Performance

Football Speed With the Ball vs Without the Ball: Why Both Matter

Russell “Rusty” HullettFounder | Professional Scout & UEFA A Coach9 October 2026 · 1 min read

Player in a Canada shirt celebrating on the pitch

Acceleration The first few metres often matter more than top speed.

Movement efficiency Good mechanics help players get faster without extra effort.

Ball control at speed Touches that keep the ball close enough to control yet far enough to keep running are a skill in themselves.

Position requirements Wingers and full-backs carry the ball over distance; centre-backs need recovery pace; midfielders need short bursts in tight areas.

Compare fairly Use the same distance and protocol each time so results with and without the ball can be compared.

Development ideas Acceleration work, running technique, dribbling at pace and decision-making while running.

Track progress Test every few months and look at the gap between the two times. Learn more in football fitness testing or explore player development.

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