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Juggling a football is not a skill that is limited to stars of the game like Messi or Ronaldo. For young football players, it is a great way to learn ball control and develop confidence.
Unfortunately, football juggling is a technique that often gets neglected in favor of practice drills and physical conditioning. However, juggling skills can be quickly developed in kids who are 4,5, or 6 years old with the right blend of practice and patience.
In this article, we will discuss the basics of how to juggle a football.
Juggling is the art of keeping the ball up in the air as long as possible. The players can use the parts of their body like the head, chest, feet, and thighs to juggle the ball.
During juggling, the transfer of energy during the collisions keeps the ball going. The trick is to improve muscle memory and control the force applied through the parts of the body. While it is harder than it looks, regular practice is the key to success.
Mastering basic juggling skills are necessary for all the players of a football team, including the goalkeeper. The main purpose of juggling is to improve the aerial control of the ball. Beginners may find controlling a ball on the ground easier than a ball that is in the air. More so during real games played with the right competitive spirit.
In reality, keeping the ball on the ground or dribbling with it is not always possible during a game. For strikers looking to beat defenders, picking the ball smoothly from a corner or a free kick is an essential skill. And this is where good juggling skills can make a difference.
Thefundamentals of juggling the ball involve learning to add a bit of backspin to prevent the ball from getting out of control. But for most professional football players, this becomes unnecessary as they develop their foot and toe control.
Remember, the practice should be done with both feet and not just your dominant foot. This helps in strengthening the weak foot and also leads to more consistent ball control. With the right level of practice, you will be able to use alternate feet to control the ball bounce.
In fact, very few players use both feet equally while playing football. Once they learn to juggle a football, it helps them improve control and balance on both feet. Overall, it helps them to grow as a better player.
Juggling is one of the best freestylefootball warm-up drills that will help in increasing concentration levels. Players starting for the first time will find it difficult to concentrate during practice. But as they develop their skill, it will immensely improve their ability to remain focused during a 90-minute match.
First thing is, you need to choose the right football based on the age and skill of the player. Younger players with limited football skills will find it difficult to handle large footballs. For kids under 8, a size 3 ball would be an ideal choice.
Learning to juggle the football is all about progression. Take a look at the basic steps involved in the process.
To be honest, juggling is not an easy skill to master. It is natural for young players to get frustrated and lose focus. As a coach, make sure to highlight the small improvements to keep them motivated.
Here are a few tips for juggling footballs that coaches need to focus on.
These are the basics of how to juggle a football. For any player aiming to play football at a competitive level, juggling is an extremely useful skill to learn. Once the players have learned how to juggle a football, it will help them to be more effective during other football drills and a match.
While the players may take time to progress, the rewards of perfecting this skill are many. So, if you have not introduced juggling drills as a part of your football training sessions, it is time to include it.