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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My DS is 8 and plays for a local club.  He can reliably get 5 or 6 juggles, but not much more than that.  His coaches seem to put an emphasis on juggling as a measure of improvement, but I don't have a good sense as to what a realistic goal is for a kid in the 8-9 year old range. [/quote]

I do not know what an appropriate measurement is for an 8 year old.  I am too old--I no longer drive to youth travel games but still attend my kids' college games.  I have had two of my three kids make three college cups.  The one who did not is the best player in the bunch!  I managed a national championship youth team for one of my kids.  Background, so you can decide if you want to listen to my sense.

Juggling is ONE of many really important skills to continue to develop.  One key to the game at the highest levels is whether a player can receive, control and move the ball when the game is moving at its fastest pace.  If your kid gets comfortable with the ball--and juggling is a tool to help get there--she will enjoy matches more and more.  I remember a youth match with one of my sons where his team played what was then the #1 team in the nation.  I think it was U14.  Our guys struggled because the pressure the other team imposed was so quick and stifling that our guys could not receive a pass and get the ball off their feet before an opponent was on them.  And, our guys were a state cup champion team.  I recall our British coach saying to me after the game that he was disappointed that our players did not handle the pressure but felt they had learned a valuable lesson.  They went on to reverse a 7-1 drubbing (and the 1 was a state cup champion) to a victory the following year against that team.  The touch from a skill like juggling helps a player improve their ability to receive and distribute under pressure.  It is important, and keep in mind, not all kids advance at the same pace or are as proficient in a skill such as juggling as others.  My one child who went to two college cups is the worst of the three at juggling, but is the most aggressive and the most determined.  Lots of attributes and skills go into making a player!  Good luck to your daughter--hope she enjoys every minute of her youth soccer experience!  And hope you love it as well![/quote]

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