The roll over (or sole roll) uses the bottom of your foot to roll the ball sideways across your body, toward the inside of your other foot. The sole keeps the ball close and lets you change direction quickly, so it is a simple way to move the ball away from a defender and open a new angle to dribble or pass. Video can't see the ball, so the analyzer reads your body: the sideways sweep of your working foot, your balance on the standing leg, and your posture.
Set up
Stand close to the ball with your knees bent and your weight on the balls of your feet, not your heels.
Low and light.
Keep the ball tight underneath your body and put the sole of your working foot on top of it. Your weight stays on the standing foot.
Sole on the ball, weight on the other foot.
Against a defender, slow down on the approach and use small touches, then make the move once the ball is inside the defender's tackling range, not from far away.
Slow in, then go.
Roll
Roll the ball across your body with your sole, from the working foot over toward the inside of your other foot. Keep the foot on the ball so it doesn't run away.
Stroke it across, don't kick it.
Angle your body so the ball comes out slightly forward, not straight sideways or behind you, and use your body movement to sell it to the defender.
Across and a little forward.
Take the next touch with the inside of your other foot to push the ball past the defender, finishing on the side the ball is travelling to.
Roll with one foot, go with the other.
Keep your body between the defender and the ball, with the ball on the foot furthest from them, then lift your head and accelerate into the space.
Shield, look up, go.
Feel it
A good roll over feels like the ball stays an extension of your foot: it moves across under your sole, close to your body, and you can look up instead of at the ball. Your knees stay soft, you stay on the balls of your feet, and the touch out with the other foot comes straight away.
Fix-its
- The ball runs away from you Roll it, don't kick it. Keep the ball tight under your body and keep your sole on it until the other foot takes over.
- You're stiff or back on your heels Bend your knees and stay on the balls of your feet so your weight can shift with the ball.
- You roll too early, too far from the defender Slow down on the approach, take small touches, and make the move once you're inside the defender's tackling range.
- You roll it and stop The roll is only the start. Push the ball on with the inside of the other foot and accelerate away.
- You stare at the ball Practise until the ball stays at your foot without looking, then do the drills while watching a partner or coach.
Drill
- Partner sole rolls (US Youth Futsal progression): face a partner. Roll the ball back and forward with your sole and pass it to them, then roll diagonally away from them, then sideways from the sole of one foot over to the inside of the other foot.
- Shuffle roll-up, in a 5 x 5 yd box: start with your right sole on the ball, roll it out, push it back across your body with the inside of the right foot, and stop it with the left sole. Repeat the other way. 45 seconds on, 15 seconds off, 5 sets. Count your rolls in one minute as a challenge.
- Inside-inside roll: shuffle the ball side to side with the insides of your feet and add a sole roll every two touches. 45 seconds on, 15 seconds off, 5 sets. Knees bent, ball tight under you.
- Cone defender, in a 20 x 20 yd area: dribble at a marker, slow down, roll the ball across your body with the sole, push it past with the inside of the other foot, and accelerate to the far side. Work both feet.
- Sole-rule small-sided game: play a small game where each player has to use the sole before releasing the ball. Reward players who try the roll to beat someone.
Sources
- The FA Boot Room, Graeme Carrick — How using the sole of the foot can benefit players (2020)
- The FA — Futsal for Schools resource cards (2019)
- FIFA — Futsal Coaching Manual (4.3 Running with the ball; glossary)
- US Youth Futsal & Senda Athletics, Keith Tozer — Directional Sole Roll video series (2017)
- Middletown SC — Roll/Roll Push session (Sport Session Planner, 2014)
- Keron Doldron — Roll/Roll Step session (Sport Session Planner)
- Futsal: At Home Session 3, Group 1 — Shuffles (Sport Session Planner)
Last checked 2026-10-25.