How important is juggling?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My daughter's club with 3 girls on YNT wrote: Wow! At 7! Can't wait to see her on the WNT... My daughter's club has 3 girls on YNT--they all have great footskills... and they can also juggle. LOL

those YNTs that didn't make it past the recent WC group stages?

Juggling is great! Past a certain number (or time) is not adding value. Multiple surface touches is just a part of becoming a better player.

Yes, 2 were on the U17 WC team... but, by all means, hate on the kids for a bad tournament. I'm sure your child is better than all on that roster. SMH

What a mean spirited comment that poster made

Not my 7 y.o. PP but this is too good. Even if those girls are such prolific jugglers, that skill set was not very helpful. Maybe we do meed that 7yo for the future teams.

Your kid can't juggle and because she can't juggle you don't think it is very important. We get it. Nobody said that juggling makes a great player. But seriously, how good could your kids touch really be if she can't even juggle? Juggling demonstrates one simple fact, that a kid has the ball at their feet A LOT. There isn't another activity that requires less material, space or support to do that can develop comfort with the ball more than juggling.

If your kid is not even motivated to juggle, no matter what lack of benefits you believe can come from doing so, it tells me a couple of things:

1. Your kid gives up when things are hard.
2. Your kid does not work enough away from organized activities.
3. Your kid lacks a true relationship and kinesiology with the ball.

Juggling is very useful but don’t be a weirdo. It doesn’t tell you anything about anybody’s kid.

Ask some coaches what their impression of a kid who juggles is then. Because it leaves an impression. A coach isn't going to be all this is an amazing soccer player! Their impression is this kid has the ball at their feet a lot, this kid worked through some obstacles to become proficient at juggling. It isn't being a weirdo.

What impression do you think the kid who during a warm-up at a tryout makes when a volley circle forms and your kid bricks every ball? Or worse, because they can't juggle they stand off to the side and do not engage with kids, at a tryout for a team sport?

Your resistance to a pretty standard skill in soccer is frankly what is weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My daughter's club with 3 girls on YNT wrote: Wow! At 7! Can't wait to see her on the WNT... My daughter's club has 3 girls on YNT--they all have great footskills... and they can also juggle. LOL

those YNTs that didn't make it past the recent WC group stages?

Juggling is great! Past a certain number (or time) is not adding value. Multiple surface touches is just a part of becoming a better player.

Yes, 2 were on the U17 WC team... but, by all means, hate on the kids for a bad tournament. I'm sure your child is better than all on that roster. SMH

What a mean spirited comment that poster made

Not my 7 y.o. PP but this is too good. Even if those girls are such prolific jugglers, that skill set was not very helpful. Maybe we do meed that 7yo for the future teams.

Your kid can't juggle and because she can't juggle you don't think it is very important. We get it. Nobody said that juggling makes a great player. But seriously, how good could your kids touch really be if she can't even juggle? Juggling demonstrates one simple fact, that a kid has the ball at their feet A LOT. There isn't another activity that requires less material, space or support to do that can develop comfort with the ball more than juggling.

If your kid is not even motivated to juggle, no matter what lack of benefits you believe can come from doing so, it tells me a couple of things:

1. Your kid gives up when things are hard.
2. Your kid does not work enough away from organized activities.
3. Your kid lacks a true relationship and kinesiology with the ball.

Juggling is very useful but don’t be a weirdo. It doesn’t tell you anything about anybody’s kid.

Ask some coaches what their impression of a kid who juggles is then. Because it leaves an impression. A coach isn't going to be all this is an amazing soccer player! Their impression is this kid has the ball at their feet a lot, this kid worked through some obstacles to become proficient at juggling. It isn't being a weirdo.

What impression do you think the kid who during a warm-up at a tryout makes when a volley circle forms and your kid bricks every ball? Or worse, because they can't juggle they stand off to the side and do not engage with kids, at a tryout for a team sport?

Your resistance to a pretty standard skill in soccer is frankly what is weird.

????

Truth has been spoken.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My daughter's club with 3 girls on YNT wrote: Wow! At 7! Can't wait to see her on the WNT... My daughter's club has 3 girls on YNT--they all have great footskills... and they can also juggle. LOL

those YNTs that didn't make it past the recent WC group stages?

Juggling is great! Past a certain number (or time) is not adding value. Multiple surface touches is just a part of becoming a better player.

Yes, 2 were on the U17 WC team... but, by all means, hate on the kids for a bad tournament. I'm sure your child is better than all on that roster. SMH

What a mean spirited comment that poster made

Not my 7 y.o. PP but this is too good. Even if those girls are such prolific jugglers, that skill set was not very helpful. Maybe we do meed that 7yo for the future teams.

Your kid can't juggle and because she can't juggle you don't think it is very important. We get it. Nobody said that juggling makes a great player. But seriously, how good could your kids touch really be if she can't even juggle? Juggling demonstrates one simple fact, that a kid has the ball at their feet A LOT. There isn't another activity that requires less material, space or support to do that can develop comfort with the ball more than juggling.

