Key Takeaways
- Good ball control helps you with your first touch, passing, dribbling, turning, and staying calm during a game.
- If you are new to soccer, focus on making clean contact with the ball before you try to play at a faster pace.
- Passing the ball against a wall is a simple way to get better at your first touch when you practice alone.
- Juggling helps your touch and coordination, but you should still spend time on drills for receiving, passing, and dribbling.
- The best ball control drills also teach you to look around, handle pressure, and make quick decisions as you improve.
Table of Contents
Ball Control Drills For Football
Ball control drills in football help players get better at receiving, keeping, moving, and handling the ball.
These drills should help players develop more than one skill at a time. A good drill can improve touch, rhythm, balance, confidence, and decision-making together.
Ball control is the foundation for other important football skills. Their grassroots advice is to use simple, step-by-step sessions with plenty of touches, repetition, and game-like situations.
Many players move on to advanced drills before they are ready. If your basic touch is not solid, adding speed will only lead to more mistakes.
Start with these drills:
- Stationary ball mastery
- First-touch passing
- Wall passing
- Simple cone dribbling
- Controlled turning
- Once you are comfortable, try drills that add pressure.
At Murcia, we start by checking each player’s level. Beginners usually need to build rhythm and confidence with the ball. More advanced midfielders might focus on first touch while turning, receiving under pressure, and playing with only two touches.
| Drill type | What it improves | Simple setup | Progression |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stationary ball mastery | Rhythm, foot coordination, close touch | One ball, small space | Add time limits and weaker foot work |
| Wall passing | First touch, passing accuracy, reaction speed | Ball and wall/rebounder | One-touch, two-touch, different angles |
| Cone dribbling | Close control and direction change | 4–6 cones | Add speed, defender or tighter gaps |
| Turning drills | Escaping pressure | One cone or partner | Receive with back to goal and turn away |
| 3 v 1 circle drill | Control under pressure | 3 attackers, 1 defender | Add two-touch limit |
| Aerial control | Thigh, chest, foot control | Partner service | First touch into playable space |
What Is Ball Control In Football?
Ball control in football, or soccer, is when a player can receive, keep, move, and handle the ball confidently.
This skill includes having a good first touch when receiving a pass, keeping the ball close while dribbling, controlling high balls, setting up passes, and moving with the ball in tight spaces.
Good ball control helps players stay calm under pressure, which is important for every position. Centre-backs use it to play from the back, midfielders to receive passes between opponents, wingers to take on defenders one-on-one, and strikers to set up quick shots.
Top players are not only comfortable when they have space. They also stay calm when the ball comes fast, the field is crowded, and defenders are closing in.
What is your biggest ball control problem right now?
Do you usually struggle more when training alone or when pressure is added?
Solution:
Focus on wall passing and first-touch repetition. Start with two-touch passes against a wall, control the ball across your body, then pass with the other foot. Use both feet and make the rebound firm enough to feel like a real game pass.
Solution:
Work on scanning before receiving and controlling the ball away from pressure. Use a partner drill where you check your shoulder before the pass arrives, call out what you see, then take your first touch into space before passing or turning.
Do you usually struggle more when training alone or when pressure is added?
Solution:
Build close control with stationary ball mastery and tight-space dribbling. Practice toe taps, sole rolls, inside-inside touches, V-pulls, and tight-box dribbling slowly first, then increase speed only when the ball stays close.
Solution:
Use game-like pressure drills such as 3 v 1 possession, passive defender shadowing, and turning away from pressure. Focus on scanning, protecting the ball with the far foot, turning into open space, and accelerating after the turn.
What Football Control Drills Are Best For Beginners?
The best football control drills for beginners are simple and let you practice making good contact with the ball. At first, don’t worry about speed. Try to make each touch cleaner, more controlled, and more consistent.
Basic soccer drills for ball control help players get comfortable and find a rhythm with the ball. Speed will come later. If you can control the ball slowly with both feet, you will improve faster than if you rush and lose control.
England Football recommends giving young players lots of time with the ball, starting with exercises that help them get used to it. After that, try small-sided games to build technical, physical, mental, and social skills.
