Learn How to Juggle with a Soccer Ball
Juggling a Soccer Ball: Technique Tips
Some people might view soccer juggling as a trick that might be fun but doesn't have any application to The Beautiful Game itself. This could not be further from the truth. When you learn to juggle a soccer ball, you're also learning a variety of skills that turn you into a better player. Bownet has put together this guide on how to juggle in soccer so that even if all you have is yourself and a ball, you can still #TrainLikeAPro.
Benefits of Soccer Juggling
There are many advantages of knowing how to juggle a soccer ball, including:
- Improved ball control, first touch and in-air ball receiving.
- Strengthening a player's weaker foot and leg.
- Better coordination and spatial awareness.
- Increased focus and discipline.
- A big upgrade to your confidence.
The more you juggle, the more potential situations you experience that can come up in a game. You'll gain an understanding of how a ball responds when you contact it a certain way and learn to make it do what you want it to do. This is a huge step in becoming an elite player.
Tips for How to Juggle in Soccer
- Start by dropping the ball on your foot and trying to kick it straight upwards to catch it. Once you can do this consistently, try doing two juggles before you catch the ball. As you progress, you can add more juggles and start using the thighs, chest and head.
- When foot juggling, you want to make contact using either the insides or the instep of your foot, which is the top area between your shoelaces and toes. Hitting the ball with the toes or near the ankle will likely send it flying off.
- Remember to practice juggling using both feet. Part of the point of learning how to juggle is to raise the skill of your non-dominant side. If you only can kick and receive well with one foot, it's easier for others to play against you.
- Use a soccer ball that's a little under-inflated at first. This will have less bounce and thus be easier to control. Switch to a properly inflated ball when you feel comfortable with the under-inflated ball.
- Try not to kick the ball or your legs too high. When you're starting, you should keep each within a few inches of the ground. The higher the ball and your legs go, the more difficult both are to control.
Play Anywhere, Play Now
The most important tip for juggling a soccer ball is this: practice often. A few minutes once or twice a week isn't going to help you improve much. Aim to practice juggling several times a week for at least 15 minutes per session to get the repetitions you need.
If you need a soccer ball for juggling, Bownet offers size 3 and size 4 soccer balls along with our low-bounce futsal ball. Each is designed so youth and professional players alike can #PlayAnywherePlayNow.