6 Soccer Ball Control Exercises (BEST TRAINING)

The best soccer ball control exercises are ones that replicate touches you will actually experience during matches.

Basic juggling is great but many players realize it doesn’t always convert into having better touches & control in games. In this video / article I’ll show you exactly how to train by yourself to improve your control, first touch, and confidence on the ball.

You will improve your soccer ball control extremely quickly if you follow these tips on advice, technique, and proper training.

Let’s get into it.

Soccer Ball Control Exercises

It’s important to improve your soccer ball control skills because as you know the ball isn’t always on the ground. If you’re only comfortable passing and receiving on the ground you will remain a very one dimensional player.

Sadly, most players only practice their ball control as the ball is traveling to them in the heat of the game, with all eyes on them, and the pressure high.

If you want to become a master of how to control a soccer ball in the air you need to spend time training on your own. Team sessions are great but players improve their technical skills the fastest when they devote time to their individual training.

Luckily, ball control is one of the skills I see players improve the fastest. Probably because it’s a fun style of soccer training, you don’t need lots of equipment, and you become motivated to train more when you start to see quick improvements in your ball control.

Soccer Ball Control Training DONTS

Just like any style of training, we must first address the biggest mental barrier soccer players experience when practicing on their own:

FRUSTRATION

You may have the tendency to get frustrated with yourself when you can’t perform these basic soccer ball control drills perfectly the first time. Get discouraged, kick the ball away, and give up for the day. Please understand, you don’t have to be this type of player anymore.

Realize that frustration does not serve you in your progression as a player. Mistakes are part of learning and the more mistakes you make, the faster you can improve. As long as you learn from those mistakes. Don’t continue to make the same mistakes and expect different results.

What can you learn from the mistake?
Are there any changes you make to your technique?
What should you try differently next time?

By remaining calm, channeling your frustration into more practice, and analyzing your mistakes you will improve faster than other players. Win the battle of your mind. Control negative emotions. And keep practicing.

How To Practice Ball Control For Soccer

There are many different soccer ball control drills you can do by yourself but I believe the one’s I will demonstrate in the video below are the best for your development. These specific soccer ball control drills replicate real touches you will actually have to complete during games.

Juggling is great but how many times during a game do you keep the ball up on the same spot repeatedly. 

Don’t get me wrong, juggling is a great foundation for your soccer ball control skills but once you’ve developed confidence in that area you should transition into more challenging soccer drills to improve your touch.

The best drills require limited equipment, are easy to understand, and can be performed anywhere. Like the ones I’ll show you below.

Soccer Ball Control Tips

Before you watch the video below, I want to give a few more soccer tips to help you perform these exercises more efficiently. Take these ideas into consideration when you are practicing by yourself:

#1 – Stay ready. Most players only focus on their technique and neglect their movement. Half of having a better touch is being ready for the ball. Get off your heels. Catch yourself being flat footed. Get on your toes in an athletic stance, so you are ready to react.

#2 – Move to the ball. Whenever possible refrain from lunging for your touches. If you can get your body behind the ball you are more likely to have a bad touch. It becomes difficult to control passes when you have to stick your leg out from your body. Instead of lunging for touches, do your best to move your feet quickly and get behind the ball.

#3 – Eye on the ball. If you want to have a perfect touch, really focus on the ball until you make contact with your foot. Most players will be looking up at their target before they’ve even made the touch. Actually watch the ball travel in the air, make contact with your foot, and even focus on the exact point of the ball you want to make contact with.

#4 – Body positioning. On your toes, moving to the ball, but as you make your touches think about getting your body over the ball. If you have a stronger foundation, better balance, you will make better touches more often. Once again, don’t just focus on the quality of your touches. Focus on what you are doing with your upper body, core, and movement.

#5 – Strong contact. In the beginning it’s better to hit the ball too hard, than too soft. If your touches are too soft, the ball will go into your body. Or your foot won’t be flexed enough and it will travel in different directions that you don’t necessarily want. Focus on making stronger touches, purer contact, with a flexed foot and locked ankle.

Ball Control Soccer Drills To AVOID

Many players go down the path of spending too much time of fancy freestyle soccer tricks and juggling skills that look cool but don’t serve a purpose.

