Real tackling to better tackling

A moving player is easier to bring down than a static player. It’s a simple matter of the physics concerning momentum and the centre of gravity. Slow down the bottom half of the ball carrier and the top half will continue at the same speed as before, leading to the object, or in this case the ball carrier, toppling over.

The three main types of tackle do this in their own ways. A front tackle tends to trip over the ball carrier, while the side tackle and rear tackles drag the legs back.

The difficult part of tackling once contact is made is getting into a vice-like position to wrap the legs of the ball carrier. Note that I’m focusing on low tackling, not sternum-target tackling.

Tackling is difficult for the following reasons:

• Timing
• Contact
• Co-ordination

Timing

A moving target requires a tackler to time when they intercept. That requires plenty of mental calculations of relative speed. Then, at the right moment, the tackler must change their body shape to execute the tackle. Too early, and the target might move away. Too late, and the tackler might bounce off.

Contact

Here we are thinking first of safety and then about fear. The contact itself is mostly about the correct head position. The irony is that often a player who’s scared of tackling will close their eyes, turn their head away and leave themselves in a more exposed position.

Co-ordination

Once contact is made, the tackler has to co-ordinate their arms and body to grip the ball carrier, using their legs to either drive through the tackle or create a drag on the ground. This is all while the ball carrier is moving, which might in turn shrug off the tackler’s best efforts.

Dynamic tackling

Those three factors mean that static tackling practice can only hope to replicate a very small part of the actual tackle. While it may provide a confidence boost and allow a chance to explore the best positions, unless the tackler is discovering this through real physical feedback, there won’t be much translation into match situations.

The low-level tackling introduction on page 4 works well to develop the process. Train the players in bursts, so they are tackling intensely for a short period, but have sufficient recovery time to work hard (and technically correct) in the next bout of tackles.

Also, be prepared to adjust the distances so there is more or less impact and different challenges for the players.

As a coach, make a big noise about completed tackles. That is, the tackler goes to ground properly and with a tight grip.

Though there is an emphasis on recovery in this activity to make the next tackle, look for good outcomes over speed.