To control the ball means to bring it under possession. A player gains possession when he sets the ball and/or aligns himself so that he can further operate with it.
Ball control (on ground balls) and dribbling are practically identical in terms of technique. That is why dribbling is often referred to as running while controlling the ball. Both are concerned with maintaining the ball into space that would be accessible for a following touch. The difference is that when controlling, a player brings the ball under possession while dribbling is manipulating the ball after it has been brought into possession.

A player's ability to control the ball is called upon ever time he is about to receive it. Remember, sometimes a player can distribute or shoot the ball at first touch. That is not considered control. Many people misunderstand the definition of "ball control" or simply "control". When we talk about "team control" we mean the overall ability of a group of players (team) to maintain possession of the ball. "Team control" therefore is a combination of all the abilities that help our players maintain and manipulate the ball. A list of those abilities can cover all aspects of performance such as technique, fitness, tactics and even emotional condition.

General principles: Precision, Delay and Breaking
Handling the ball generally exposes it to or attracts enemy threat. Realizing if one has enough time is important - sometimes a quick one-touch pass or shot can create better results. If there is a tempting opportunity available to shoot or pass it's probably better to sacrifice controlling the ball. If one finds himself running out of time (lack of options or being closed down) that's usually a sign of poor decision-making or observation (should not have controlled the ball) or skill (should not have taken so long to control the ball). On the other hand - there is nothing wrong with controlling the ball, as long as it doesn't interfere (the control technique is executed quickly and precisely enough) one's intent or the situation (or the overall team tactics). It's not right to conclude that playing one-touch is always more effective than settling the ball, even although it seem that most successful football teams (Real Madrid 2002, Manchester United 1999) today, attack by working the ball with the least amount of strikes possible. In practice, controlling the ball drags enemies towards it thus manipulating their actions. Therefore the situation itself should dictate when to use control and when to play one touch. Regardless, a high quality player must be able to play both with and without setting up the ball. For example, the ability to shoot in motion is a must for any bona fide finisher and making quick wall passes is a characteristic of good playmakers.

Precision
The technical advantage of using control is that (when executed properly) it provides a player with a well-placed ball thus improving the accuracy of his following touch. On certain balls, the use of control is mandatory because one's technical skills may not be capable of handling the situation otherwise. Alas, control requires space and may be somewhat time-consuming thus causing loss of possession when one is under tight pressure. Settling the ball to improve one's comfort with it is therefore only applicable if enough time and space are available to hold or protect the ball.

Delay (inviting pressure)
One of the results of controlling the ball is the attraction of enemy pressure. That alone is not necessarily a negative effect. Some players may intentionally preserve the ball into their control just to invite (and direct) enemy threat. Wingers positioned wide may keep the ball only to draw in tightly packed enemy defenders. Advanced players (midfielders in particular) use control to manipulate pressuring defenders. Upon receiving the ball such player may push it towards the left flank and just as his markers follow him he would turn and pass to the right.

Breaking (avoiding pressure)
Control can be used to break through enemy pressure. Breaking through means directing the ball to escape threat from enemy defenders by gaining offensively advantageous placement. In contrast to controlling for delay, breaking is done to avoid enemy pressure rather than attract it. Not having enough space or time to control the ball (too many enemies in the vicinity) is a player's first concern when deciding whether to control or not. One must be aware of nearby enemies and place the ball in order to escape their tackles or use shielding to prevent them. For example, if a ball has been served to a player and there is a defender on his right, he would turn with the ball to the opposite side. If the situation is unfavorable (there are two defenders on both sides), the player should be prepared to bail out by controlling away, clearance, passing or shooting the ball at first touch.

Methods of settling the ball
There are three general uses of control - to make the ball easier for handling (successive touches like shooting or passing), to disarm pressuring enemies or to delay play and draw them in.