If your kid is not even motivated to juggle, no matter what lack of benefits you believe can come from doing so, it tells me a couple of things:

1. Your kid gives up when things are hard.
2. Your kid does not work enough away from organized activities.
3. Your kid lacks a true relationship and kinesiology with the ball.

Juggling is very useful but don’t be a weirdo. It doesn’t tell you anything about anybody’s kid.

Ask some coaches what their impression of a kid who juggles is then. Because it leaves an impression. A coach isn't going to be all this is an amazing soccer player! Their impression is this kid has the ball at their feet a lot, this kid worked through some obstacles to become proficient at juggling. It isn't being a weirdo.

What impression do you think the kid who during a warm-up at a tryout makes when a volley circle forms and your kid bricks every ball? Or worse, because they can't juggle they stand off to the side and do not engage with kids, at a tryout for a team sport?

Your resistance to a pretty standard skill in soccer is frankly what is weird.

What resistance? I straight up opened up my post by saying that juggling is very useful. The only thing that’s weird is that you’re making the following absolute conclusions about players based on just juggling:

1. Your kid gives up when things are hard.
2. Your kid does not work enough away from organized activities.
3. Your kid lacks a true relationship and kinesiology with the ball.

I understand the juggling society must’ve been a huge part of your social life growing up, but chill.

[Anonymous]

If your kids can juggle a ball 20 times, that's great and show good ball control. Any more than that is a waste of time for soccer. That additional time is better spent on other soccer skills. The parents that track that their kids did 350 juggles make me laugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My daughter's club with 3 girls on YNT wrote: Wow! At 7! Can't wait to see her on the WNT... My daughter's club has 3 girls on YNT--they all have great footskills... and they can also juggle. LOL

those YNTs that didn't make it past the recent WC group stages?

Juggling is great! Past a certain number (or time) is not adding value. Multiple surface touches is just a part of becoming a better player.

Yes, 2 were on the U17 WC team... but, by all means, hate on the kids for a bad tournament. I'm sure your child is better than all on that roster. SMH

What a mean spirited comment that poster made

Not my 7 y.o. PP but this is too good. Even if those girls are such prolific jugglers, that skill set was not very helpful. Maybe we do meed that 7yo for the future teams.

Your kid can't juggle and because she can't juggle you don't think it is very important. We get it. Nobody said that juggling makes a great player. But seriously, how good could your kids touch really be if she can't even juggle? Juggling demonstrates one simple fact, that a kid has the ball at their feet A LOT. There isn't another activity that requires less material, space or support to do that can develop comfort with the ball more than juggling.

If your kid is not even motivated to juggle, no matter what lack of benefits you believe can come from doing so, it tells me a couple of things:

1. Your kid gives up when things are hard.
2. Your kid does not work enough away from organized activities.
3. Your kid lacks a true relationship and kinesiology with the ball.

Juggling is very useful but don’t be a weirdo. It doesn’t tell you anything about anybody’s kid.

Ask some coaches what their impression of a kid who juggles is then. Because it leaves an impression. A coach isn't going to be all this is an amazing soccer player! Their impression is this kid has the ball at their feet a lot, this kid worked through some obstacles to become proficient at juggling. It isn't being a weirdo.

What impression do you think the kid who during a warm-up at a tryout makes when a volley circle forms and your kid bricks every ball? Or worse, because they can't juggle they stand off to the side and do not engage with kids, at a tryout for a team sport?

Your resistance to a pretty standard skill in soccer is frankly what is weird.

What resistance? I straight up opened up my post by saying that juggling is very useful. The only thing that’s weird is that you’re making the following absolute conclusions about players based on just juggling:

1. Your kid gives up when things are hard.
2. Your kid does not work enough away from organized activities.
3. Your kid lacks a true relationship and kinesiology with the ball.

I understand the juggling society must’ve been a huge part of your social life growing up, but chill.

Impressions are subjective, not absolutes. The ability to juggle leads to more positive impressions. The inability to juggle leads to negative impressions. The importance any one coach or person places on those basic impressions are varied and subjective. The 3 listed impressions are simply three possible takeaways. The weight that any coach gives them is subjective but they are certainly 3 possible takeaways. Another possibility is a coach doesn't notice at all. Most likely take the skill for granted.

[Anonymous]

At a U10 tryout the ABILITY to juggle stands out.

At a U15 tryout the INABILITY to juggle stands out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At a U10 tryout the ABILITY to juggle stands out.

At a U15 tryout the INABILITY to juggle stands out.

You my friend are a genius! All these babbling idiots debating about the merits of juggling and you sum it up in 2 sentences!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At a U10 tryout the ABILITY to juggle stands out.

At a U15 tryout the INABILITY to juggle stands out.

You my friend are a genius! All these babbling idiots debating about the merits of juggling and you sum it up in 2 sentences!

