Ball-sport skills
The skills that recur across ball games — control, passing, dribbling, shooting and defending.
Across football, basketball and similar games, a common set of ball skills keeps appearing: controlling the ball, moving it by passing or dribbling, finishing with a shot, and winning it back through tackling and marking. The rules differ, but the skills rhyme.
Because these games are fast and shared, the skills are best developed in game-like practice, where control, decision and execution happen together rather than in isolation.
The skills in this family
In a sensible order to learn them — open any skill for a clear, beginner-friendly guide.
- 1
Ball control
The skill of receiving and settling the ball quickly so it is ready to use.
- 2
Passing
The skill of moving the ball to a teammate accurately to keep possession and create chances.
- 3
Dribbling
The skill of moving with the ball under close control to beat opponents or keep possession.
- 4
Shooting
The skill of striking or releasing the ball toward the goal or basket to score.
- 5
Heading
The skill of directing the ball with the head to pass, clear or attempt to score.
- 6
Tackling
The skill of legally challenging an opponent to win the ball or stop their progress.
Sports that use these skills
Football
The world’s most popular team sport — endless running, teamwork and community in one game.
Basketball
A fast, dynamic team sport of running, jumping and quick decisions on court.
Volleyball
A non-contact team sport of rallies, jumps and teamwork — indoors or on the beach.
Other skill collections
Explore across the knowledge base
Follow the threads that connect Ball-sport skills to the rest of SocialSportHub.
Knowledge Atlas
Glossary
- DribbleMoving the ball along under control using repeated touches, by bouncing it in basketball or with the feet in football.
- Tiki-takaA possession-based football style built on short, quick passing and constant movement to keep and control the ball.
- TravellingA basketball violation for illegally moving the feet while holding the ball without dribbling.
- First touchA player's initial contact with a received ball, and the skill of using that contact to control and position it for the next action.
- Corner KickA football (soccer) restart taken from the corner arc after the defending team last touched the ball over its own goal line.
Tactics
- Possession playA patient football style that keeps the ball through short passing to control the game and tire opponents.
- Full-court pressAn aggressive basketball defence that pressures the ball across the whole court to force turnovers.
- Wing playAttacking down the flanks and crossing the ball into the box to stretch the defence and create chances.
- High pressA football tactic where a team hunts the ball high up the pitch to win it back close to the opponent’s goal.
- Counter-attackWinning the ball and moving forward at speed to attack before the opponent can reorganise their defence.
Rules
- TravelingA basketball violation for moving illegally with the ball without dribbling it.
- Double dribbleA basketball violation for dribbling with two hands at once, or for dribbling again after picking up the ball.
- Out of boundsThe rule that a ball or player leaving the marked playing area is out of play and possession is decided at the boundary.
- GoaltendingA basketball violation for interfering with a shot while the ball is on its downward path to the basket or above the rim.
- Handball offenceA foul in football committed when an outfield player deliberately handles or controls the ball with the hand or arm.
Techniques
- Crossover DribbleA basketball dribbling move that switches the ball quickly from one hand to the other to change direction and get past a defender.
- Jump ShotA basketball shot released at the top of a vertical jump, letting the shooter get the ball over a defender with a soft, arcing release.
- HeaderA technique for controlling or striking the ball with the forehead in football, used to pass, shoot or clear the ball in the air.
- Chest PassA two-handed pass thrown directly from chest height in a straight line to a teammate, the most basic pass in basketball and netball.
- Volleyball DigA defensive contact that keeps a hard-driven ball in play by passing it up off the forearms, usually from a low position.
Decision making
- Transition decisionsThe choices made at the moment a situation flips — winning or losing the ball, and switching between attack and defence.
- When to keep possessionJudging when to hold and recycle the ball rather than force a forward option — choosing patience and control over immediate progress.
- Positioning choicesDeciding where to place yourself — often before the ball arrives — to cover space, stay ready to act and shape what an opponent can do.
- Pattern recognitionNoticing recurring shapes and sequences in play, and using that familiarity to make sense of a situation more readily.
A way to organise, not a ranking
Learn the family, then the sport
Understand a family of skills, then follow it into the sports and learning paths that use them.