Juggling in the spring!

In honor of spring here in Boston (finally!), I present a quick soccer/football/futbol diversion.  A young man named Shaun McBrien is director of coaching for our girls soccer club, and he provides really helpful advice to those of us who volunteer to coach.  I've learned tons from him, even after coaching for over two decades.  In his latest note, Shaun extols the virtue of juggling:

What is Juggling? Juggling is the act of keeping the ball in the air with all parts of your body with the exception of your hands and arms. Players can use their feet, thighs, chest, head and shoulders to keep the ball elevated, but must not use their hands.

Why Juggle?

• Improves a players touch on the ball
• Improves a player’s ability to judge the flight of the ball
• Improves a players balance (Don’t be a one footed juggler!)
• There are very few exercises a player can do that provide the repetition and maximize the number of touches one receives by juggling the ball.

For inspiration, he included this YouTube of Indi Cowie from a few years ago. Check it out and work on your skills!