Here is an example of a good session for beginners:
| Drill | Time | Main focus |
|---|---|---|
| Toe taps | 2 minutes | Rhythm and coordination |
| Inside-inside touches | 2 minutes | Close control with both feet |
| Sole rolls | 2 minutes | Feeling the ball under the foot |
| Pull-push touches | 2 minutes | Direction changes |
| Slow cone dribbling | 5 minutes | Clean touches while moving |
| Wall passing with both feet | 5 minutes | First touch and passing control |
These are the main coaching points to focus on:
Keep the ball close so you can touch it again quickly. Use both feet from the start and stay balanced. After each touch, look up. Focus on controlling your touches before you try to move faster.
At Murcia, we create drills for players of all skill levels. If a player has talent but needs to improve their technical skills, we start with simple drills. We help them build rhythm, comfort, and clean contact before adding speed, pressure, and more challenging exercises.
TRAINING TOUCH ALONE BUT NOT SEEING IT IN MATCHES?
A wall and a ball can help, but players improve faster when every touch is linked to passing angles, pressure and honest coaching feedback. At Murcia, we place technical work inside a full academy routine so ball control becomes a match habit.
Apply to train at Murcia
Which Stationary Ball Mastery Drills Need No Equipment?
Practicing ball control while standing still is useful because you can do it almost anywhere. You do not need cones, goals, or a full field for most drills. All you need is a ball and a small space, like a garden, bedroom, garage, or any quiet spot.
Here are some simple drills you can try without any equipment:
- Toe taps: Tap the top of the ball with one foot, then switch to the other, and keep going back and forth.
- Sole rolls: Use the bottom of each foot to roll the ball from side to side.
- Inside-inside touches: Use the inside of each foot to move the ball quickly back and forth between your feet.
- V-pulls: Pull the ball back with the bottom of your foot, then push it forward at an angle.
- Pull-push touches: Use the same foot to pull the ball back, then push it forward again.
- Inside-outside touches: Move the ball with the inside of your foot, then use the outside of the same foot.
These drills help you build rhythm, ball control, and foot coordination. If you lose control, just slow down. Focus on control first, then work on speed.
Once the movement feels smooth, challenge yourself. Try to go for 30 seconds without losing the ball. Then, practice using only your weaker foot. You can also try to keep your head up every few touches.
How Can First Touch Control Separate Better Players?
First touch control is an important skill that sets better players apart from the rest. If you have a good first touch, you get more time, space, and options. But if your first touch is poor, you face more pressure, have fewer passing choices, and often end up playing backwards.
FIFA says that when you get the ball under pressure, your first touch should help you pass, shoot, or move the ball into space.
In training, we often ask players one simple question:
Where does your first touch take you?
If your answer is “nowhere,” your touch probably isn’t helping you. A good first touch should set up your next move.
First-touch drills should include receiving passes from different angles, trapping the ball when needed, cushioning hard passes to keep the ball close, and using touches that help you get away from pressure.
A good first touch can help you move the ball away from pressure, open a passing lane, set up a shot, protect the ball, or turn forward.
First touch under pressure is what separates different skill levels. Better players already know what they want to do before the ball arrives.
COMPARE ACADEMY STAYS BEFORE YOU COMMIT
Some players need a short technical boost. Others need months of daily training, matches and structure. Review the available Murcia Football Academy options before deciding what fits your next step.
View academy pricing
How To Improve First Touch?
To improve your first touch, practice wall passes, work with a partner, use cushion touches, and do drills that help you receive the ball from different angles.
Start with two-touch passing against a wall. Pass the ball firmly, control it with the inside of your foot, move it across your body, and then pass with your other foot. Try to use both feet throughout the drill.
Next, stand slightly sideways to change your position. This helps your first touch move the ball across your body before you pass again. Focus on where and how hard you touch the ball. Your touch should be soft enough to keep control but strong enough to move the ball into open space.
Practice receiving the ball with both feet and with different parts of your body, such as the inside and outside of your foot, the sole, your thigh, and your chest. Cushion touches are especially important when the ball comes fast or through the air. Try to absorb the ball’s speed so it stays close and you are ready for your next move.
Scanning is more than just a coaching term. A study in Frontiers found that semi-elite players who moved their heads more before receiving the ball were more likely to turn and make forward passes.
A helpful drill is the scan-call drill. Ask a partner to stand behind you and show a number of fingers before passing the ball. Before you receive it, look around, call out the number you see, and then control the ball into space.
This drill trains you to look before the ball arrives, so you can decide where to take your first touch instead of reacting at the last moment.
How Can Wall Passing And Rebounder Drills Improve Control?
Wall passing and rebounder drills are easy ways to practice your control on your own. When you use a wall or rebounder, you can keep working on passing and receiving, which helps you get better at your first touch, passing accuracy, and reaction speed even if you do not have a partner.
The wall gives you plenty of chances to practice and shows you how accurate your passes are. If your pass is not straight, the ball will bounce back the same way. If your first touch is not controlled, making the next pass will be harder.
Here is a simple wall routine you can try:
- 50 passes with the right foot
- 50 passes with the left foot
- 30 two-touch passes across the body
- 30 one-touch passes
- 20 firm passes where the rebound is harder to control
Pass the ball hard enough so the rebound feels like it would during a real game. Soft passes are easier, but they will not prepare you for the speed you will face in a match.
The best wall passing and rebounder drills help you improve your first touch, timing, passing accuracy, reaction speed, body position, and your ability to use both feet to receive the ball.
A common mistake is standing still. In real games, you rarely receive the ball while standing still and relaxed.
Start moving before the ball comes to you. Adjust your feet and get ready to receive the ball, just like you would when preparing for your next move in a game.
Is Juggling Good For Ball Control?
Ball juggling and kick ups help players get a better feel for the ball by improving sensitivity, timing, coordination, and body control. These drills also show how using different parts of the foot changes the ball’s movement and help build confidence, especially with balls in the air.
But juggling alone does not give players complete control during a game.
A study with teenage soccer players found that after six weeks of juggling practice, they got better at juggling, but their ball reception did not improve. The researchers explained that juggling and ball reception are too different for the skills to transfer on their own.
We see the same thing in practice. Some players can do 200 kick ups but still struggle to receive a fast pass when they are under pressure. That’s why we use juggling as one tool among many, not as the only answer.
A stronger training routine looks like this:
- 3 minutes of juggling
- 5 minutes of wall passing
- 5 minutes of first-touch control
- 5 minutes of dribbling through cones
- 5 minutes of receiving under pressure
Juggling works best when you combine it with passing, receiving, and dribbling drills. This way, your touch skills will be more useful in real games.
How Can Close Control And Dribbling Improve Ball Control In Tight Spaces?
Close control helps players keep the ball near their feet when space is limited. This skill is especially useful in crowded areas for midfielders, wingers, and full-backs near the sideline. If you lose control, defenders can take the ball.
FIFA’s ball mastery sessions teach close control, body movement, feints, finding space, keeping your head up, and using all parts of your feet. These skills help players get out of pressure and keep the ball in tight spots.
Here are some useful drills for improving close control and ball handling in tight spaces:
- Tight-box dribbling: try to keep the ball inside a small square.
- Dynamic cone dribbling: dribble through cones and change direction while moving.
- Gate dribbling: move through small cone gates in any order you like.
- Defender shadow drill: a passive defender follows you, making you change direction.
- Speed-change dribbling: start with slow touches, then quickly speed up.
When you practice dribbling, change your speed and direction, and use different parts of your foot, such as the inside, outside, sole, and laces.
It’s not just about touching the ball a lot. What’s important is using the right touch at the right time. Small touches can protect the ball, while bigger touches can help you move away from defenders.
UEFA’s technical analysis of today’s games also shows that players need to control the ball under pressure, look around the field, receive passes with few touches, and play forward through tight spaces.
This is why close control practice should eventually include pressure from defenders, not just dribbling around cones.
Which Turning Skills Help Players Keep The Ball?
Turning with the ball helps players escape defenders, change direction quickly, and keep possession. Practicing turning drills is important for close control because players must keep the ball close when moving under pressure.
The best turns are usually simple. The key is being able to use them at full speed during a game.
Important turning skills include:
- Inside hook turn
- Outside hook turn
- Drag back
- Cruyff turn
- Half-turn receive
- Sole roll and exit
- Body feint into turn
Begin by practicing at a slow pace. Set up a cone, dribble toward it, turn away, and then accelerate for three steps. The turn is finished only after you have moved away from where the defender would be.
Next, try the drill at a faster speed and add some pressure. Ask a partner to follow behind you and apply light pressure. Pay attention to where the pressure is, protect the ball, and turn into open space.
At Murcia Football Academy, we always remind players to look around before they turn. If they forget, they could end up turning right into a defender.
A better approach is to follow these steps:
- Scan before receiving
- Open the body if possible
- Protect the ball with the far foot
- Turn away from pressure
- Accelerate after the turn
Great turning skills depend on good timing, smart body movement, and strong ball control.
NOT SURE WHICH FOOTBALL PATHWAY FITS YOU?
Ball control matters, but the right environment matters too. This guide explains how players can join a football academy, what clubs usually look for and how to plan the next move properly.
Read the academy pathway guide
How Do Players Control High Balls And Aerial Passes?
Being able to control high balls matters for long passes, clearances, crosses, and when the ball bounces. Since not every pass stays on the ground, players have to deal with balls in the air. Depending on how high, fast, or in which direction the ball comes, you might use your laces, chest, thigh, or foot to control it.
The main skill is to cushion the ball so it lands where you want it. If your body is too stiff, the ball might bounce away. If you lose your balance, it will be harder to control what you do next.
Players should watch how the ball moves, get into position early, and pick the best body part to control it. High balls are often easier to bring down with your thigh or chest. For low bouncing balls, you might use your laces or the inside of your foot. If the ball comes fast, use a softer touch. If it’s slower, you can guide it forward into space.
Good high ball control is not just about stopping the ball. It means getting it under control and preparing for your next move.
How To Control A High Ball With Different Body Parts?
Choose the body part that best fits the ball’s height and speed.
- When the ball drops right in front of you, use your foot or the laces of your shoe to control it.
- If the ball drops to your side, use the inside of your foot to cushion it.
- For balls that come in around waist height, control them with your thigh.
- When you have enough space, use your chest to control higher balls.
- Relax the part of your body that meets the ball. Try to catch the ball with your body, not just knock it away.
Try this simple drill with a partner or by using a wall:
Ask your partner to throw, chip, or serve the ball to you. If you’re alone, use a wall or rebounder for a bounce. Control the ball with your thigh, chest, or foot, move it to a good spot, and pass it back within two touches.
Your goal is not just to bring the ball down, but to control it so it ends up somewhere you can use it.
How Can Game-Like Pressure Improve Ball Control?
When you add game-like pressure, technique becomes real football. A player may look strong in drills without opponents but then struggle when they have to control the ball while moving, passing, scanning, and reacting to defenders.
That’s why it’s best to start ball control drills simply and then slowly add more pressure.
Here’s a good order to follow:
- Start with no pressure
- Then add a passive defender
- Next, use an active defender
- Set a touch limit
- Add a time limit
- Finish with a small-sided game
A 3 v 1 circle drill is a great example. Three players work to keep the ball while one defender tries to win it back. The player getting the ball has to scan, control it, adjust their body, and pass before the defender arrives. This drill helps players practice receiving and first touch under pressure.
Another useful drill is controlling and passing while moving. Players jog as they receive the ball, take their first touch into space, and pass to the next player without stopping. Once they can do this well, add a defender or a time limit.
Research supports using small-sided games. A systematic review and meta-analysis in Frontiers found that training with small-sided games significantly improves technical skills in young players. These games also make players solve new problems as they play.
That’s why we don’t want players to only practice isolated touches. Their ball control has to work under pressure.
BUILD THE FITNESS THAT SUPPORTS YOUR TOUCH
Better control is not only about the feet. Balance, strength, agility and recovery all affect how clean your touch feels under pressure. Use this workout guide to support the technical work you do with the ball.
See the football workout plan
How Can Players Control And Pass On The Move?
When you practice passing and controlling the ball while moving, you learn how to receive passes on the run, adjust your steps, and keep the game moving. These drills are important because a good first touch should set you up for your next pass or dribble, not slow you down.
Try this simple drill:
- Place two cones about 10 metres apart.
- Player A passes the ball to Player B as Player B moves.
- Player B uses their first touch to control the ball and keep it in their running path.
- Without stopping, Player B passes the ball back.
- Switch roles and repeat the drill. Make sure to use both feet.
A good first touch sets you up for your next pass or dribble. If your touch stops you, the play slows down. If it is too strong, you will need to chase the ball. The right touch keeps the game flowing.
Practice with cones and a partner to work on realistic movement. To make the drill more like a real game, you can add a defender, try a one-touch return, include a third player, pass through a gate, or finish with a shot on goal after controlling the ball.
Doing these drills will help you improve your rhythm, coordination, and timing in matches.