Dead trap
Dead traps or "killing" the ball are utilized when a player is planning to stop completely in order to delay the current play or evaluate his options. This is not recommended if there are enemies in the vicinity, unless the ball is passed, moved or shielded right away. Dead traps are also good for stopping very hard or uncomfortable balls, which cannot be settled otherwise. When using this method of control, one has to be certain of enemy placement. Taking too long to settle the ball could be dangerous if enemies are nearby so the player must have scanned the pitch before controlling. This is especially important if one traps the ball with his back to the enemy goal because that would usually limit his vision of direct enemy pressure.

Bringing the ball along
This particular skill is used when a player is headed in a specific direction and the ball comes to him from the side. Just as stopping the ball completely, bringing it along is another method frequently used for control. Technically, bringing it along is slightly more demanding but should still be mastered by any developed footballer. Good anticipation and timing will be needed to prepare the ball so it converges with one's path, rather than kicking it aimlessly and then trying to go after it. Remaining tactically aware is half the trick; unless there's room to direct the ball to, there would be no point in controlling it in this manner. For example, if one is headed towards a nearby defender and the ball is passed to him, he should change direction instead of bringing the ball along. Bringing the ball is a fundamental skill every player needs to develop. It is used virtually everywhere on the pitch from players of all positions. Midfielders, and other players who carry the ball, must be comfortable with this skill. Technically, it's closely related to dribbling.

Steering away
Using control to evade enemy threat is a sign of the truly skilled and mature footballer. Good vision and tactical awareness remains as the basic foundation of this skill. By detecting where the nearby enemies are located, or more precisely their heading (direction), one can put together a plan for beating them. From scanning the pitch the player controlling can find an empty spot that is out of enemy reach. Ideally, one should find several spots starting from "safe" to risky and then direct the ball into the most appropriate. Sometimes less is more - stopping completely can easily shake off a defender running in from the side. Advanced footballers use cunning techniques where the ball is spun by 180 degrees with a single strike or it is sent pass the defender while they go around from the other side. Throwing a fake, before contacting the ball, can be very effective. After devising a scheme, one must execute it while observing and responding to enemy reaction.

Turning with the ball
If a player receives the ball with his back to the enemy goal, he would often have to turn forward in order to pass, shoot or dribble. This happens frequently with players checking back towards their own goal. The most important factor of turning with the ball is the availability of space and time. If an enemy is coming in from behind the player receiving the ball, then he wouldn't be able to turn without endangering possession. Because this requires good awareness and vision, players frequently warn each other by calling "man on" or "turn." The second most important thing is the positioning of teammates. If the player receiving the ball is a center forward, then turning would not open passing lanes for him, because all of his teammates would be behind. Being aware of one's position according to teammates is integral in deciding whether to turn with the ball or not.

Shielding away
If enemies are pressuring as one is receiving the ball, the most important thing is not to panic! By using the upper body and footing the player receiving the ball can brush off the pressure. Turning one's back in direction of the enemy provides a safe way to guide the ball along. To ensure the defender's containment, one must keep his own body between the ball and the enemy. The foot (or whichever body part) further away from the enemy should be used to control the ball. The other foot (closer to the enemy) must be planted as a barrier that would block his tackles. Using one's arms for protection is also helpful to keep the pressuring defender away. In fact, many professionals trampoline off their markers while simultaneously securing possession.
Pre-planning is the key for effective shielding. One must always analyze the setup and detect enemy threats early. Remaining loose and being prepared to adjust for error is the second key. If things don't work out one must have a backup plan that would ensure safety of possession (or even clearance.)

Faking
If the ball is already headed in a desirable direction where one can collect it without enemy intervention, but he is closely pressured, there is no need to stop the ball. Rather than trapping and then trying to beat the enemy, one could fake controlling the ball, in order to "freeze" the opponent, and simply runs after it. A good example of this is when a tightly marked player is standing with his back to the enemy goal. A pass is made to the marked player but instead of stopping the ball, he lets it go through his legs and runs making a 180-degree turn around his marker. If executed properly (and not repeated too often) this trick would frequently stun the marking defender. One of the downside of faking is that it requires space. The ball must already be headed in an open area, away from enemy threat, where the player can collect it. Another factor involved is the weight (speed) of the initial pass. If the ball is going too fast one may not be able to turn fast enough to collect it, if it's too slow the enemy may intercept it.