The aim of soccer is to get the ball down the field into the opponent’s goal while preventing the other team from doing the same to your goal. Ball control is therefore one of the most important skills for a player to master and covers all aspects of handling a soccer ball. This includes dribbling, trapping, passing and shooting. In soccer players can handle the ball in a two dimensional manner by moving it left and right and backward and forward. However more experienced and good players are able to lift the ball in short controlled moves over defenders feet while keeping possession of the ball. This is a skill which requires a player to quickly kick the ball into the air, trap it, and keep moving while maintaining control. Effective ball control is also displayed when a player is able to receive a long pass by trapping it with the foot then quickly running downfield or collecting a lob pass on the chest then trapping with it with his feet to maintain possession.
