Ball control has become an increasingly important ability as football has evolved. Anyone can improve their ball control skills by practicing the appropriate drills. It is now often regarded as the most crucial football talent. The modern game is fast-paced, and having well-drilled technical ability will be an advantage in your game.
Mastering the fundamentals of football, such as passing, receiving a pass, shooting, dribbling, and goalkeeping, is the first step toward becoming a professional footballer.
The game has evolved immensely. This should not come as a surprise because methods of training and evolved ways of playing have been deployed, which has improved the speed of play through tactics, playing philosophy, and groundbreaking scientific training methods.
A lot goes on before passing the ball; first, the passer must assess and calculate angles to make the pass. The receiver must scan the peripherals of the pitch, calculate his touches and open up the game to develop the attack.
All these actions occur while the ball is in control and the thinking process is on autopilot.
Training drills such as rondo and transition attacks are vital to ball control, maintaining possession, and mounting attacks.
Football is a team game; however, an individual must explore his touch ability through private training to hone their craft. As a result, the team will be more comfortable on the ball, and the possession process will look natural.
What Does “Touch” Mean In Football?
“Touch” is a term frequently used in the field worldwide. Touch is a specialised ball control action and approach that involves controlling the ball from various angles. If a player understands ball movement and body positioning and can confidently receive and pass the ball, that player will have excellent ball control.
Furthermore, if the complete team’s players have such established control, their possibilities of winning and the audience’s amusement will be successful on the team. Attractive football stems from players who have perfected their ball control prowess.
Control and “touch” or “touches” go hand in hand, and you can’t have one without the other. So, don’t be surprised when someone comments, “That was a fantastic touch.” A player like Zidane displayed fantastic ball control; manipulating the ball directly from the first touch and escaping the opponent was a joy to watch.
First Touch
The first touch is a skill that is honed via training. But what exactly is it? The first touch is receiving the ball with your head, foot, or body without it rolling away. Improving your first touch is crucial to becoming a great football player, and there are various strategies to improve your first touch in football.
A good “first touch” is one of the essential talents when playing football. Football players can devote their lives to honing their first touch because they know it will help them become better players on the pitch.
A way to improve your ball control is to do ball air juggling, and multiple wall passes. Progress the wall drill with twists and turns, like you are playing a match.
Four Types of Soccer Touches
Football is a sport that encompasses more than just balls and grass; nonetheless, if you want to be a successful football player, you must study and practise various skills. A player must be familiar with and learn four basic sorts of touches. These touches are important in a player’s development.
Lace
The lace touch is extremely popular among players. When you utilise the lace touch, you can dribble swiftly in a straight path or diagonally, move into open spaces, control, and pluck the ball out of the air if you are a more advanced player.
| Here’s how to do the lace touch: |
| Lift your knee, point your foot downward, lock your ankle, and touch the ball with your laces to make a lace touch. |
Sole
The sole is a move that is even less commonly used than the outsole. The sole refers to the bottom of the foot or the point where your boots contact the ground.
Turning, beating defenders, and moving in all directions are possible with the sole touch. It’s the most difficult touch to perfect, but it’s well worth the effort.
Modern players are so comfortable with the ball control they make this drill look effortless. It’s the pinnacle of ball touches when mastered.
Lateral sole can shift the opponent away from the ball, leaving you space to pick your next move.
| Here’s how to do the sole touch: |
| Place your foot lightly on the ball to conduct a sole touch. The ball should be rolled to the side. While rolling the ball, do a little hop with your other foot. Turn your body to the side to use the solitary touch to progress forward. |
Inside
The inside touch, or “insole,” as many players call it, is the pick of many players’ choices. After learning the lace touch, most people learn this and then stop abruptly, never progressing.
It is arguably the most relaxing touch to have. Doing this successfully with both feet frequently makes a player outstanding.
To pull off an exquisite touch, feign, draw and commit the defenders while executing the insole touch to open space.
| Here’s how to do the inside touch: |
| To do an inside touch, move your leg slightly outside, lock your ankle, and then touch the ball with the middle of your inner foot. The ball should traverse your entire body. Adjust the angle of your foot if the ball travels too far in front of you or too close to you. |
Outside
One of several often-overlooked talents is using the outside or outsole of the foot. However, it is especially valuable for keeping defenders away from challenges and highly skilled players.
