Unlocking dominance and reducing misses

3. Post-contact: finish the job

Contrary to its name, the post-contact phase is far from the conclusion of a tackle.

Instead, it determines how effectively the defender can maintain dominance. Key elements of this phase include:

Arm pull or wrap: Maintaining a tight grip is essential. Oli echoes the “no daylight” philosophy, stressing the importance of pulling or squeezing to keep the ball carrier under control.

Leg drive: A common error, Oli notes, is defenders going to ground before the ball carrier. “Your second and third steps after contact are critical, if the ball carrier is off balance from the initial contact,” he advises. Without them, the tackle loses power and effectiveness.

Angle retention: Defenders should aim to stay square, or minimally angled, during the tackle. Any deviation, such as hips turning outward, compromises their position and allows the ball carrier to escape.

Oli draws parallels between this phase and a scrum, where hip alignment dictates power and effectiveness. “If your hips push out, you’ve lost the battle,” he states.

Understanding tackle dominance and misses

Oli’s research also sheds light on the metrics for dominant and missed tackles.

A dominant tackle occurs when the ball carrier is pushed backward or redirected by the defender’s force. In contrast, missed tackles fall into two categories:

Contact made, but tackle not completed: The defender fails to maintain control, allowing the ball carrier to break free.

No contact made: Often a result of system errors or poor decision-making, this type of missed tackle can expose weaknesses in defensive structures.

To achieve dominance, Oli advocates a tailored approach, based on player characteristics. “Not every player has the same capacity for dominant tackles,” he says.

Smaller players might excel in low tackles aimed at destabilizing the ball carrier’s legs, while larger players might focus on torso tackles to shift the centre of mass.

Coaching insights

Oli underlines the importance of individualised coaching and progressive drills – “Good defenders are confident defenders,” he says.

By building mastery in controlled environments, and gradually introducing complexity, players can overcome technical and psychological barriers.

Oli also emphasises the importance of understanding attacking systems – “More than 85% of the time, teams execute fewer than two passes per phase,” he notes.

Anticipating patterns and positioning accordingly can dramatically improve defensive outcomes.

Conclusion

The three phases of tackling – pre-contact, initial contact and post-contact – are integral to achieving dominance and avoiding misses.

By focusing on balance, technique, and adaptability, players can optimise their performance in each phase.

As Oli summarises, “Tackling is a dynamic process. Success lies in preparation, execution and the ability to adapt in real-time.”

THIS CLIP shows a player making a tackle with their hands behind the knees of the ball carrier. Though the foot placement isn’t great, you can make a dominant tackle if you get your hands in the right place and have enough impulse in the initial contact