On Monday June 1, 2009, Corban Sipfle broke the BCF juggling record with 4338 juggles. "My legs felt like jello," explained Corban Sipfle, U17 Red Boys. "I started around 8:30pm and dropped the ball at 10:00pm." Corban kept the ball up in the air using his feet, thighs and head without the ball touching the ground for nearly 2 1/2 hours! Corban has been motivated to improve his juggling since the Force started keeping track of juggling record in 2004. He was one of the first players to break 100 juggles on his U12 team in 2003 (pictured right in the blue shirt). At the recent BCF Juggle-A-Thon, Corban raisng over $100 for the BCF scholarship fund.

Corban’s record breaks the previous record of 3502, set by U18 Red Girls standout Anna Evans when she was a U15. Both Anna and Corban play with great confidence with the ball. Soccer isn’t just about tricks or juggling, it’s not the circus, but juggling does help develop a player’s confidence on the ball. All great players are comfortable and composed with the ball at their feet. The rest of the game is easier with composure.

 "He has been so determined, while he is still a U17, to break the U17 record of Ben Donovan: 1,250," explained Corban's dad Ken, who has been the official witness on Corban's record attempts since 2004. "I had witnessed him do 949 and his brother Josh witnessed him do 986.  Last night, up at Meeker Lodge, with no witnesses, he said he got to 1,015.  He knew I couldn't call that in.  But he has Tuesday's and Thursday's off and so Deb picked him up this evening and he started juggling almost immediately upon arriving home.  I did'nt get home until about ten after eight and he started carping on me, begging me to come count for him.  The first few times he tried he couldn't even get past 150.  He was trying to do really small juggles and he kept toeing it forward.  Then he said, I'll just juggle normal.  I wouldn't tell him how he was doing because in the past, whenever he would reach a milestone, he would inevitably tighten up and then blow it either right before or right after the milestone.
 
So, he reached 1,000, which was a personal record, and I was smiling thinking, well maybe he'll break 1,250.  Then after he passed that, it was 2,000.  Then I wondered if he might make it to second place, beating 2,881.  After that, I thought maybe he can surpass 3,000.  When he did that and was still going strong, I began to think he just might beat the club record, 3,502.  Then after that it was all gravy.  I told him he was number one and he just starting grinning and talking a lot, but he just kept right on going.  Finally, after 4,338 juggles by my count (and I tried very hard to maintain an accurate count), he kicked the ball forward and that was that!  :) "

Corban is a role model of what goal setting and achieving can do for a soccer player. The lessons he has learned through soccer will be great tools for life. Known as an exceptionally hardworking player, Corban began playing for Boulder County Force in the U10 Developmental Program in 2000. After several years on the BCF Red level teams he moved to the BCF Barca teams at U15 and U16. Like with his juggling, Corban set a goal of returning to the Red team and in 2009, Corban returned to the BCF Red at U17 where he earned a starting position and helped lead the team to an perfect 10-0 season in Elite II. "It’s great to see a motivated player set goals and achieve them -- to really do the work to play to their potential," said Coach Hardy Kalisher. "Corban took ownership of his development and has become a very exciting and effective player. Corban had a great season this year and I expect he will be one of the top high school players in Boulder County next fall."

BCF players can have their juggling records posted on the BCF’s web site by joining the Force Juggling All-Stars. To join the Force Juggling All-Stars players need to reach 100 juggles without the ball touching the ground. Click Here for a complete list of BCF Juggling All-Stars and age group records.