The V-pull is a two-touch move with one foot. You pull the ball back with your sole, then push it forward and out at an angle with the inside of the same foot, so the ball's path makes a 'V'. It moves the ball off its line into space so you can dribble or pass from a new angle.
Set up
Dribble with your head up and your posture relaxed, so you can see where the space is before you use the move.
Loose, eyes forward.
Slow down and plant your standing foot level with the ball, standing knee bent, chest slightly forward.
Low and ready, not upright.
Place the sole of your working foot on top of the ball, toes on the ball rather than the heel.
Light foot on top.
V
Roll the ball back toward your body with the sole. Keep the pull short and stay balanced on the standing leg. Don't lean back.
Short pull, chest over the ball.
As the ball comes back, open your hips toward the side you want to go.
Hips turn toward the space.
Push the ball forward and out at an angle with the inside of the same foot. Strike the side of the ball through its middle, not with your whole foot.
Back, then out on the diagonal.
Drive after the ball into the space straight away, and keep your body between any defender and the ball.
Touch and go.
Feel it
Two quick touches with the same foot while you stay on the balls of your feet with your legs bent. The pull is short, your chest stays over the ball, and the second touch already takes you into the new lane.
Fix-its
- You lean back on the pull Plant the standing foot level with the ball, bend that knee and keep your chest slightly forward as you pull.
- The push goes straight ahead, with no V Open your hips as the ball comes back, then push it out on the diagonal with the inside of the foot.
- The ball runs away from you Pull it only a short way and touch the side of the ball through its middle, not with your whole foot.
- You stare at the ball Look up before the move and again as you push, so you see the space you're moving into.
- You stop after the push Drive into the space as soon as it opens. The move only helps if you go with the ball.
Drill
- Standing V-pulls: ball out to one side at an angle, balance on the standing foot, pull in and push out with the inside. 30 seconds per foot, 3 rounds each foot.
- Outside-foot version: same pull, then push out with the outside of the same foot, ankle locked and toes down. 1 minute on, 30 seconds off, 3 rounds; count your reps.
- On the move: dribble freely in a 15x15m area with a group and use V-pulls to change angle into open space, head up, both feet.
- Under pressure: 7 attackers with a ball each against 3 defenders in a 30x20m area for 60 seconds. Use sole pulls and angled pushes to keep your ball.
- Small-sided game with the rule that you touch the ball with your sole before you pass.
Sources
- Marcos Palacios, Premier Users' Club — At Home Session 2, V pull inside and outside foot (Coaches' Voice Session Planner)
- 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 2026-10-26.