We all know that soccer/football superstars like Lionell Messi, Wayne Rooney, and Cristiano Ronaldo don’t make goals by merely juggling the soccer ball. Of course, in order to score a goal one must either use his foot by kicking the ball towards the goal, or use his head and score through a header. So why do players bother mastering their juggling skills? Does it really have an impact in actual soccer games? For one, juggling helps a player build superb ball control and handling skills. Doing it over and over again constantly through the years familiarizes a player with the “physics” of a soccer ball, ie. how it bounces, how much it weighs, how it rolls, etc. In addition to this, juggling replicates real game situations in one way or another. And lastly, juggling the ball enables a player to create a perfect moment to strike the ball and score for a win.
Mastering juggling a soccer ball isn’t just a walk in the park. You need constant practice and unending perseverance to tighten up your juggling skills. Practice everyday. If you don’t have time for it, make time for it! Here are some tips on how you can improve at juggling a soccer ball:
- Know the contours of your feet, thigh or head. The first thing that you have to do is to know the shape of your feet, thighs or head depending on what part of your body you’re planning to use in juggling a soccer ball. Of course, to know what direction the ball will go once it hits your foot, for instance, you should identify what’s the shape of the surface the ball will hit in the first place. The ball can go straight up, to the left or to the right depending on whether it will hit a flat or a rounded surface.
- Focus on one body part. At first, juggle using only one body part at a time. For example, start practicing with your right foot first. When you can already make at least 10 consecutive juggles using your right foot without the ball hitting the ground, do the same routine with your left foot, then with your right thigh, then with your left thigh, and then with your head.
- Alternate body parts. Once you can juggle a soccer ball with your different body parts singly without any problem, try alternating them. For instance, hit the ball twice using your right foot, then hit it twice again but now using your left foot. Make your own combination, but just don’t forget to use your different body parts. As you keep on doing this, it will later on be just a breeze for you.
- Keep your progress on paper. Practicing everyday can burn you out. But if you record your progress on paper, not only will this enable you to keep track of your development, but it will also be a good source of inspiration for you. Seeing yourself improve as recorded on a tangible medium, that is, written on a piece of paper, will definitely give you a sense of fulfillment—a morale booster that will make you keep on practicing.
Just keep on practicing. Remember one thing: there’s always room for improvement!
