How to Practice Juggling Guidelines

Juggling is tapping the ball and keeping it in the air with any body part except the hands or arms. It's an individual skill that teaches ball and body control.

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Steps:

1. Let the player pick up the ball to start. More advanced players can flick the ball up to begin. It's okay to initially use the hands.
2. Start on the thighs. A larger surface is easier than smaller body parts.
3. Move to the feet - once players get a feel for the activity, the feet are the next logical move. A player can alternate thighs and feet or juggle with one thigh or foot at a time.
4. Try the head. Remind the player to keep the ball on the forehead (at the hairline) and to keep the eyes wide open.
5. Be aware of posture. Keeping an upright posture, with a slightly bent plant leg, arms at the sides or out to the sides, will help maintain balance and keep the ball in play.
6. Graduate to other body surfaces. Advanced players can juggle on their shoulders, move the ball from chest to thighs to feet, then back up the body.
7. Be patient. Children need practice to get beyond one or two juggles, but with patience and practice, they can juggle indefinitely.

Tips:

• Play games to prevent boredom. A few to consider: 1) Keep count - children love to collect "records." You can record total juggles, juggles for time or juggles for individual body parts (i.e. thigh, feet or head juggles). Try keeping a progress chart with dates. 2) Juggle in pairs or in a group. Players can use any number of juggles, or body parts, before passing the ball to other players. 3) Use it as a warm-up. Juggling can be done before playing or as a "filler" activity between drills.
• Understand the value of juggling. While it's not directly a game skill (although juggling moves are a part of trapping or controlling the ball,) juggling is an excellent way to teach ball control. It can also be used to encourage independence, since it's one of the few skills players can do on their own.