I, too, appreciate the succinct-ness and ring of truth in the way this was expressed.

[Anonymous]

At younger age, maybe you don't want to spend too much time on juggling. It is good to practice 5-10 minutes before practice or self training though.

[Anonymous]

While I recognize that the more a player can juggle the better but can someone provide a minimum number of juggles a player should be able to do by age groups (i.e. U11, U12, etc.)?

My DD is 10 years old (U11), so I want to help her set realistic goals. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is 6 and they introduced this tonight he can do 2 and is so frustrated that my television, my frame, the dog, my daughter’s art project and I have all suffered the missed juggles. I took a tip from this thread and we decided on a goal of 6 juggles (for every year of his age) in a month. Is that an outlandish goal for his age. Maybe I got over excited at seeing that little boys video someone posted.

Don't worry about anything except effort and then relate that effort to improvement on the field. So maybe give him a goal of 500 total juggles each day 4 days a week. Have him log his total juggles and his best for that day each time he juggles. He will see his personal best go up on a monthly basis for sure. My son took his log to his coach at the end of every month and the coach gushed and it just inspired him to juggle more. He's 11 now and his PR is well over 1000 but he hasn't tried for PRs for years maybe. He doesn't do tricks but now he focuses on using all the parts of his body, juggling with a partners, hitting the ball up in the air as high as he can every 3rd touch, ladders, seeing how many juggles on one foot while balancing on the other foot, alternating feet keeping the ball below his knee, popping it over his had, turning and running it down and controlling it before it hits the ground, stuff like that. It all helps with his touch on the field. I wholeheartedly agree that juggles shows a coach that the kid is a hard worker willing to grind and not give up. I'm not saying that non-jugglers are a bunch of quitters. I'm just saying that their is no question that jugglers are hard workers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is 6 and they introduced this tonight he can do 2 and is so frustrated that my television, my frame, the dog, my daughter’s art project and I have all suffered the missed juggles. I took a tip from this thread and we decided on a goal of 6 juggles (for every year of his age) in a month. Is that an outlandish goal for his age. Maybe I got over excited at seeing that little boys video someone posted.

Don't worry about anything except effort and then relate that effort to improvement on the field. So maybe give him a goal of 500 total juggles each day 4 days a week. Have him log his total juggles and his best for that day each time he juggles. He will see his personal best go up on a monthly basis for sure. My son took his log to his coach at the end of every month and the coach gushed and it just inspired him to juggle more. He's 11 now and his PR is well over 1000 but he hasn't tried for PRs for years maybe. He doesn't do tricks but now he focuses on using all the parts of his body, juggling with a partners, hitting the ball up in the air as high as he can every 3rd touch, ladders, seeing how many juggles on one foot while balancing on the other foot, alternating feet keeping the ball below his knee, popping it over his had, turning and running it down and controlling it before it hits the ground, stuff like that. It all helps with his touch on the field. I wholeheartedly agree that juggles shows a coach that the kid is a hard worker willing to grind and not give up. I'm not saying that non-jugglers are a bunch of quitters. I'm just saying that their is no question that jugglers are hard workers.

Sorry 500 total juggles for a 6 year old is a bit much. maybe 100.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While I recognize that the more a player can juggle the better but can someone provide a minimum number of juggles a player should be able to do by age groups (i.e. U11, U12, etc.)?

My DD is 10 years old (U11), so I want to help her set realistic goals. Thank you.

When my son played for Bethesda, the U10 standard there was at least 100. They gave a paper with all sorts of expectations that each kid should do with passing, shooting, chipping, juggling, etc.

[Anonymous]

So if a player starts juggling during their next tryout, it will impress the coach? Will juggling be the deciding factor between two players of similar skill levels?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Technique is not being able to juggle a ball 1000 times. Anyone can do that by practicing. Then you can work in the circus. Technique is passing the ball with one touch, with the right speed, at the right foot of your team mate."

Johan Cruyff

This quote is always dug up and usually in defense of the kid who can't get past 50. Again, juggling is not the destination, it simply part of the journey. Proficiency at juggling simply means comfort and touch with the ball. There are very few solo activities that a kid can do to improve their touch more than juggling. You need nothing more than a ball, and in fact, short of a bowling ball, almost any ball will do. You don't have to kick the ball against a wall, you don't need a friend, just you, a ball, and your imagination.

I posted this Cruyff quote to put juggling in proper prospective, not to defend any particular kid who may not be a prolific juggler. As you noted, juggling is a useful exercise for developing comfort on the ball. It also helps to develop an ability to execute an occasional trick flick or even a volley on the field, but it does not mean that a great juggler has a good technique. I have seen many local players that can juggle the ball multiple times, but cannot execute a simple pass properly. Obviously, if there's a player with a baby Rhino touch, it is a problem, but a player doesn't need to be able to juggle 1000 times to have a good touch.