| Many players around the world struggle to keep the | | | | pace off the ball, this is done by withdrawing your foot |
| ball with their first touch. This is either by poor | | | | at the moment of impact. |
| technique or lack of awareness or where defenders | | | | How to practice control |
| are. Watch the best players around the world as they | | | | The easiest and most effective way to practice |
| have spent many hours honing their technique on how | | | | control is with a partner. You and your partner can |
| to control the ball properly. Below are a few | | | | practice the different types of control by passing the |
| techniques and drills that will help you improve both | | | | ball to each other or throwing the ball to each other. If |
| your first touch and ball control. | | | | you cannot get a partner, the next best thing is a wall. |
| How to control the ball | | | | A wall gives you the chance to practice the skills that |
| Receiving | | | | you want for as long as you want. With a wall you |
| When receiving the ball, it is better to keep the ball | | | | can practise simple passing and receiving to volleys |
| moving into space or away from a defender, rather | | | | and chest control. It's important when practising ball |
| than to bring the ball to a complete stop. When | | | | control, that you practice with both feet. Being able to |
| receiving the ball, it's important to make contact just | | | | control the ball with both feet makes you unpredictable |
| above the middle of the ball to keep the ball along the | | | | to defenders. |
| ground. It's important to cushion the ball, this brings the | | | | Control with the inside of the foot |
| ball under your control. The good footballers can | | | | When controlling the ball with the inside of the Foot, the |
| always settle the ball quickly and away from | | | | supporting leg must be slightly bent and must be |
| defenders and into space. This gives them extra time | | | | planted 45 to 90° in relation to the path of the ball. |
| to keep one step in front of the opposition. To be able | | | | At the moment of contact, cushion the ball along the |
| to move the ball into space and away from defenders, | | | | original path, moving the ball either into space or away |
| it's important that you are aware of what you are | | | | from a defender. |
| going to do with the ball before you get the full stop. | | | | Control with the outside of the foot |
| Trapping | | | | This technique is useful when you have the defender |
| Trapping is different to receiving in the way that | | | | pressuring you from behind. Firstly you must get your |
| trapping is to bring the ball to a complete stop. Trapping | | | | body in between the ball and defender standing slightly |
| is typically used when the ball is traveling too fast for | | | | sideways with your arm slightly raised, to be able to |
| you to control effectively. When trapping the ball it is | | | | Push or hold off a defender. The supporting leg must |
| important to stay relaxed and on your toes. In contrast | | | | be slightly bent at a roughly 90° angle from where |
| to being tense and stiff, this allows you to adjust | | | | the ball is coming. On the moment of contact the ball is |
| quickly. When trapping the ball cushioning plays an | | | | cushioned with the outside of the foot giving the |
| important part. When cushioning you need to take the | | | | defender no chance to get the ball fairly. |