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.
The Vikings are going to find themselves in a number of mid-to-low scoring games all season, the likes of which are often determined by ball control. Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 17 Oct. 2025 Libero and defensive specialist Olivia Bennett is excellent at ball control. Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Oct. 2025 More opportunities that Donovan hopes stem from disruption, ball control and, yes, charges. Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025 Central Michigan used a ball control offense combined with stout run defense and some timely turnovers to secure a tight 16-14 win on the road against San Jose State in Week 1. Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Sep. 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 21 Oct. 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!