| As a soccer coach you should always be on the | | | | to gently kick the ball back into your hands. Use your |
| lookout for kids soccer drills that not only teach | | | | dominant foot to begin with, and when you reach a |
| players valuable skills, but that they want to learn. | | | | point where you can get the ball back to your hands |
| Juggling the soccer ball is one of those drills. | | | | consistently start using your other foot. As you |
| If you have watched older youth soccer players, you | | | | become more comfortable, start holding the ball |
| have probably noticed them standing on the sidelines | | | | higher and bouncing the ball off of your thighs. |
| effortlessly bouncing the ball from one foot to the | | | | The next step is to drop the ball, gently kick the ball |
| other, occasionally bouncing the ball off of their thigh | | | | back toward your hands, but instead of catching the |
| or head, then back down to their feet. Many of them | | | | ball, allow it to fall back toward your foot and kick it |
| will bounce the ball in the air continuously with the ball | | | | a second time. As you get more comfortable, try to |
| never touching the ground. In soccer terms, this is | | | | increase the number of times you kick the ball back |
| called juggling. | | | | in the air. You should also begin switching from one |
| Although this kids soccer drill is not one that youth | | | | foot to the other. You should also work at alternating |
| soccer player really enjoy trying to learn, with a little | | | | between using your feet, suing your thighs, and going |
| effort it is not very difficult to master. Once the | | | | back to your feet. |
| players have learned how to do it, they really enjoy | | | | If the ball does happen to hit the ground, but it |
| being able to show off their juggling skills. | | | | bounces back up in front of you, get a foot back on |
| There are several benefits to learning to juggle a | | | | the ball. The more you practice, the less the ball will |
| soccer ball. First and foremost is that it gives your | | | | hit the ground and the longer you will be able to |
| players a lot of touches on the ball. The more times | | | | juggle without the ball getting away from you. |
| a player can touch the ball, the more comfortable | | | | One tip that is helpful for players just learning to |
| and confident they will be during a game. | | | | juggle is to stand in front of a wall or in front of the |
| As players become better at juggling they learn to | | | | net when practicing. The ball will get away from kids |
| have a better first touch. They learn to soften their | | | | that are just learning, and having something in front |
| touch on the ball in order to get it to go where they | | | | of them will make it easier to retrieve the ball. |
| want it to go. They learn not to hit the ball too hard | | | | This is a great kids soccer drill for your players to |
| or too softly. They also learn how to position their | | | | use as a warm up. It gets them concentrating on the |
| bodies in order to control the direction of the ball. | | | | ball, it warms up their quads, and it gets them on |
| Learning to juggle is not difficult; it just takes time | | | | their toes ready to react. They may not enjoy the |
| and repetition. It begins with simply holding the ball | | | | frustrations of trying to learn to juggle, but once |
| out in front of you between your two hands. Start | | | | they learn it is a skill that they will always be glad |
| by holding the ball about waist high. Drop the ball try | | | | that they know. |