The pull-push is a two-touch move with one foot: the sole pulls the ball back toward you, then the inside of the same foot pushes it forward or across. The sole lets you stop, start and change direction with the ball close, so the move shifts the ball to a new angle before you drive into space. We read your body through the two touches, not the ball.
Set up
Dribble forward with small touches, then slow down as you reach the ball you want to pull.
Short strides, ball close.
Plant your standing foot level with the ball, standing knee bent, upper body tilted slightly forward. Don't lean back.
Weight over the standing foot.
Look up before the move so you know where the space is.
Eyes up, then the ball.
Pull-push
Put the sole of your working foot on top of the ball and pull it back toward you. Pull it only a short way so it stays close.
Roll it, don't stamp.
Turn the same foot out and push the ball forward or across with the inside of the foot. Contact the side of the ball, through its middle.
Back, then out.
Stay on the balls of your feet with knees bent and arms bent and free for balance. Keep your posture relaxed, not stiff.
Light and loose.
As soon as the ball goes into space, accelerate after it. If a defender is close, keep your body between them and the ball.
Touch, then go.
Feel it
Two light touches with one foot: the sole rolls the ball back, the inside nudges it to a new angle. Your standing leg stays bent and steady, your chest stays slightly forward, and your next step is already a burst into space.
Fix-its
- You lean back on the pull Plant level with the ball, bend the standing knee and keep your chest slightly forward. Leaning back leaves you stuck when you need to go.
- The ball rolls under your foot or away from you Use a lighter sole touch on top of the ball and pull a short distance. Practise slowly with a futsal ball, which bounces less.
- Your eyes stay on the ball Look up before and after the move. Head up is how you see where the space is opening.
- You stop after the push Drive into the space straight away. The move only helps if you leave before the defender recovers.
- You're stiff and slow between touches Stay on the balls of your feet with short ground contacts and a relaxed upper body. Build speed only once both touches are clean.
Drill
- Walk-through: on your own, pull-push slowly with each foot, checking that your standing foot is level with the ball and you aren't leaning back.
- Ball mastery on the move: in a 15x15m area with a ball each, dribble and pull-push into open space on the coach's call, heads up, both feet.
- Sole-rule game: play a small-sided game where each player must touch the ball with the sole before passing, so sole touches become a habit.
- Evade pressure: 7 attackers, each with a ball, dribble in a 30x20m area while 3 defenders try to win the balls. Use the pull-push to change angle away from pressure and drive into space. Rounds of about 60 seconds.
Sources
- FIFA Training Centre — Mastering ball control (session plan)
- FIFA Training Centre, Anton Corneal — Building relationships between the surfaces of the boot (2025)
- England Football Learning — How using the sole of the foot can benefit players (2023)
- The FA — Futsal for Schools resource cards (2019)
- easy2coach — Dutch turn + short passing combination (exercise)
Last checked 2026-10-25.