The true value of juggling

[ConorM]

I think juggling is quite misunderstood. A lot of people who can't juggle say juggling doesn't make you a good player which is only partly true. How can you be a great player however if you lack the skill and technique to tap a ball up in the air with your foot? Its not difficult. Not all great jugglers are great players, but all great players are great jugglers.

How many can you do? It its anything less than 500 I would say you might lack control, although most don't have the attention span. I can go for over an hour (a few thousand maybe? Like 8000?) but I obviously mix it up, heading, thighs, shoulders etc. Doing tricks is great too, it improves dexterity, control, skill and creativity. I went over 30 minutes once combining difficult juggles (shoulder etc) with some basic tricks. I used to be a big tackling defender, always very intelligent and aggresive but lacking skill. About 2 years ago I started working on my own with juggling and tricks and now, because of my previous on pitch ability, have managed to combine this new found skill with my other attributes. I don't try fancy tricks just basic ones in games but my control and basic skills have improved immeasureably, all by juggling. I am as skillful as the 'showboats' around but yet they have nothing else.

Speed juggling is perhaps the best of all, I saw it on TV once and tried it, I can now do about 95 in one minute on my right foot, and 75 if I switch feet. I would never have believed how fast this improved not just my ball control, but overall ability. Suddenly I found myself looking up much more easily, picking out team mates easier, being quicker on the ball, everything improved. Try speed juggling it is amazing. Everything about your game will improve.

How many can you do in a minute? :D

[Sky_]

I'm one of the very few here who can't juggle......... yet.

But tahts because I didn't grow up playing streetball nor practiced juggling. Anyways I have two balls now, a size 3 and 5, and I'm practicing every day. I remember reading somewhere that tells you to flip your feet up to tap the ball, however I noticed that adds too much spin. When I watch Touzani its almost like he locks the ankles and just brings up the foot to tap the ball. Can anyone add some tips?

[Lg__o3]

I was just woundering if anyone has used a mini ball (size 1) because i have for awhile now i i feel it has improve my ingame controll. A mini is harder to controll because its size (obviously) and weight, you need to have a lighter touch on the ball. In a game, because im use to a mini, my over all control has improved. does anyone else use a mini ball, and how has it worked out.

As for speed juggling i practice this but i mix it up with tricks and combo's, and have never actually counted how many i can do, but i guess i should.

[Elninho]

I don't have the patience. The funny thing is that I can juggle for a decent amount of time (at least 5-10 mins or so) in tennis shoes, but no more than about 10 touches with actual soccer shoes.

[UCLAsoccer008]

where can i read/watch about this speed juggling?

[Becks7]

I don't have the patience. The funny thing is that I can juggle for a decent amount of time (at least 5-10 mins or so) in tennis shoes, but no more than about 10 touches with actual soccer shoes.
same with me, running shoes work best for me!

yeh i agree juggling helps ur game...juggling = your control over the ball = overall ability to do what you want with the ball.

[ConorM]

http://www.soccer-magic.com/fsm_speedjuggling.html

I can juggle the same with trainers as in football boots, I never had that problem, maybe you have never practiced in boots but the skill should transfer.

As for juggling the ball its just practice, the technique will come, you should just relax your legs and curl your toes up a little bit to get the ball going vertically. It shouldn't spin too much, just a little bit. If you can do it without spin thats harder and is another variation.

[Elninho]

http://www.soccer-magic.com/fsm_speedjuggling.html

I can juggle the same with trainers as in football boots, I never had that problem, maybe you have never practiced in boots but the skill should transfer.

As for juggling the ball its just practice, the technique will come, you should just relax your legs and curl your toes up a little bit to get the ball going vertically. It shouldn't spin too much, just a little bit. If you can do it without spin thats harder and is another variation.

The really odd thing is that I usually practice in boots, and can't make more than about 10 touches. Meanwhile, almost every time I try in tennis shoes, which is only once in a while, I pretty much go until I decide to stop, and that's generally 5-10 minutes.

[ConorM]

WHat boots do you wear? That is very strange.

[Elninho]

WHat boots do you wear? That is very strange.

Fila Claudio Reynas. In the last 12 months, I've also tried it wearing Nike Air Zoom Brasils, and also a borrowed pair of Kelme boots, don't remember the model. Same effect with all three.

Heck, I even do better wearing heavy hiking boots.

Incidentally, I have no trouble picking a corner of the net from 25 yards. It's one of the few things I do really, really well.

[saabrian]

I think juggling is quite misunderstood. A lot of people who can't juggle say juggling doesn't make you a good player which is only partly true.

I can't juggle worth a darn but it's a skill I wish I had. It's definitely worthwhile. Players who can juggle tend to have better first touch and ball control.

[Tony Dellbird]

i normally juggle in me socks out in me yard which is pretty cool with a little champions league ball that is size 1 i recommend people to do that, i don't have the stayin power to count or nethin lol guess thats just me

[Casper]

Conor, you wouldn't happen to be nationally ranked, would you?

[Lg__o3]

i normally juggle in me socks out in me yard which is pretty cool with a little champions league ball that is size 1 i recommend people to do that, i don't have the stayin power to count or nethin lol guess thats just me

thats the mini ball i use

[MarioKempes]

I don't have the patience. The funny thing is that I can juggle for a decent amount of time (at least 5-10 mins or so) in tennis shoes, but no more than about 10 touches with actual soccer shoes.

And you played college ball? Umm, not to be judgemental, but you suck :D

[Alej]

Conor, you wouldn't happen to be nationally ranked, would you?

HAHAHAHA LOL

[ConorM]

Well whatever nationally ranked means....no.

No I am from Ireland so definately not :D Football (soccer) is only my second sport.

[beckham237]

just cus he cant juggle in cleats doesnt mean he sucks i cant juglle in cleats very good but have you seen my freestyle vids?

[blkbrnrvr]

Conor, you wouldn't happen to be nationally ranked, would you?

even 10 years from now, I'll ask every Conor I meet that exact question. :D

[Elninho]

And you played college ball? Umm, not to be judgemental, but you suck :D

Hey, by the time my senior season rolled around, I was mostly around just to take set pieces... mind you, we had a lot of them, since SCIAC fouls a lot (average of probably between 4 and 5 yellow cards per team per game... we were the cleanest team in the conference all three years I played, averaging *only* about 2.5 yellows per game).