Arlington Travel Soccer Club

How to Improve your Juggling

Soccer Ball Juggling (by Stephen C Jefferies)

Learning Sequence

STEP 1

Hold the ball and drop it onto the laces of one foot. Kick the ball up to catch, trying not to move. Repeat for right and left feet making sure that you are:

a. Keeping your knees slightly bent and ready to move.
b. Dropping the ball directly onto the laces of your shoe.
c. Keeping the surface of your controlling foot flat and firm.
d. Kicking the ball no higher than your head.

STEP 2

Hold the ball and drop it onto the laces of one foot. Kick the ball up no higher than your waist. Let it bounce once then kick it up again to waist height. Continue kicking with right and left feet for 10 kicks total, then catch to finish. Make sure that you are:

a. Keeping your knees slightly bent and ready to move.
b. Dropping the ball directly onto the laces of your shoe.
c. Keeping the surface of your controlling foot flat and firm.
d. Kicking the ball no higher than your waist.

STEP 3

This station repeats Step 2 but now you must control the ball without moving. Hold the ball and drop it onto the laces of one foot. Kick the ball up no higher than your waist. Let it bounce once then kick it up again to waist height. Continue kicking with right and left feet for 10 kicks total, then catch to finish. Make sure that you are:

a. Keeping your knees slightly bent and ready to move.
b. Dropping the ball directly onto the laces of your shoe.
c. Keeping the surface of your controlling foot flat and firm.
d. Kicking the ball no higher than your waist.

STEP 4

Hold the ball and drop it onto the laces of one foot. Juggle (kick) the ball twice on your foot then catch. Repeat for right and left feet making sure that you are:

a. Keeping your knees slightly bent and ready to move.
b. Dropping the ball directly onto the laces of your shoe.
c. Keeping the surface of your controlling foot flat and firm.
d. Kicking the ball no higher than your waist.

STEP 5

Hold the ball and drop it onto the laces of one foot. Juggle (kick) the ball from this foot to your other foot then catch. Repeat, starting alternately with right and left feet making sure that you are:

a. Keeping your knees slightly bent and ready to move.
b. Dropping the ball directly onto the laces of your shoe.
c. Keeping the surface of your controlling foot flat and firm.
d. Kicking the ball no higher than your waist.

STEP 6

Hold the ball and drop it onto the laces of one foot. Juggle (kick) the ball three times on this foot then catch. Repeat with right and left feet making sure that you are:

a. Keeping your knees slightly bent and ready to move.
b. Dropping the ball directly onto the laces of your shoe.
c. Keeping the surface of your controlling foot flat and firm.
d. Kicking the ball no higher than your waist.

STEP 7

Hold the ball and drop it onto the laces of one foot. Juggle (kick) the ball from this foot to your other foot and back to the starting foot, then catch. Repeat, starting alternately with right and left feet making sure that you are:

a. Keeping your knees slightly bent and ready to move.
b. Dropping the ball directly onto the laces of your shoe.
c. Keeping the surface of your controlling foot flat and firm.
d. Kicking the ball no higher than your waist.

STEP 8

Hold the ball and drop it onto the laces of one foot. Juggle (kick) the ball from this foot to your other foot, back to the starting foot, back to the other foot, then catch (a sequence of 4 juggles). Repeat, starting alternately with right and left feet making sure that you are:

a. Keeping your knees slightly bent and ready to move.
b. Dropping the ball directly onto the laces of your shoe.
c. Keeping the surface of your controlling foot flat and firm.
d. Kicking the ball no higher than your head.

STEP 9

Hold the ball and drop it onto the laces of one foot. Juggle (kick) the ball continuously using only this foot and count how many you can make without letting the ball touch the floor. Repeat, with your other foot making sure that you are:

a. Keeping your knees slightly bent and ready to move.
b. Dropping the ball directly onto the laces of your shoe.
c. Keeping the surface of your controlling foot flat and firm.
d. Kicking the ball no higher than your head.

STEP 10

Hold the ball and drop it onto the laces of one foot. Juggle (kick) the ball continuously using either feet and count how many you can make without letting the ball touch the floor and making sure that you are:

a. Keeping your knees slightly bent and ready to move.
b. Dropping the ball directly onto the laces of your shoe.
c. Keeping the surface of your controlling foot flat and firm
d. Kicking the ball no higher than your head.

STEP 11

If you have successfully achieved the previous learning steps you are ready for the following challenges. Choose a skill that challenges your skill level and follow the same juggling principles:

1. Try to juggle using only your thighs. Go back to earlier learning steps to make the skill easier.
2. Try to juggle the ball using your forehead. Be sure to use a soft ball so you don't hurt your head.
3. Find a partner who has also reached step 11 and try to juggle the ball back and forth. Keep the ball in the air as much as possible.

As you try these skills make sure that you are:

a. Keeping your knees slightly bent and ready to move.
b. Dropping the ball directly onto the laces of your shoe.
c. Keeping the surface of your controlling foot flat and firm.
d. Kicking the ball no higher than your head.