How to set up your own tackle club

by Dan Cottrell in Rugby drills, Tackling

Tackle club is actually lots of little clubs within one team. Each tackle club allows you to work with players who need similar sorts of attention.

Improve tackling in small stages by using the concept of different clubs to suit the needs of your players. As the season progresses, you might move players around the clubs, but don’t let a club become too big.

HOW IT WORKS?

Each club has no more than six players.

They work for no more than five minutes.

The clubs work away from the main session. So you could be doing a game or activity with the main group, with one or two tackle clubs working separately.

WHAT HAPPENS IN THE CLUB?

The club works on one aspect of tackling only.

Depending on the session, it can be low, medium or high impact.

In five minutes, there has to be a minimum of three and half minutes of activity.

Finish with feedback on one key point.

Note how many times one player repeats the technique/skill.

Look for accuracy over aggression.

HOW TO DEVELOP TACKLE CLUB

There are two different approaches, which can be mixed:

Have a programme for a number of weeks. Each week, work on one aspect.
React to the needs of the players, either by identifying weaknesses or for them to suggest weaknesses.

LOW IMPACT

Footwork – tackler gets to correct position to make a tackle
Grip – tackler, starting from a standing position, grips a ball carrier
Head position – tackler, starting from a standing position, puts this head in the right place to tackle a walking ball carrier

MEDIUM IMPACT

Footwork – tackler gets to correct position to leg drive in tackle, probably into a ruck pad holder
Grip – tackler finishes a tackle
Shoulder impact – tackler works on weak shoulder
Turnover/bounce – finish a tackle and either compete for ball or bounce out into the defensive line