This touch is difficult to execute as a first touch but excellent for dribbling past defenders.
The outside touch requires more effort than the inside and lace touches in bodily movement. Like the lace touch, this touch is fast and choppy.
You can also add this touch as a dribble to attack the defender quickly. This style does not reduce speed as this touch complements the body running mechanics.
| Here’s how to do the outside touch: |
| To perform an outside touch, slightly inward your leg, lock your ankle, and then touch the ball with the middle of your outside foot. |
Practise them with both feet to get better at all the above touches and ball control. It will take time; you will fail numerous times; nevertheless, if you take it one day at a time, you will eventually master these football touches & control.
There is no failure; during practice, failure is the compound effect of progress. Wise players improve by knowing what does not work, accelerating progress and achieving results.
Here are useful ideas for improving and maintaining your soccer ball control skills to assist you in this process.
Soccer Ball Control Tips
Master Ball Control
Before focusing on dribbling, receiving the ball, and other skills, you will improve every skill in football if you master ball control.
Dribbling is a good strategy to keep control of the ball. When carrying out ball control drills, players need to perfect their dribbling skills using several parts of both feet. For the best results, ensure you stay physically fit and eat a healthy diet.
You will be surprised to realise that ball control and groundwork drills exhaust the body. The combination of many touches on the ball of your feet and body reaction, together with cognitively demanding tasks, will help get your cardio heart rate up and contribute to your fitness.
Practise With Both Feet
You become more effective when controlling the ball with both feet on the pitch. You have complete freedom to move and cut in any direction.
Defenders will only mark you if you don’t have a strong foot. Training your weaker foot is challenging, but it is worthwhile. You will have a leg up on others who didn’t go the additional mile.
In the modern game, PMW switches the winger on opposite flanks. Often we find a right-winger cutting in on the left wing. A well-trained and seasoned left foot will give the right-winger the option to ho on the outside and deliver a compelling cross. Keeping the defenders guessing is the key to m winning 1v1 battles.
Place Your Toes On The Ground
It’s a good idea to stand on your toes to prepare when the ball bounces off, or you miss catching it. Everything will become easy for you as you practice manipulating football more and more.
Staying on the balls of your feet makes it easier for you to react promptly. These reactions came to be accommodated from all planes of motion by twisting the hip and facing the attacker. Flat-footed defenders are easily dismissed.
Keep In Mind Where You Put Your Foot
Pay attention to your put foot when acquiring ball control. Your balance and momentum are affected by where you lay your foot. It should always be a few feet from your other foot.
You will become graceful and swift when handling the ball after your foot moves naturally to the correct position.
Proprioception is the consciousness of knowing where your feet are by balance and reaction times. It certainly helps to be in the universal quarter squat stance, on the ball of your feet, ready to twist the hip and adjust flight of alert for a foot race.
Maintain Proximity To The Ball
Keep the ball near to you at all times. You will lose it more easily if you keep it too far in front of you and risk taking it by the opposing side. For optimum dibbling and close control, practice drill at a great pace until it becomes ingrained in your skill set.
Control the ball with light, solid touches while attempting to keep it stuck to your foot. It will appear not easy at first, and you will feel slow, but the more you practise, the better and faster you will become at manipulating and keeping the ball near you.
If you want to be a competent soccer player, you must make sure that you protect yourself from injury while doing ball drills. You should begin eating proper foods 3 hours before kick-off and do a thorough warm-up. Another recommendation is to ensure you exercise and eat well throughout the year to stay in shape for all activities, especially during the pre-season.
The difficult part of dribbling is the close control while moving at pace; other sports that carry the ball can be more agile and crafty and juke the opponent. However, football requires motor skills, muscle memory, and countless practice hours to become an accomplished dribbler.
You may also read our latest blog here: https://mhusseinfootballacademy.com/blog/
For more tips, fun, And creative football content, click here: https://www.instagram.com/coachussein/.
CHOOSE M HUSSEIN FOOTBALL ACADEMY
Every youth has dreams. And sometimes, we grow up looking up to our idols. It’s never easy to achieve success. But with proper training, know that everything is possible. With M Hussein, we offer you group-based training, even one-on-one.
Train with us and be part of our growing community! Stay with us, and be a pro with us! Be your idol’s rival in the future. We are M Hussein Academy.