Getting the ball first isnt the ONLY thing that matters, but it is fairly important. Both players are allowed to try to win the ball, the player who goes for the ball, and doesnt get it, has basically put himself in the way of the player who did win the ball. Now you can't just toe tap the thing barely and act like you won the challenge and take down someone who still could have played the ball because you barely moved it though. I think the calls (in the box anyway) have been pretty good in this game.