Elastico: Soccer technique, drills and fixes

The elastico (also called the flip flap) is a same-foot double touch: the outside of your foot guides the ball a short way to one side, then the foot wraps around it and the inside pushes it back the other way, so the two touches blur into one. Rivellino has credited his Corinthians team-mate Sérgio Echigo with the move, and it is widely associated with Ronaldinho. It is hard, so learn it slowly on a still ball first; we read your balance, how low you stay and how fast your foot goes from outside to inside.

Set up

Start with a still ball in front of you and your strong foot. Do it slowly until the order of touches is automatic, then build speed. Add your other foot once the strong side is clean.

slow and exact first. Speed comes later.

Stand balanced with your knees soft and your weight low and centred. Keep your body weight close to your midline so you can make the second touch fast. Some players stand a little side-on to the ball, which lets the leg reach further.

low and quiet through the hips, ready to go either way.

Push out

Put the front part of the outside of your foot, near the toes, on the inside of the ball and guide it a short way to the outside. Use the front of the foot, not the instep. This is a gentle guiding touch, not a kick, and the ball stays close to your boot.

the ball rolls with your foot instead of leaving it.

Sell the first touch with your upper body. Drop your shoulder toward the outside touch while your hips stay near the middle. The shoulders tell the lie; the hips stay ready for the real direction.

the shoulder dips, the hips don't follow.

Snap it back

Straight away, wrap the front of the same foot around the ball and push it back the other way with the inside of your foot. No pause between the two touches. If the first touch went too far, you won't get the foot around in time.

outside, then inside, one quick flick with the same foot.

Explode out

Change pace as soon as the inside touch is done and accelerate into the space on that side. Keep your head up. Against a defender, start the move about two steps before you reach them. The move only opens the gap; your acceleration uses it.

Feel it

Two touches that feel like one: a soft outside guide, the foot wrapping round, then the inside sending the ball back. The ball never leaves your foot by much. Your shoulder moves, your hips stay home, then you speed up. If it feels slow and clunky, slow it down further and get each touch exact before you add speed.

Fix-its

The two touches feel like two separate moves Your first touch is going too far, so the wrap is late. Make the outside touch smaller and repeat it slowly on a still ball until the two touches join, then add speed.
The ball runs away on the outside touch You're kicking it. Guide it with the front of the outside of your foot and keep it close to your boot.
You can't control how hard you touch it You're using the instep or the middle of the foot. Move the contact to the front of the foot, near the toes, where it's easier to feel the ball.
Your whole body lurches toward the fake and the second touch is slow Keep your weight low and near your midline. Sell with the shoulder only, so your hips are free to go the other way.
The defender isn't fooled, or you stall after the move Drop the shoulder to sell the first touch, and change pace the moment the inside touch is done.

Drill

Warm up first. Ball mastery: touches with the inside and outside of the same foot, both feet, to get used to switching surfaces.
Still ball, strong foot: outside guide, wrap, inside push, slowly. Build speed only when every touch is clean, then do the same on your other foot.
On the move: walk, then jog into the elastico, and accelerate out of it with your head up.
Cone defender: set 3 or 4 cones as a defender, run at them at speed, drop the shoulder, elastico past. Unopposed about 5 minutes, then with a partner giving light pressure about 5 minutes, starting the move about 2 steps before the defender.
Game: 3v3 in about a 20x20 area with 3-yard gates. Score by dribbling through a gate; switch attack and defence every minute. Stop if anything hurts.

By position

Wingers and attacking players: a 1v1 move for getting past a defender, best used with a change of pace. It takes a lot of technique, and in matches it is mostly used by top dribblers, so drill it before you rely on it. Defensive positions: low priority.

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-30.