Obviously not the best practice :
When using the rudder pedals the commander’s technique was to place his feet on the pedals with his heels clear of the floor, so that the rudder was operated with the heels and the brakes by flexing forward the toe end of the foot.
That one makes more sense :
His feet would be positioned so that the ball of the foot rested on the lower part of the pedal (the rudder bar) with the heels on the floor, unless braking was required in which case he would lift his feet up so that he could apply the brakes.