The JUGS soccer machine is a useful tool for training both goalkeepers and players. It has several settings that allow you to adjust the height and spin of the ball.
It is a great tool for helping give goalkeepers the repetition they need for learning to deal with crosses. This is mostly what I use the machine for. It is ok for diving technique exercises as well, but lacks some of the realism associated with judging the ball off a players foot.
It is a great tool for teaching players how to control the ball out of the air. We also use it a lot for finishing drills in and around the 18 yard box.
It serves as great motivation when used with younger players. I once did a drill with U8/U10 players where I set the machine on low speed and served balls in the air for them to control and finish. The players performed this exercise for over an hour with no breaks or complaints. I could have accomplished the same thing by serving the balls out of my hands, but the players would have gotten bored after 15 minutes.
We once used a radar gun to clock the speed of the balls at the top setting. We registered speeds in excess of 130km/hr!!!!!
There are a few things you should be aware of if you intend on purchasing this machine:
It is very hard on your soccer balls. If you use cheap balls, it will rip all of the panels off them in a matter of minutes. I find Adidas 'Tango' balls to be ideal, and the machine seems to do little damage to them over time.
If you are looking for the machine to have a consistent delivery you need to use identical balls, pumped up to the same hardness. Service is inconsistent when different balls are used.
The machine works well with both size 5 and size 4 balls.
The machine is virtually useless in wet conditions for two reasons. It is electric powered, and if the balls have even a small amount of moisture on them they will slip out of the machine (early morning dew for example).
This thing is heavy. It takes 1 good sized man or two average sized people to lift it in and out of the back of a station wagon. I can do it on my own, but I feel a huge strain on my back afterwards.
The machine is electric powered and if you have easy access to an electrical outlet it is ideal. If you are in a remote area, and most soccer fields are, you will need a gas powered generator (heavy, noisy, expensive) to run the machine, plus a long extension cord.
You need two people to run the machine effectively. One to sit and feed balls into the machine, and one to gather up balls as they are being returned.
There are some safety issues associatted with this machine. The balls can be delivered at high speeds so the risk of injury to small children is great if you are not careful. I have had balls actually bounce into the machine and be shot out when we were not looking. It would be very easy for a child to fall into the machine and suffer severe 'road rash' type injuries. I am also convinced the wheels could break bones if a child fell into it, not to mention they would be flung several feet in the process. I believe the Canadain version of this machine has an automatic shut-off similar to a treadmill, while the U.S. version does not. Adult supervision is required at all times.
We have had two problems so far with this machine during the two years of ownership. The control panel shorted out after a few months of use. At first the JUGS company was going to charge us to replace it stating that the machine is for recreational use and not commercial use. They eventually relented and replaced it free of charge. The second problem was one of the tires kept going flat. This was solved by a sealant spray that was purchased at Canadian Tire.
Over-all the machine is more of a luxury than a necessity. You can accomplish a lot with it, but nothing you couldn't do otherwise. It looks great in a camp brochure and the kids love it. If you can afford it, go for it. If you are on a tight budget, spend your money elsewhere.