Learning to juggle is fun and it develops many important soccer skills such as:
- Good first touch on the ball
- Eye/foot coordination
- Balance/body control
- Rhythm
- Receiving balls in the air
The Coach Houseman's Juggling Club will get you looking like a pro by first using the bounce juggle technique. Allowing the ball to hit the ground will keep you juggling longer; learn faster; and stay the course in attaining each juggling level.
Shown below are the my Juggling Levels. Each level gets progressively more challenging. Practice each level on your own until you feel confident in being tested. Your juggling progress will be posted to this website. Before you start, here are some tips:
- Find a firm flat surface.
- Use a slightly under-inflated ball (easier to control).
- Concentrate on making a good toss so the ball bounces straight up in front of you, about an arm’s length away and about waist high.
- Use an athletic stance with knees slightly bent, head up and arms out for balance. Stay relaxed.
- Move your feet to position your body so you are not reaching for the ball or crowding yourself by being too close to the ball. The center of your body should face the ball.
- Bend the knee of your kicking foot and lock your ankle.
- Use the center of your instep (laces) to tap the center bottom of the ball. The contact point on your foot should be parallel to the ground so the ball will go straight up into the air.
- Try not to put spin on the ball.
- Tap the ball up about knee to chest high and about an arm’s length away.
- Click here to visualize some of these pointers.
BEGINNERS
Level #1 – Toss the ball in the air and let it bounce. Then tap the ball back up into the air with your instep (laces) and catch it. We will call this 1Bounce- Foot- Catch. Do this 10 consecutive times with your good foot. If you miss, start from the beginning.
Level #2 – Same as Level #1 but use your weaker foot.
Level #3 – Toss the ball in the air and let it bounce. Then tap the ball in with one foot; let it bounce; tap the ball with the other foot and let it bounce. Do this 10 times (5 with each foot) and end it with a catch. In other words, the sequence would be Bounce-Foot-Bounce-Foot-Bounce-Foot-Bounce-Foot………..Catch. Again, if you miss, start from the beginning.
Level #4 – Same as Level #3 but do it 20 times alternating your feet.
Level #5 - Toss the ball in the air and let it bounce. Then tap the ball up into the air with your instep (laces) and tap it back up into the air a second time with your instep (not letting it bounce) then catch it. We will call this Bounce- Foot - Foot- Catch. Do this sequence 5 times using your good foot.
Level # 6 – Same as Level #5 except use your weaker foot.
Level #7 – Repeat the sequence in Level # 5 and Level #6 but alternate feet 5 times (double touches between bounces).
Level #8 – Repeat the sequence in Level #7 but alternate feet 10 times (double touches between bounces).
INTERMEDIATE STATUS (No Bounces)
Level #9 – Drop the ball onto your foot and tap it back into the air with your good foot 5 times before catching it. The sequence would be Drop-Foot-Foot-Foot-Foot-Foot-Catch. If you miss, start from the beginning.
Level #10 – Same as Level #9 except use your weaker foot.
Level #11 – Same as Level #9 and Level #10 but alternate feet (good foot-weaker foot) 10 times (5 touches on each foot).
Level # 12 – Same as Level #11 but do it 20 times.
ADVANCED STATUS (No Bounces/Other Body Parts)
Level # 13 - Toss the ball into the air and strike it with a thigh. Make 10 thigh juggles (5 right thigh - 5 left thigh any order) ending with a catch.
Level # 14 - same as level #13 except 20 thigh juggles (10/right - 10 left - any order) ending with a catch.
Level # 15 - 20 juggles - 10 feet (5/5) and 10 thigh (5/5) any order ending with a catch.
Level # 16 - 5 head juggles ending with a catch. To help with head juggles, slightly deflate the soccer ball and watch this brief instructional video by Online Soccer Academy - click here.
Level # 17 - 10 head juggles ending with a catch.
Level # 18 - combination of 5 left foot, 5 right foot, 5 right thigh, 5 left thigh, and 5 head juggles in any order ending in a catch - 25 total juggles.
Level # 19 - 50 juggles or more - any combination until the ball hits the ground - feet (instep, heel, soul), thighs, head, shoulders, etc.
FREESTYLE STATUS (Big Time Fun)
Congratulations. You're ready to enter the world of freestyle futbol like my old buddies Laurel and Hardy or more like Paul (Woodie) Wood and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Paul Wood has made soccer juggling famous with his numerous worldwide tours and TV appearances. Click the following link and watch Woody show you how to do some of his tricks.
Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United is one of the best soccer players in the world. Watch him demo his off the field juggling prowess.
Now crank up your imagination. Juggle with your feet, thighs, head, chest, shoulders, heels, etc.. You can even use music to add rhythm to your performance. The number of juggles are secondary to the difficulty of the juggle (the WOW factor) and your showmanship. You're a pro so have fun with it!!!