Progression

Start with a simple drop-bounce-catch.

1. Hold the ball about one foot in front of your chest.
2. Drop the ball and raise one knee at the same time.
3. Strike the ball gently just as the thigh becomes parallel to the ground.
4. Bounce the ball straight up with your thigh and no higher than your head.
5. Catch the ball before it starts to drop again.

Alternate left and right thighs.

Progress to bouncing the ball off alternating thighs while marching slowly in place, catching the ball very briefly after each thigh bounce. Set a personal record for alternating thigh bounce-catches before losing control of the ball. Try to extend the record next time. When you can reliably get to 10, move on to the next phase.

Progress to drop-bounce-bounce-catch, bouncing the ball off one thigh and then the other before catching. How many bounce-bounce-catches can you do before losing control? Try to extend your record next time. When you can get to 5 double bounces in a row, move on.

Progress to bouncing the ball off one thigh and then the other, as many times as you can before losing control of the ball. How many bounces can you get? Try to set a new record next time.

Four alternating bounces followed by a catch is a good initial target for thigh juggling. You have to have the ball under reasonable control after each bounce to reach this goal, and you will then be ready to go for more impressive milestones such as 10, 20, or more.

Common errors

• Tossing the ball up instead of dropping it
• Bouncing the ball too high off the thigh
• Bouncing the ball with the knee
• Trying to go too fast