V-Pulls

Dribbling: quick links

V-pull moves:

There are several varieties of V-pull moves. They’re called V-pull moves because they include a pullback and a push in a new direction, similar to the shape of the letter “V” (or sometimes the letter “L”). We call them V-pull moves, but some people use the name V-push instead — same moves, just a different name.

The V-pull move is very effective when an opponent is blocking your path. It allows you to create space and change direction with two quick touches. These moves are great for getting away from a defender, plus they work well even if you’re standing still. (It’s easy to get away from a defender when you’re already running.)

Junior Academy players should learn at least two V-pull moves well enough to use them in games. Try them all, see which ones works best for you, and then practice, practice and practice them some more! If you think you’ve got one of the V-pull moves down, try it while playing the “snow cones” game with a parent, sibling or friend. (Or try it while going against your coach!)

Front V-pull, outside of the foot:

  1. Pull the ball straight back with the bottom of your right foot. (Advanced tip: Pretend to kick the ball before you pull it back.)
  2. Hop slightly backwards on your left foot while turning your body to the right about 90 degrees.
  3. Land on your left foot facing to the right.
  4. Push the ball in the new direction with the outside of your right foot, using the area of your small toes. This will complete the “V” pattern.
    1. The key is to make a slight hop and turn (pivot) with your other foot during the “pull” part of the move. This gives you room to make a strong “push” touch into space.
  5. Be sure to work both feet: do a V-pull with your right foot (to the right), and follow it with a V-pull with your left foot (to the left). See if you can smoothly go from one repetition to the next without any pauses.

Front V-pull, inside of the foot (slightly harder):

This is almost identical to the “Front V-pull, outside of the foot” described above. The difference: your second touch is with the inside of your foot, not the outside of your foot, but the second touch still goes in the same direction.

  1. Pull the ball straight back with the bottom of your right foot. (Advanced tip: Pretend to kick the ball before you pull it back.)
  2. Hop slightly backwards on your left foot while turning your body to the right about 90 degrees.
  3. Land on your left foot facing to the right.
  4. Push the ball in the new direction with the inside of your right foot. This will complete the “V” pattern.
    1. When you hop after taking the “pull” touch, you’ll have to turn slightly more (coaches call this “opening your body” or “opening your hips“) in order to get the inside of your foot in position to take the ball away in the new direction.
  5. Once again, be sure to work both feet: do a V-pull with your right foot (to the right), and follow it with a V-pull with your left foot (to the left). See if you can smoothly go from one repetition to the next without any pauses.

Front V-pull, 2-foot (slightly harder than single-foot V-pulls):

  1. Pull the ball back at an angle with the bottom of your right foot toward your left heel.
  2. As the ball starts to roll back, place your right foot down on the ground.
  3. As the ball rolls under your body, take a touch with the outside of your left foot (using the area of your small toes) at a 45 degree angle forward and to the left. This will complete the “V” pattern.
    1. Alternate version:  As the ball rolls under your body, turn your hips so you are facing the direction you want to dribble, and then take a getaway touch into new space with the inside of your left foot to complete the “V” pattern. Coaches call this hip movement either “opening your body” or “opening your hips” — this movement gets the inside of your other foot into a good position to take the ball away in the new direction.
  4. Be sure to work both feet:  do a 2-foot V-pull starting with your right foot (finishing to the left), and follow it with a 2-foot V-pull starting with your left foot (finishing to the right). See if you can smoothly go from one repetition to the next without any pauses.

Reverse V-pull (also called a behind the back V-pull or pullback Cruyff):

The demo video shows a new U7 Junior Academy player along with a coach. The U7 player is in the early stages of learning this move, and shows some hesitancy and stiffness that is common in the early stages of the learning process. We like her determination and joy in working at it — those traits will help her through the rough spots!

  1. Pull the ball straight back with the bottom of your right foot — past your left heel. Your left foot can stay on the ground, or you can make a slight hop forward (more advanced). (Advanced tip:  Pretend to kick the ball before you pull it back.)
  2. When the ball rolls past your left heel, push it with the inside of your right foot — to the left — behind your left heel. This is similar to making an inside of the foot pass, but you’re doing it behind your other foot. Some people call this “tucking the ball behind” your other foot.
    1. The key is to pull the ball strongly so it rolls past your other heel. This makes it easy to tap the ball to the side and take off in the new direction.
  3. Turn your body to the left to complete the “V” move.
  4. Be sure to work both feet: do a reverse V-pull with your right foot (to the left), and follow it with a reverse V-pull with your left foot (to the right). See if you can smoothly go from one repetition to the next without any pauses.

V-pull combinations:

Can you combine V-pulls, or combine a V-pull with another move?

Combo #1:  front and reverse:

  1. Do a front V pull with your right foot, finishing to the right.
  2. Do a reverse V pull with your right foot, finishing to the left.
  3. Do a front V pull with your left foot, finishing to the left.
  4. Do a reverse V pull with your left foot, finishing to the right.
  5. Repeat the pattern. See if you can smoothly go from one repetition to the next without any pauses.

Combo #2:  an 8-move V-pull cycle (advanced):

This is a challenging fast footwork activity that cycles through eight separate V-pull variations:

  1. Right foot front V-pull, finish with the outside of the foot
  2. Left foot front V-pull, finish with the outside of the foot
  3. Right foot front V-pull, finish with the inside of the foot
  4. Left foot front V-pull, finish with the inside of the foot
  5. Two foot front V-pull: left foot / right foot
  6. Two foot front V-pull: right foot / left foot
  7. Left foot reverse V-pull (behind the back)
  8. Right foot reverse V-pull (behind the back)

Combo #3:  2-foot V-pull with an in-out move (advanced):

  1. Start a 2-foot V-pull with your right foot.
  2. Do an in-out move with your left foot, finishing to the left. (This move is also known as the “Matthews” move.)
  3. Start a 2-foot V-pull with left foot.
  4. Do an in-out move with your right foot, finishing to the right.
  5. Repeat the pattern. See if you can smoothly go from one repetition to the next without any pauses.

Combo #4:  “V” pull with a step-over (advanced):

If you can do front outside V-pulls and step-over turns, you’re ready for this one. If not, practice V-pulls and step-over turns by themselves before you try this “combo” activity.

  1. Do a front outside V pull with your right foot, finishing to the right.
  2. Do a step-over fake with your left foot. Land on your left foot, then take a quick hop to turn your body back to the starting position.
  3. Tap the ball back to the starting position with the inside of your right foot. (You won’t use the outside of your step-over foot.)
  4. Do 10-15 reps, then switch feet and do another 10-15 reps.

Reminder:  One foot takes all the touches, the other foot does the step-over fake.