Tackling warm up basics

Use this low impact activity to prepare your players for tackling. It focuses on good footwork and grip.

Increases confidence and reminds players of the key points of tackling.

ACTIVITY

1. Play 1v1. The attacker faces the defender with their arms folded across their stomach at arm’s length from a tackler.
2. On your call, the tackler, quickly steps forward, makes impact just below the chest area (or waist depending on your rules at this age group), wraps their arms around the target and drives them back one step.
3. Repeat five times before swapping over.

DEVELOPMENT

1. Then stand the defender on the try line, with the attacker on the 5m line. On your first call, attackers start jogging on the spot.

1. On your second call, each attacker steps into the space to the left or the right of their opposite defender who must make either a chest high or waist/thigh height tackle with the correct foot forward to stop the attacker getting over the line.
2. The attacker simply steps – they do not run.

TECHNIQUE

• Foot and shoulder in right place at point of tackle.
• Arms gripped tightly, head in close and on the correct side.
• Tackler driving back attacker one step using footwork.