Okocha Flick: Soccer technique, drills and fixes

In German-speaking coaching the heel flick that sends the ball up behind you and over your own head is called the Okocha trick, after Jay-Jay Okocha, whose rainbow flick over Ray Parlour in a 2-2 draw with Arsenal is one of his best-known moments. This lesson teaches the on-the-run version: pinch the ball between your feet and pop it over your head with your front heel without breaking stride, then control it as it drops in front of you. It differs from the Rainbow Flick lesson, which rolls the ball up the back of your calf first. The camera doesn't grade this one, so the lesson coaches the touches.

Set up

Learn it standing still first. Only take it into a dribble once you can pop the ball over your head from a standstill again and again.

Standing first, running later.

Wedge the ball between your feet: the heel of your front foot rests against the ball, and the inside of your back foot sits behind it.

The ball pinched between heel and instep.

Flick

Push the ball lightly with the inside of your back foot so it presses onto the heel of your front foot.

Snap your front heel up quickly and explosively. The push has to be strong enough for the ball to fly forward and up, over you, and land in front of you.

A sharp heel kick toward your backside.

Lean slightly forward as you flick. Turn your upper body a little at the hips and look over your shoulder, back and down at the ball.

Chest over the ball, eyes on it behind you.

Time the heel snap with your other foot landing, so the flick happens inside a normal stride.

Land & go

Keep your running speed. Don't slow down to set it up or after you flick it.

The trick lives inside your run.

Get the ball under control as soon as it drops in front of you, for example with a touch from the outside of your foot, and carry on.

Pick your moment. Okocha said it is all about doing it at the right time. A ball lost in your own half, or a flick done only to show off, can cost your team and can be cautioned as unsporting behaviour.

Use it when it gets you past someone, not for the crowd.

Feel it

The ball sits pinched between your feet, a quick push sends it onto your heel, and one sharp heel kick pops it up and over you while you keep running. You lean slightly forward and glance back at it, then it drops in front of you and your next touch is already on the way.

Fix-its

The ball goes backwards or hits you You're too upright. Lean slightly forward as you flick so the ball travels over and in front of you.
The ball goes up but not over your head The heel snap is too soft or too slow. Make it quick and explosive, and start with the ball pressed firmly onto the heel.
You slow down to set it up Practise it at walking pace, then jogging, until you can do it without changing your stride. Keep your running speed through the trick.
You lose the ball after it lands Turn your upper body and watch the ball over your shoulder, then take your first touch the moment it drops.
You try it in the wrong place It's legal, but referees can book it as unsporting behaviour if it looks like it shows a lack of respect for the game. Use it to beat a player, not to taunt one.

Drill

Warm up first. Standing still: wedge the ball between your heel and the inside of your back foot, push, and flick it over your head. Repeat on both sides, in short sets, until it clears you most of the time.
Walking, then jogging: set up the wedge without stopping, flick, and collect the ball in front of you.
Dribble at running pace, do the flick, control the ball straight away, then take alternating outside-foot touches: twice with the right, twice with the left (about 10 minutes).
With a cone or a passive defender in front of you, approach at pace, flick it over, and get past. Stop if you feel pain, and rest when the heel snap gets slow.

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-26.