Are the benefits of juggling a myth?

1- Balance

The first benefit of juggling is it works on a players balance.  Balance is a crucial aspect for any soccer player.  To name a few scenarios, every player must be able to change direction on a dime with and without the ball, jump to win headers, shoot while running at full speed, maintain possession of the ball while a defender is pressuring them, and be able to tackle even the trickiest attacking players.  These all boil down to balance.  Developing a player’s coordination and comfort with their own body is the most critical aspect for younger players especially. Being able to keep the ball in the air with your feet, shows that a player has good control of their body and balance; which will yield positive results during games.

2- Touch

The second benefit of juggling is it improves on a players touch.  Touch is a player’s ability to quickly bring the ball under control.  There are a lot of instances during games where our touch will be challenged.  Sometimes you will receive a very hard pass from a teammate.  Other times a goalie will punt the ball miles in the air and you’ll have to bring it to the ground with defenders around you.  Regardless of the situation, juggling can help players improve their touch for any scenario.  Having the ability to softly tap the ball in the air and keep it close to you shows the ball control necessary for game situations.

3- Concentration

The third benefit of juggling is it increases a player’s concentration.  Good concentration is necessary to be successful in any walk of life.  When players are on the field or businessmen are in the office, they need to be fully focused on the task at hand to see positive results.  The key to juggling is constantly finding the center of the ball when you softly tap it in the air.  This requires tremendous amounts of concentration.  A player who can juggle the ball 1,000 times shows their ability to stay focused under fatigue among the other qualities of brilliant balance and touch.  In order to be successful in this beautiful game, players must maintain concentration for the entire 90 minutes of a match.

I think it’s safe to say that the more a player juggles, the better off they’ll be.  So parents the next time your kid says they’re bored, hand them a ball and tell them to go out in the yard and improve their balance, touch, and coordination.  They’ll thank you in the future!