EXPERT SESSIONS AND ADVICE FROM QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED GRASSROOTS RUGBY COACHES
The RFU has brought forward plans to reduce the tackle height at age grade rugby to below the armpits.
Talking to experienced school coaches in particular, they don’t see much change in the impact on the game as a whole. However, it is an excellent opportunity to reexamine your tackle technique training.
Here are four session ideas to develop footwork, body shapes, target areas and finishes for a variety of contact situations.
Up and tackle develops side-on tackles, where most tackles are low. With players recovering from a prone position, it reduces the speed of play, giving the less-confident a better chance to complete a tackle.
Boxer tackles to build better tackle technique is a step-by-step process from footwork to contact. This is a good warm-up exercise to move into a contact section.
A senior’s favourite, I’ve found Tackle testing is also popular with younger players too. Players can co-coach as well, as the exercises offers a good audience view.
Finally, in Tackle balance, you can really focus on tackle height when the tackler is not completely in control of their approach angles.
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Because ball carriers make every effort to avoid being tackled, a defender might find themselves struggling to tackle them…to begin with. It’s how you finish that matters, according to Les Kiss, head coach at London Irish. Dan Cottrell explains… A lot of tackle coaching can be static. The key points are head position, shoulder contact,... MORE
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For the first few years of contact rugby, you will be introducing or re-introducing tackling. Your approach is a key part of maintaining your players’ learning momentum and desire to become better tacklers. Here’s a graduated approach. MORE
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I’ve been talking tackling to plenty of coaches in the last few weeks. That’s not unusual. Therefore, I wanted to share with you one of my favourite tackling “drills”: High pressure tackling reactions. I say drill because it’s a 1 v 1 exercise. MORE
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Get your players used to making side-on or front-on tackles with this high-octane exercise. The tempo will keep the players moving quickly into position and making choices on which tackle to employ. MORE
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Keep your players under pressure while performing this tackling exercise. As fatigue sets in, will they be able to retain their technique? MORE
