"No,
I can't really remember practicing in my spare time. It's easier to remember
the times I didn't practice, and most of those were when I was watching."
Pele
Juggling is often viewed as the quickest method to acquire touch and ball mastery. It has become something of a benchmark that relates to skill. But what does it actually show? Is a player that can juggle 300 times twice as good as one that can only juggle 150? When practicing juggling what is the angle of the balls flight to the player? Straight down. Does this angle happen often in a game? Not often enough to warrant hours of a teams practice time.When left on their own most children do the easiest tasks. When it's juggling they use their dominate foot. Often it is more a matter of the child chasing the ball then the child controlling the ball. When there is no objective the task loses relevance. Imagine hitting a bucket of golf balls without any target. It wouldn't matter where the ball went. In juggling simply hitting a number isn't enough. There is always one more. But when combined with a circuit, a pattern, a clearer picture is possible.
Instead of juggling 50 times set up a pattern. Foot, foot, thigh, thigh, head, head, thigh, thigh, foot, foot is one circuit. Juggle the ball, feet only and turn 360 degrees. Juggle the ball two short kicks followed by a long one, short, short, long. There is no limit to the number and complexity of circuits. Each completed circuit counts as one. When the player is capable of completing four out of five attempts it can be made more challenging. Even beginners can attempt a circuit by allowing a bounce between touches. He has demonstrated mastery of the routine. This should provide variety on a theme and help to kindle the desire to do some homework.
Probably the best way to encourage children to juggle on their own is to make it a part of a game. If they know that games like 4 square or soccer tennis will require them to juggle they might feel compelled to practice on their own. By making a few juggles as a part of the serve the act, juggling, gains in significance to a result.
Adjust the ball to the child's needs. Just because they use a size four in a game doesn't mean that it is the best size to learn how to juggle. It might be too big or too heavy. A volleyball is lighter and maybe easier to control. Likewise, a size two or three might help. Deflating the ball slightly can also influence the activity.
Beating your own record is another device to add meaning to what is in essence a mindless activity. When a child is introduced to a circuit it should be just beyond their capabilities. As they improve they compete against themselves. They can see growth as measured against their own standards. Recording this in a notebook or chart can help in supplying motivation.
4 Square - video
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