How To Balance A Soccer Ball On Your Foot 9 Steps With Pictures

Controlling a ball is easier on a level surface. Once you master the technique, you can balance a ball almost anywhere.

Most people have a tendency to lean forward or backward when balancing a ball, but doing this throws off your balance.

At most, hold your foot up at a 45-degree angle. You don’t need to have such a stiff angle, so keep your foot a little flatter to reduce fatigue.

Test your positioning before placing the ball. Attempt to move your leg from side to side without shifting your foot’s position. Keep your leg strong but your foot relaxed. Lock your ankle, not your knee! If your foot is tense, the ball may bounce off of it. Also, you may end up tiring out more quickly.

The key to adjusting is slow, smooth motions. When you feel the ball moving, you may be tempted to swing your foot out quickly towards it. You end up overcompensating and losing control of the ball. Practice often to get a sense of how the ball moves and what you need to do to maintain your balance. Eliminate distractions, then focus on feeling the ball against your foot.

Choose a soft or grassy area to avoid scraping your knees while you practice. This pose gets a little uncomfortable on hard surfaces.

Balancing the ball this way is a little more advanced than simply putting it on your feet, but it can help you improve. It also saves you from having to retrieve the ball with your hands each time you drop it.

This trick is useful for juggling, but it also helps for practicing your balance. The ball may not fall straight down in front of you, so you may need to follow it with your foot. Another way to do this is to set the ball on your foot, balance it as long as possible, then flick it back up into your hands. Doing it that way is useful if you’re having trouble balancing when tossing the ball in the air.

This practice helps you get a sense of how the ball moves over your foot. For the best results, contact the ball with the flat part of your foot right behind your toes. In soccer juggling, this move is known as a foot stall. Even if you don’t plan on doing other tricks, practicing this move will improve your balancing skills.