To get a better idea of how to practice and improve your dribbling and ball control skills, let’s break the process down to 4 separate skills- feet, ball contact, protection, and focus. This will allow you to work on each skill individually before eventually combining them during your practice and training.

Feet- To effectively control and move the ball, you need to have good footwork. Practice dribbling and moving the ball using every part of both feet- the toes, instep, and outside of the feet. The goal is to get to the point where you feel comfortable using any part of either foot. Also, be conscious of which foot you favor when you dribble the ball, and note how you use the opposite foot for balance and posture. The way you point and position your balancing foot has a major impact on your dribbling speed, direction, and control. Try some practice drills that require you to work your balancing foot for a while before switching the ball between feet. Make sure to start and stop and change speed and direction frequently, just like you would in a game situation.

Ball contact- When you are in a situation with open space and room to run with the ball, most players will use their favored foot to push the ball forward to coincide with their running speed. The goal in practicing this skill is to never let your speed separate you from the ball and cause you to lose control. Experiment with how much force you need to move the ball at various speeds, and work on keeping the ball at a close but comfortable distance when moving quickly across the open field.

Protection- This can be a difficult skill to develop. The goal here is to maintain protection and control of the ball around defenders without sacrificing a great deal of speed. Again, the balancing foot will come into play as it will serve as a shield against defenders while also helping you to control the direction of the ball. To practice this skill, work on approaching obstacles or defenders at a high speed and then moving around or past them while maintaining control of the ball.

Focus- This is perhaps the most important aspect of ball control. Remember, in a game situation, the goal is for your team to score, not to see how well you control the ball. Be aware of your other teammates and their locations on the field at all times. It is much easier to make several passes and then shoot than it is to dribble all the way downfield alone and shoot. Dribbling should be used as a tool to put yourself in a situation to make a great pass and the occasional shot. Work on this skill by dribbling to a predetermined point and then passing to another teammate. Then incorporate obstacles and defenders into the drill to simulate a real game situation.