The expression "to have the ball" means to be in control or in possession of something. There are many synonyms for this phrase depending on the context. In a sports situation, "to have the ball" can be replaced with "to possess the ball," "to control the ball," or "to hold the ball." In a non-sports context, other phrases such as "to be in charge," "to run the show," "to be at the helm," or "to be the boss" can be used as synonyms. The phrase "to have the ball" has quite a few alternatives to choose from that convey the same sense of being in control or having power in a situation.