Controlling the Ball

Controlling ground balls and dribbling are identical in terms of technique. That is why dribbling is often referred to as "running while controlling the ball". Both control and dribbling are used for preparing the ball for following touches, but there is a difference between the two. When controlling, the player brings the ball under possession while dribbling is manipulating the ball after it has been brought into possession. The ability to control the ball is called upon ever time you are about to receive a pass. Sometimes, players distribute or shoot the ball at first touch. This is not considered control.

General principles: Precision, Delay and Breaking
Settling the ball usually attracts enemy pressure. Realizing how much time available you have is vital. Sometimes, a quick one-touch pass or shot might produce better results. If there is a tempting opportunity available to shoot or pass it is probably better to avoid controlling the ball all together. If you find yourself running out of time, lacking options or being closed down it is usually a sign of poor decision-making (should not have controlled the ball) or skill (should not have taken so long to control the ball). On the other hand, there is nothing wrong with controlling the ball, as long as it doesn't interfere with the situation. For example, there's rarely time to trap the ball when you are in the opposing penalty box, so you shouldn't attempt to trap it unless you do it quickly enough.
Controlling the ball draws enemies in. Therefore, the situation itself should dictate when to use control and when to play at first touch. In general, a quality player must be able to play both with and without settling the ball. For example, the ability to shoot at first touch is a must for any bona fide striker. Another example is that all midfielders should be able to complete quick wall passes.

Precision
The technical advantage of using control is that it provides you with a comfortable ball thus making your following touch easier and more precise. When you trap the ball first you can then produce a far more accurate shot, pass and so on. At times, the use of control might be a necessity. For example, you might receive an uncomfortable pass that requires control. But You should always keep in mind that settling the ball requires space and time.

Delay (inviting pressure)
One of the results of controlling the ball is that it attracts enemy pressure. This in itself is not necessarily a bad thing. Some players may intentionally preserve the ball into their control just to invite (and direct) enemy threat. Wingers positioned wide may keep the ball only to draw in tightly packed enemy defenders. Midfielders often use control to "manipulate" pressuring defenders. Upon receiving the ball such a midfielder may push it towards the left flank and as his markers follow along he would then turn and pass to the right.

Breaking (avoiding pressure)
Control can be used to break through enemy pressure. "Breaking through" means directing the ball to escape threat from enemy defenders. In contrast to controlling for delay, breaking is done to avoid enemy pressure rather than to attract it. The number of enemies in the vicinity should be your first concern when deciding whether to control the ball or not. Be aware of nearby enemies and direct the ball in order to escape their tackles. You may have to use shielding. For example, if a ball is served to you and there is a defender on your right, you would turn with the ball to the opposite side. But if you have a defender on each side you should take note and bail out by passing the ball without controlling it.

Methods of settling the ball
There are three general uses of control - to make the ball easier for subsequent touches, to evade pressuring enemies or to delay play and draw them in.

Dead trap
Dead traps or "cushioning" the ball is used when you are planning to stop completely in order to evaluate your options. This is not recommended if there are enemies in the vicinity. Trapping is also good for stopping very hard or uncomfortable balls, which cannot be settled otherwise. When using this method of control, one has to be certain of enemy placement. Taking too long to settle the ball could be dangerous if enemies are nearby so make sure you scan the pitch before controlling the ball. This is especially important when you trap the ball with your back to the enemy goal. In that case, you should always be peeking over your shoulder.

Bringing the ball along
This particular skill is used when you're headed in a specific direction and the ball comes to you from the side. Bringing the ball is a fundamental skill every player needs to develop. Look at any professional game and you'll notice that the ball and the players around it are constantly moving. Very rarely will somebody stop and trap the ball at his feet. Good anticipation and touch are needed to direct the ball so it converges with your path. You don't want to just hit the ball in any direction and then run after it.

Steering away
Using control to evade enemy threat is the sign of a truly skilled footballer. Good vision and tactical awareness is the basic foundation of this skill. By detecting where the nearby opponents are located, or more precisely their heading (direction), you can put together a plan for beating them. You have to scan the pitch ahead of time and find an spot that is out of enemy reach. Sometimes, less is more and stopping it completely may shake off a defender who is running in from the side. Advanced footballers may sometimes use flicks, cunning techniques where the ball is spun by 180 degrees past the defender while they go around from the other side. Throwing a fake before contacting the ball can also be effective in shaking off your marker.

Turning with the ball
When a player receives the ball with his back to the enemy goal, he would often have to turn around in order to pass, shoot or dribble. This happens to players who are checking back towards their own goal. The most important factor of turning with the ball is the availability of space and time. You don't want to turn when an opponent is right behind, so you need good awareness and vision. The second most important element in turning is the situation. If the player receiving the ball is a center forward on top of the center line then there may not be good reason for him to turn at all. He would have no support or teammates ahead of him. You have to be aware of where your teammates are since, in general, you don't want to be turning away from your support. Also, it's a good idea to warn your teammates when to turn by calling out either "man on" or "turn".

Shielding away
When enemies are pressuring as you are receiving the ball, the most important thing is not to panic! By using upper body and footing the player receiving the ball can brush off the pressure. Turning one's back in direction of the enemy provides a safe way to guide the ball along. To ensure the defender's containment, keep your body between the ball and the opponent. The foot further away from the enemy should be used to control the ball. While the other foot, which is closer to the enemy, should be planted as a barrier that will block his tackles. Using one's arms for protection is also helpful to keep the pressuring defender away. In fact, many professionals trampoline off their markers while simultaneously securing possession. Pre-planning is the key for effective shielding so scan the field before you receive the ball. Never trap the ball completely when an opponent is on your back. If you don't keep it moving, he will charge in.

Faking
When the ball is already headed in a desirable direction where you can collect it there is no need to trap it. A good example of this is when a tightly marked player is standing with his back to the enemy goal. A pass is made to the marked player but instead of stopping the ball, he lets it go through his legs and runs 180-degrees around his marker. When executed properly (and not repeated too often) this trick would frequently stun the marking defender. One of the downsides of faking is that it requires space. The ball must already be headed in an open area, away from enemy threat, where the player can collect it. Another factor involved is the weight (speed) of the initial pass. If the ball is going too fast you may not be able to turn fast enough to collect it, if it's too slow it may be intercepted.

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