Juggling is the best warm-up for touch and rhythm. It requires focus and soft feet. Kids compete against themselves to beat their record. It’s fun, hard, and builds real skill.
What you need: 1 ball per child. Open space, 5x5 feet per child.
Setup: Each child stands alone with a ball.
How to run it:
- Child starts with the ball in their hands.
- They drop the ball and touch it with their right foot just below waist height.
- Ball bounces up. They touch it with their left foot.
- Continue alternating feet for as long as possible.
- Count the touches. That’s their score.
- Rest. Try again. Try to beat the score.
- Do 3 attempts total.
What to watch: Are the touches controlled or wild? Controlled means soft feet.
If they’re struggling: Let them use their hands to help between touches. Less pressure.
If they’ve got it: Challenge them to a personal best. See who gets the highest count in the group.