New tackle height drills: Up, push, up, tackle

Use this 1 v 1 exercise to develop a quick change in body height based on a ball-received cue.

• Put two players in a 4m box.
• Nominate one as the ball carrier, and the other as the tackler.
• Have the ball carrier (who doesn’t have the ball yet) come forward at an angle, either left or right.
• The tackler runs forward to get in front of them and gives a strong push on the chest.
• The players retire quickly to their starting points and repeat.
• Randomly, as the ball carrier gets to the starting mark, the coach passes in a ball.
• Now, it becomes full contact, with the tackler aiming to lower their height to make a tackle.

The tackle can be full or a strong grab and leg drive.

Swap roles. As we can see in the video, this is good chance to help players find the right and safe technique in a relatively low-impact scenario.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

• Get square
• Get in front of the ball carrier
• Dip late and then drive

The push backs are to create a sense of the "wrong height" before moving into the "right height". It also means the tackler is off-balance and not always expecting the real tackle.

PROGRESSIONS

• Add in another defender. Can the players make a double-low tackle?
• Start from slightly different points.
• Move the "ball carrier", and the set up.