Purpose of Jugging

The Purpose of Juggling

Coaches will often request that their players practice and perform juggling skills/exercises during

downtime at practice sessions or even ask for them to develop this skill at home. But why is it

required of a player to execute such a skill considering it is very rarely, if at all, used in games.

Obviously it serves a purpose, and that is not just to help players become more comfortable with

the ball by developing their first touch. It also helps develop a players balance and agility; two

characteristics that we look for players to posses.

It is required of a top level player to have a good first touch and be comfortable on the ball,

especially when under pressure from opponents, with limited time and space. Therefore, coaches

must encourage juggling in order to develop touch, because touch translates into being

composed in games. With a good touch players will be at ease when bringing the ball under

control and holding it against pressure.

Players can also develop a better weight on their passing as well as being able to pass it with

more accuracy. This technical skill is developed through juggling activities because players

should be able to feel the ball through the shoe, giving them control of their first touch or pass and

not the ball dictating what the player does.

Practicing juggling can also help players settle with the ball when it is dropping to them from out

of the air. As they improve at juggling they will become more relaxed in bringing the ball down

and continuing with it in a natural flow of the game or even shielding it from a defender.

Within today’s US school system it is not a rare occurrence to see physical education classes and

activities being removed from the curriculum. Not only is this resulting in children becoming unfit

but can result in children struggling with simple tasks such as tumbling, hopping and balancing

skills. When you juggle, touching the ball is half of the battle the...