Build tackle confidence

why use it

Helps each player adapt their body to tackling, while allowing you to see where their skill level lies. The gradual increase in tempo will give the tackler a chance for success to begin with at the very least.

Set-up

Create a 4m x 3m box, split in half. One player with a ball stands on one side of the box, with another in the centre facing them, kneeling on their right knee, right arm outstretched.

HOW TO DO IT

• Ask the kneeling player to make five tackles on their right side. Once the ball carrier reaches the tackler’s right arm, the tackler brings their left arm across to complete the tackle, and employs the ‘ring of steel’ to stop the runner in their tracks. This is when the tackler tightens their grip and slips this ‘ring’ to the knees to prevent the ball carrier running.
• The ball carrier must go through the outstretched arm of the player kneeling in the following sequence:
  1. Walk across; 2. Faster walk across; 3. Jog across; 4. Faster jog (75%); 5. Run across.
• No hand-offs or sidesteps allowed.
• Once both players have tackled on their right, change to the left.

TECHNIQUE

• Emphasise “ring of steel” around the legs.
• Head tight to the ball carrier’s body.

• Put a ball carrier on the line
• Put a defender on one knee, showing which shoulder they want the attacker to move towards
• Spread out lots of boxes for players to work in but make sure there is space between them

• The attacker aims to score over the far try line
• The defender uses a low tackle to bring them to ground quickly
• Repeat five times, moving from walking through to sprinting