
  • Shoot a free throw the same way every time Needs a hoop and a ball. Learned when five out of ten go in.
  • Sing a round with one other person Needs a partner and a round you both know. Learned when neither of you drifts into the other's part.
  • Skip rope for a full song without a trip Needs a rope and flat ground. Learned when you get through the song on three different days.
  • Solve the seven-piece tangram back into its square Needs seven tangram pieces, bought or cut from card. Learned when you make the square unaided.
  • Spell a word in flag semaphore Needs two dish towels as flags and a chart. Learned when a friend reads your five-letter word.
  • Stop a chair from rocking on its legs Needs a screwdriver or wood glue. Learned when it no longer rocks on a flat floor.
  • Tap a paradiddle on a tabletop Needs two pencils. Learned when right-left-right-right, left-right-left-left runs evenly.
  • Throw a yo-yo sleeper and bring it back Needs a yo-yo. Learned when it spins at the end of the string, then returns on a tug.
  • Vanish a coin with the French drop Needs one coin and a mirror. Learned when your own reflection fools you.
  • Write the alphabet in italic calligraphy Needs a broad-nib pen or marker. Learned when a full line of letters slopes the same way.

A month 15

  • Get through one line dance from start to finish Needs a clear floor and the music. Learned when you finish the sequence without watching anyone.
  • Grow a vegetable from seed to plate Needs a pot, soil, seeds and a sunny spot. Learned when you eat what you grew.
  • Grow roots on a stem cutting in a jar Needs a healthy stem, a jar and a windowsill. Learned when you see new roots.
  • Name the Moon's phase on any night Needs a month of evenings. Learned when you can say waxing or waning at a glance.
  • Play three chords on a guitar or ukulele Needs the instrument and a chord chart. Learned when you change chords without stopping the strum.
  • Read the braille alphabet by sight Needs a braille chart. Learned when you decode a short word from its dot patterns.
  • Recognize twenty national flags Needs a flag chart. Learned when you name all twenty with the names covered.
  • Send and read the alphabet in Morse code Needs a chart and a pen to tap with. Learned when you send and read your full name.
  • Touch type without looking at the keys Needs a keyboard. Learned when you type a paragraph with your eyes on the screen.
  • Touch your toes with straight legs Needs a mat and a few minutes a day. Learned when your fingertips reach the floor without bouncing.
  • Tune a guitar by ear Needs a guitar and one reference note. Learned when a tuner agrees with you on all six strings.
  • Turn once on one foot and stop still Needs socks and a smooth floor. Learned when you finish facing where you began, three times running.
  • Write a full page in cursive Needs lined paper and a model alphabet. Learned when the page has no printed letter.
  • Write hydrogen to calcium in order from memory Needs a periodic table. Learned when all twenty elements come out right.
  • Yodel a simple phrase Needs a place where noise is welcome. Learned when you flip cleanly between low voice and high voice.

How this list was compiled: Written for this site on 2026-09-30: every skill, every line on what you need and every finish line is our own wording, and no list was copied. Each skill can be started alone, or with one helper, using things many homes already have. The list was screened for a general audience: nothing that needs a blade, a flame, mains electricity, a height, a stunt, breath-holding or getting into water; where a card touches a wall, a storm or a shoreline it says to ask first, to watch from indoors or to stay on the bank. The How long bands (an afternoon, a day, a weekend, a month) are our own rough guess at how long a beginner needs to reach the finish line on the card; they are not measurements and people differ widely. The finish lines are ours too: a small result you can check, not mastery. Named techniques and the facts on the cards were checked on 2026-09-30 against the Wikipedia article for each one: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowline, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clove_hitch, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figure-eight_knot, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheet_bend, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuffling, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_drop, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orizuru, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touch_typing, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_knitted_fabrics, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chain_stitch, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finger_knitting, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat%27s_cradle, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italic_script, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perspective_(graphical), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macram%C3%A9, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport_stacking, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yo-yo, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cursive, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tangram, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fold-and-cut_theorem, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascade_(juggling), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonwalk_(dance), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_step, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keepie_uppie, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hacky_sack, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_pose, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_dance, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Method_of_loci, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mnemonic_peg_system, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knuckle_mnemonic, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_code, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOS, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO_phonetic_alphabet, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_alphabet, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pi, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonnet, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doomsday_rule, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finger_binary, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_numerals, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braille, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_semaphore, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hem, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight_stitch, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backstitch, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darning, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blanket_stitch, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four-in-hand_knot, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laundry_symbol, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coiling, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Dipper, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contour_line, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bearing_(navigation), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cloud_types, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunder, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_skipping, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pace_count_beads, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taut-line_hitch, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reef_knot, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trucker%27s_hitch, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sundial, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tide_table, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_height_measurement, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_phase, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solf%C3%A8ge, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoons_(musical_instrument), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatboxing, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyrhythm, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clef, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drum_rudiment, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comb_and_paper, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yodeling, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_percussion . Among the facts checked: a bowline forms a fixed loop; a sheet bend joins lines of different thickness; SOS in Morse code is three dots, three dashes, three dots; the spelling alphabet runs from Alfa to Zulu; the Greek alphabet has 24 letters from alpha to omega; a sonnet has fourteen lines; one hand counts to 31 in binary; Roman numerals use seven symbols from I to M; calcium is element 20; the two pointer stars of the Big Dipper lead to the North Star; close contour lines mean a steep slope; the seconds between lightning and thunder divided by five give the distance in miles; and a paradiddle is right-left-right-right, left-right-left-left. Two cards rest on arithmetic we checked ourselves: multiplying by eleven and squaring numbers that end in five. The footbag card names no brand. Titles were compared by script with every other list on this site and reworded where they came close; four skills that also stand on a sister list keep the same id there (juggling, touch typing, Morse code, a two-finger whistle) and one more shares the soccer ball idea. Licence: own work