Monday, Oct 4 - Friday Oct 8 2021
Download the App and join the FREE Juggling Training!
Juggling is one of the most difficult skills to master in soccer, because it takes so much patience and practice! There is no secret to learning to juggle, but there is a methodical way you can approach it to lessen the learning curve.
Practicing every day for at least 10 minutes can help a lot--and we recommend isolating your right foot, left foot, and then practicing alternating feet, to really hone in on the correct technique. In the 5-day FREE FOR EVERYONE guided training, we will walk players through juggling ladders and how much time to spend practicing each skill.
We’ve never offered a FREE FOR EVERYONE guided training, and we’re excited to bring a training program for this fundamental skill to the masses! If you can’t grab a ball and hit 10 juggles consistently every time, we’ll cover a few reasons you should!
Why juggling is important in soccer
Improve your touch
Juggling the ball requires focus and you have to perfect both the timing and the technique in order to keep the ball in the air. Getting comfortable using both feet to control how hard you hit the ball, where you connect with the ball, and how you position your foot and leg as you do so, is key to improving your first touch.
Hone your aerial ball control
In a game, the ball can come to you in any way -- on the ground, in the air, or somewhere between the two (bouncing). Juggling is a great way to get comfortable controlling the ball in the air while on your own. The more you juggle with different surfaces of the body, the more confident you will be in your ability on the field when the ball comes your way.
Fine-tune your balance and coordination
Many players struggle to understand the relevance of juggling because you don’t juggle the ball over and over while in a game. However, there are many intangible benefits that come from practicing this skill. Among them are aspects of coordination and balance that come from trying to keep the ball in the air. Additionally, juggling is a great way to practice using both feet.
Improve your ball striking
When you practice juggling at first, you should be sure to lock your ankle. The form is actually very similar to the way you’ll learn to strike the ball with your laces on the ground. Getting used to locking your ankle and connecting solidly with the ball makes it easier to strike the ball with power with your laces.
Gain Confidence
The better you are at juggling the ball, the more comfortable you will be with it at your feet and in the air. As you become more comfortable with it, your confidence will increase. This should translate into your training sessions and games.
Juggling Becomes FUN
Becoming a solid juggler won’t happen overnight, but the time and effort you put in will be worth it! You should find that the better you become at juggling, the more fun you will have with the process. Instead of juggling being a “pain point” in your soccer journey, put in the work to make it something you are good at, enjoy, and have fun with at any time!
What else?
Parents, this is for you! Check out this quick video that covers some FAQs when learning to juggle as well as some common mistakes your player may encounter: