ball control

noun

, Sports.

1. a team's ability to maintain possession of the ball on offense.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ball control¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

The Swede has caught the eye with his creativity and ball control, producing a particularly impressive performance as a half-time substitute against Bayern Munich in a 2-1 friendly loss.

From BBC

“The football world mourns the loss of the legendary Kaiser. His unparalleled versatility, graceful transitions between defense and midfield, impeccable ball control, and visionary style reshaped the way football was played in his era. His leadership qualities shone through as he captained both the national team and Bayern Munich during their most successful periods and continued to shine bright in his coaching career. Beckenbauer’s legacy as one of football’s all-time greats is beyond dispute. Farewell to a true legend!”

From Seattle Times

“They got up on us and continued to control the ball, control the possession, kill the clock. And we didn’t convert on our third downs, which is something we have been great on all year,” Prescott said.

From Washington Times

“With his technique, he’s got great technique in terms of ball control and his shot is second to none on our team. He doesn’t beat you with pace, but he beats you with disguise and accuracy. It’s very frustrating as a goalkeeper.”

From Seattle Times

Yes, the Commanders used ball control - they had the ball for 17 minutes in the first half - to get a 1-yard TD run from Curtis Samuel and Terry McLaurin’s fumble recovery in the end zone for a 14-7 lead.

From Washington Times