Juggling Foundations
Ball Control
Legend
- player
- ball
- movement path
How it works
Learn to keep the ball off the ground using feet and thighs to build first touch and feel.
What you need
- soccer ball
Your focus
Juggling is the fastest way to build ball familiarity and foot-eye coordination in young players. Regular juggling practice develops the soft first touch that every elite ball control skill depends upon.
Each player has a ball. Start by dropping the ball and catching it on their laces before it hits the ground.
Progress to two consecutive catches off the laces.
Try to complete 3 juggles without the ball touching the ground.
Use thigh juggles when the ball gets too high, drop, thigh, foot, thigh, foot.
Set a personal record each session, try to beat it.
Play for 5 minutes, rest, then try again.
Goal
You've got it when you hit 3 juggles in a row and the ball comes back up to the right height each time, soft and controlled, not smashed or dropped.
Helpful cues
- Use the flat part of your foot, not your toe
- Watch the ball all the way to your foot
- Keep your foot relaxed, not stiff
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Allow the ball to bounce once between each kick.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Juggle using only one foot for 5 touches, then switch.No account needed
Build a practice plan
Add drills, keep the plan in this browser, then share a link with your staff or parents.This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.
This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.After every practice, UpLVL automatically surfaces the drills each player needs to work on most. See it for yourself.