The antonyms for the phrase "running with the ball" could include standing still, sitting down, or walking slowly without any intention of making significant progress. Another opposite term could be passing the ball to someone else to run forward, shifting the responsibility to the teammate and avoiding the pressure of constantly moving the ball. Other antonyms could be giving up on the game, failing to seize a scoring opportunity, or playing defensively instead of aggressively. Whatever the antonym may be, it represents an approach that contrasts with the excitement, dynamism, and urgency of running with the ball, which is a critical component of many sports.