150 soccer ball juggles: a simple test that reveals a lot about players

Soccer ball juggling: The skill that separates comfortable players from the rest

Juggling is one of those topics that always creates debate in football. Some coaches believe it is essential for development. Others argue it has little value for the game.

From my perspective, the point of juggling is very clear.

Players who spend more time with the ball simply become more comfortable with it. That comfort shows when receiving the ball in matches - especially when controlling balls in the air. I often see a direct connection between how relaxed a player is while juggling and the quality of their first touch in a game.

What our testing revealed

During several pre-season testing days with NPL clubs, we conducted the standardised eleade juggling test. The task is simple:

• Reach 150 juggles

• Alternate right and left foot every touch

• Complete it in the fastest possible time

Testing boys and girls across U13–U18 produced one surprising observation: very few players were able to comfortably juggle with both feet.

Many players managed long sequences with their strong foot but struggled as soon as the weak foot had to be used regularly. Several players technically had the ability to juggle but lost focus after just 30–40 seconds. Maintaining concentration for 1–2 minutes proved difficult for many.

Strong scores during testing were around 1 minute 10 seconds to reach 150 alternating touches.

When comparing this to players at similar levels in Germany, the difference is noticeable. At academy level there, most players reach this number comfortably.

Why juggling makes you a better player

Juggling is not just a fun exercise. It is one of the simplest ways to assess and improve ball control, coordination, concentration, rhythm, and touch quality.

Players who can juggle comfortably tend to show:

• Better first touches

• Calmer behaviour under pressure

• Improved ball manipulation in tight spaces

• Stronger coordination between both feet

It also reveals something about training habits. Juggling is a skill that improves quickly with consistent repetition, and players who regularly practise it often demonstrate a stronger individual training mentality.

With eleade players we regularly include juggling variations in the warm-up: alternating feet juggling, juggling with mini balls, juggling with tennis balls, and juggling challenges against teammates. This builds routine and repetition.

Especially at younger ages such as JDL and U13–U15, coaches should integrate these challenges into warm-ups. It encourages more time with the ball and helps players become comfortable with the ball being in the air.

The 150 juggling challenge

If you want to improve your ball control, this is one of the simplest challenges you can do regularly at home.

Set a timer and try to reach 150 juggles while alternating every touch between your right and left foot. The goal is not just to reach 150 touches - it's to do it as quickly and as consistently as possible.

How to do it:

1. Start with the ball in your hands and drop it to your feet

2. Every touch must alternate between right foot and left foot

3. If you lose control, restart the attempt

4. Use a stopwatch and track how long it takes to reach 150 juggles

Your targets:

🟡 Beginner - Reach 150 juggles without breaking the alternating pattern

🟠 Good - Reach 150 juggles in around 1 minute 30 seconds

🔴 Very good - Reach 150 juggles in around 1 minute 10 seconds

⚫ Elite youth - Reach 150 juggles in under 1 minute

Five minutes a day makes the difference

All you need is a ball, a small space, and a stopwatch. Spend 5 minutes a day on this challenge and track your progress over a few weeks. Most players will notice that their first touch, ball control, and confidence with the ball in the air start improving naturally.

Simple habits like this often make a bigger difference than players expect.

Once you can reach 150 juggles in under 1 minute, reach out - I'll give you the next challenge.