I can say this because…

Personally, I feel victim to this as a young player and it slowed down my development.

It’s okay to spend a little bit of time focusing on improving your soccer tricks. It doesn’t develop touch, build confidence, and encourage creativity.

However, if you are spending more time practicing your juggling tricks than you are realistic ball control, dribbling, shooting, or fitness – then your performances will suffer.

Focus on being an effective soccer player, not a flashy one.

Soccer Ball Control Drills For Beginners

In the video below I’ll show you 6 different soccer ball control exercises you can use to improve your skills. To make these exercises easy to remember I’ve created this image that you can use as a guideline. 

Bookmark this page.
Save the image.
Come back if you ever need a reminder.

Please share with your friends, teammates, and anyone else you would like to help improve their soccer ball control. Thank you!

*Right click save image (share on social media)

“Everything is practice.” – Pele

Soccer Drills For Ball Control By Yourself

In this video I’ll show you 6 different soccer ball control exercises you can use to improve your touch.

You’ll also receive:

– tips to improve your ball control skills faster
– areas of focus during each drill
– a complete soccer ball control training routine
– ideas on how to beat frustration
– plus much more

Understand that knowledge is only power when it’s put into action. Make the necessary changes to your mindset, technique, training, and start to fall in love with your training. Be consistent and you will develop the improvements you desire.

If you want to improve your soccer ball control skills, improve your confidence, and have better touches during matches – this should be obsession you keep with you for the rest of your soccer career.

6 BEST Soccer Ball Control Exercises

Hopefully you found this article / video about exercises for ball control in soccer helpful. Use these soccer exercises by yourself, share these ideas with friends and teammates, or educate yourself to help your child improve.

If you have any questions related to this topic please comment below.

You have the ability to improve all of your skills! You’ve learned how to juggle a football but you can also become faster, stronger, and mentally tougher. I’d love to see you achieve great things in soccer and life. But that’s only possible if you become the best version of yourself. Stumbling across this content is a great start!

If you really want to take another strong step in the right direction…

Continue training with me.

Become A Better Soccer Player

If you don’t know about me…

I used to be a player who struggled with confidence. I was slow, I was weak, and lazy. My coaches overlooked me, my friends laughed at me, and at one point I became so depressed I even quit soccer.

But…

Just like you…

I went on a quest to learn how to become a better soccer player and it took me down an incredible path of self-development.

Not only did I improve all my soccer skills, fitness, and confidence. I went on to win leagues & goal scoring titles, earn awards, lift trophies, get a college scholarship, and even receive international caps for my country.

In the process of this self-development, I started teaching others what to do to become the greatest soccer player they can be. My youtube channel grew to 500,000+ subscribers and I’ve helped players all around the world improve at the game they love.

In my local city I coached for several youth clubs, before starting my own soccer training company. Then I went on to coach the most prestigious men’s club in my city for several years.

But enough about me…

Back to you!

If you want to improve, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s take some serious action towards becoming a better player. I want your coaches, teammates, and opponents to notice a change in you. A new mentality, a new style of play, a new type of player.

I’d love to help you achieve your goals in soccer.

If you found this advice about how to be a better soccer player helpful, I would encourage you take the next recommended steps. I can help you improve faster & achieve more in this sport but I won’t force you. However, if you want to take the next step. Here’s what I suggest you do…

1) Take the Soccer Training Masterclass (Free)

2) Download the FREE pre-match success guide

3) Join the Online Soccer Academy

Really serious about improvement? I’ve put together this mini masterclass of “how to become a better soccer player” with helpful lessons to speed up your development – free soccer masterclass

If you’re nervous about your next game / practice you might benefit from the “prematch success guide” – 10 principles to eliminate nerves and improve the quality of your game day performances.

Develop the skills necessary to earn your starting position, become the “go-to” player during, and dominate your opponents every match day click this link – online soccer academy

Appreciate this content and want to show some love? Make a donation to support Coach Dylan and Progressive Soccer – show some love

Coach Dylan
Progressive Soccer

Thank you for reading this article: 6 Soccer Ball Control Exercises