If you are a youth soccer player then you have more than likely seen the juggling skills of a whole bunch of older players.  In fact, you probably are a bit impatient to be able to juggle a soccer ball yourself.  Juggling a ball is actually a whole lot easier than it looks.  All it takes is a bit of focus and concentration and a whole lot of practice on your part.

Here’s a Tip To Make It Easier
One of the most common mistakes that a youth soccer player will make while trying to learn to juggle is that they hit the ball far too high up into the air. When juggling a ball what you actually want to do is keep the ball as low to the ground and as close to yourself as you possibly can. By keeping the ball low to the ground and close to your body you will be making it much easier to keep control of the it.

When trying to learn how to juggle a soccer ball it is best to remain calm and relaxed and don’t get all caught up in frustration.  If you think of learning to bounce the ball 2 times in a row on the top of your foot, then make it 3 times: then 4: then 6.  Then bounce it 5 times on one foot then switch to the other foot and bounce it 2 times, then 3: and so on.  Then bounce it from one foot to the other foot.  Try holding the ball on your foot for a second, then two and so on.  Bounce the ball to your head and bounce it back to the other foot, then to a shoulder, then to your chest, your knee, your thigh; You get the picture.

I can’t really tell you “How” to juggle, but the point is… learn to bounce the ball on your feet first then bounce it off other things (or parts of your body) and back to your feet.  Keep the ball close to you and it makes learning this easier.  But… to learn it you have to “just do it” …  a lot!

It’s also real easy to become nervous or frantic when trying to juggle a ball in front of people.  At first you’ll be able to bounce it a million times with either foot UNTIL you try to show your friends.  Then you can’t do it 2 times in a row!  Is that crazy or what.  Here’s the deal.  Learning juggling, teaches you control.  Just like you learned to control each finger when you were a baby (Only you don’t remember that!) you are learning to control the ball with your feet.  This will translate to better control while you are on the soccer field.

So… find a place with grass so you don’t have to do a lot of chasing the ball to learn and just practice practice practice. You WILL get it down and it will make you a better player.   If you can master juggling the ball then you will become a good dribbler in no time at all!  Just remember the most important thing is to keep practicing.

On YouTube you can find all sorts of video of some really good jugglers.  If you practice enough with your juggling, you will be able to do those kinds of things as well if you have a mind to.  But you have to practice!