Jimmy made his debut as 15 year old against Dawlish Generals in the Devon and Exeter Youth League on the 13/10/1991.
In 1992/93 he made 7 apperances and scored twice in the Devon and Exeter Youth League, 7 apperances in the Neville Ovenden Football Combination and 18 games in the Elliot and Saunders Devon and Exeter premier league scoring twice.

Jimmy also played youth football for Southampton. He later played for BAT Sports in Totton.

Following his playing days, Ball moved into coaching, coaching at Christchurch and later Winchester City. He then had spells at Portsmouth and Shelbourne.

In 2014, Jimmy moved to coach in the USA, after returning to England, he coached in the academies  at Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City. He joined Forest Green Rovers, as the under-18 manager. Following the sacking of First team coach, Mark Cooper in April 2021, Jimmy was appointed interim manager until the end of 2020/21 season.

In January 2022 Stevenage Football Club appointed Jimmy Ball as First Team Coach, becoming part of Paul Tisdale's back room staff. When Paul was released at Stevenage in March 2022, Jimmy moved to AFC Totton as first team manager.