Rainbow Flick: Soccer technique, drills and fixes

The rainbow (also called the rainbow flick or rainbow kick): you roll the ball up the back of one leg, then snap that leg's heel up under it so it arcs over your head and over a defender in front of you, and you run onto it. Unlike the Okocha Flick, the ball rolls up the calf first. GOAL calls it a high-risk move and links it with Jay-Jay Okocha and Neymar. It is legal, but referees have booked players for it as unsporting behaviour, so pick your moment. We read your body control: balance, coordination and the roll-and-flick movement; the ball contact is yours to feel.

Trap & roll

Learn it standing still first. Put the ball on the ground between your feet. One foot rolls the ball (the rolling foot); the other leg's heel will flick it (the flicking leg).

Press the ball against the ankle of your flicking leg with the inside of your rolling foot.

the ball pinned between your foot and the back of your ankle.

Roll it up the back of your flicking leg, quickly and firmly, so it doesn't drop to the ground.

one fast, strong sweep up the calf.

Let the ball leave your leg at about knee height so it rises just above the heel of your flicking leg, not too close and not too far away.

Flick it over

As your rolling foot lands, snap the heel of your flicking leg up under the ball. The whole roll, land and flick happens very quickly.

the rolling foot touches down and the other heel fires straight away.

Lean forward as you flick so the ball goes up over you and lands in front. Without the lean, the ball goes backwards.

chest moving forward while the heel kicks back and up.

On the run

Dribble at the defender and draw them in (a step-over or feint helps). Start the move when they are a few metres in front and committing to the tackle. Start too far away and the ball won't clear them, or it turns into a header for them.

you go when they commit, not before.

Plant your flicking foot just in front of the ball so the ball rolls into the back of that heel, and lean forward slightly.

Bring your rolling foot behind the ball, trap it against your flicking-leg ankle, roll it up the calf and flick, all in one quick sequence as your rolling foot lands. Commit fully; hesitation gets you tackled.

Land & go

Keep moving while the ball is in the air and run past the defender on the ground.

Control the ball as it drops and carry it into space for a cross, shot or pass.

Feel it

One fast, firm sweep up the calf, the ball hanging just above your heel, then a quick heel snap with your chest going forward. The ball arcs over your head and drops in front of you while you are already running. If it goes backwards, you didn't lean forward; if it drops off your leg, the roll was too slow or soft.

Fix-its

Ball goes backwards or straight up No forward lean. Lean forward as the heel snaps up so the ball travels over you and lands in front.
Ball drops off your leg before the flick Roll it quickly and forcefully, pinned against the ankle and calf, so it comes off at about knee height.
Heel misses, or the ball flies off to one side You pushed it too far sideways, or not far enough. Roll it straight up the back of the leg so it rises just above the flicking heel.
Defender heads it or it doesn't clear them You started too early. Draw the defender in and go when they commit, a few metres away.
Tackled mid-move, or the ball hits the defender Hesitation. Practise until the roll and flick are one quick action, then commit fully or pick a different move.

Drill

Standing rainbow: ball between your feet, roll and flick over your head, then turn and collect it. Repeat until the roll and flick feel like one fast action. Warm up first and stop if your ankle or knee hurts.
Slow dribble, no defender: plant the flicking foot in front of the ball, trap, roll, flick, and run onto the ball as it drops.
With a friend, taking turns: one walks forward as a passive defender while you dribble at them and flick it over.
Add a feint or step-over first to draw the defender in, go as they commit, then control the drop and carry it into space.

By position

A situational 1v1 move for attacking players. Use it selectively: pass when a teammate is the better option, and avoid it when your team is well ahead. The Laws don't mention tricks, but a referee can caution you for unsporting behaviour if they judge it shows a lack of respect for the game. Lucas Paqueta (2021) and Neymar (2020) were both booked after rainbow flicks.

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-31.