Football is a simple game and becoming comfortable with the ball is at its heart.
The core skill of first touch is about creating that comfort and one of the easiest ways for children and adults to gain that confidence, when playing on your own or with a friend, is through the fun challenge of juggling.
Elite players, from the Westfield Matildas to the Socceroos, use juggling regularly to improve their first touch and ball feeling.
Get that juggling feeling
Juggling is easy to get going. You can start off with most basic by dropping the ball out of your hands, juggling it with a part of the body once (e.g. foot, or thigh), and then catching it. Once you have mastered that, you can try for two juggles then a catch, and so on.
“Ultimately it will help develop your touch over time, have greater confidence and generate better ball feeling,” says Kevin Grima, FFA’s Boys Youth Development Manager.
“Getting comfortable with the ball means you you've got the confidence to execute other more complex skills as you progress throughout your football development.”
Why juggling is good for kids?
Juggling is fun for kids and adults, and is a great activity for home play. It also helps in other ways.
“It's important for kids as it helps to develop foot-eye coordination” says Grima.
“As players get older it's just as important for them to develop the weight of their touch and develop better body and ball control.”
How to make juggling fun
Look to improvise!
“You'll see so many people trying freestyle skills. And obviously, as you develop more skill sets, try radical things such as the rainbow flick to commence your routine or even attempt the 'round the world' trick during your juggle.”
“They can try anything, even the Maradona 7 where they can touch it with different parts of the body. Just mix it up and even a parent can challenge a child to use a different part of their body to develop that feeling with ball.”
Of course every week the Socceroos and Westfield Matildas will be putting out a new #PlayAtHomeChallenge for everyone to try with a juggling element to it.
Disclaimer: make sure to practice in a safe environment and read the full disclaimer here before participating.
