ball control

noun

: an offensive strategy (as in football) in which a team tries to keep possession of the ball for extended periods of time

Examples of ball control in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Its dominance of ball control and pressing has translated into advantages of 40-14 in shot-creating actions and 54-18 in touches in the attacking penalty area – dominance no MLS guru outside SDFC would’ve forecast. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2025 That ability to cause chaos is coupled with ball control. The Athletic Uk Staff, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025 Newport Harbor coach Justin Schroeder praised the play of his back line and credited the Griffins for their consistency and ball control. Lou Ponsi, Orange County Register, 5 Feb. 2025 Both teams tend to ball control, making a high-scoring game a bit more risky to predict. Jesse Newell, Kansas City Star, 25 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ball control

Word History

First Known Use

1910, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ball control was in 1910

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ball control.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ball%20control. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!