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Ball Mastery

Juggling Ladder: 1-to-1 Session

Improve touch and feel for the ball

Ball Mastery
First Touch

Juggling Ladder: 1-to-1 Session is a 10-minute ball mastery drill for 1-2 players, suitable for Under 5 to Adults at beginner, intermediate, advanced level. You need balls. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.

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Ball Mastery
First Touch
Technical Practice
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
1-to-1
Minimal Equipment
Foundation Phase
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Quick 10 Minutes
Individual Development
Small Group

Duration

10 min

Players

1-2

Pitch size

Any safe space

Ability levels

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced

Pitch diagram

Pitch set-up: Juggling Ladder: 1-to-1 Session12CAny safe space

Juggling Ladder: 1-to-1 Session — Pairs facing each other · Any safe space

Step 1 of 4Work up the ladder: five right, five left, five thigh, alternate feet, then free juggling.

  1. 1. Work up the ladder: five right, five left, five thigh, alternate feet, then free juggling.
  2. 2. Restart the rung if the ball drops.
  3. 3. Finish with a personal best attempt.
  4. 4. Run as an individual session: coach serves, one player works through the reps with rest built in.
  • Ball
  • Pairs working across a marked lane
  • C = coach / server
  • Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble

Objectives

  • -Improve touch and feel for the ball
  • -Develop both feet and thighs
  • -Build calm under a personal challenge

Setup

  1. 1Players spread out with a ball each and plenty of space.
  2. 2Mark a start line if working in pairs.
  3. 3Coach demonstrates each rung of the ladder.

Coaching instructions

  1. 1Work up the ladder: five right, five left, five thigh, alternate feet, then free juggling.
  2. 2Restart the rung if the ball drops.
  3. 3Finish with a personal best attempt.
  4. 4Run as an individual session: coach serves, one player works through the reps with rest built in.

Coaching points

  • -Ankle locked, toe slightly up
  • -Keep the ball at knee height
  • -Stay relaxed and breathe
  • -Detailed feedback after every rep
  • -Quality of contact over volume

Common mistakes

  • -Kicking the ball too high
  • -Standing rigid and off balance
  • -Only using the strong foot

Where this drill fits

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