EXPERT SESSIONS AND ADVICE FROM QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED GRASSROOTS RUGBY COACHES
Target
The tackler targets the opposition player’s waist. He needs to get low in order to get under any potential hand off.
Keep moving
The tackler keeps moving forward and has to get in front of the ball carrier. Just before contact he should set himself in a strong crouched position with one foot slightly in front of the other.
Head up
The head stays up, with the eyes looking at the target until contact is made.
Shoulder, head, arms
Contact is made with the shoulder. The head tucks in tight to the hip and the arms form a tight band round the thighs.
Roll back
From the strong crouch position just before contact, the tackler rolls back using the ball carrier’s momentum to bring them to ground.
in Rugby drills, Tackling
Inspired by the work of Nick Hart, a headteacher and author of the blog,Thisismyclassroom, here is a “scaffolding” approach to teaching tackling. Scaffolding is where you build support around a task as it is introduced and built up. You then take away the scaffolding as the player becomes confident and competent. It was first coined... MORE
in Girls/Womens, Rugby drills, Tackling
Use this low impact tackling exercise to work on both the ball carrier's ball placement after the tackle, tackler technique and recovering. The emphasis is on completing the tackle, with the tackler's "speed to feet" to then compete for the ball. MORE
in Tackling
Watch this clip from our media partners, RugbyFactory.tv and see how the tackler executes a strong, technically sound front-on tackle. Then, check out what she did well and how you can put this into a training situation. MORE
in Rugby drills, Tackling
Use a game of "King of the ring" to encourage better tackles which dominate the ball carrier. Reward strong, successful front-on tackles where the tackle is completed and the ball carrier is driven back over their line. It encourages getting off the defensive starting line to make the tackle. This reduces the space as quickly as possible. The attacker still has an incentive as they want to make the tackle impossible or as difficult as possible. MORE
in Return to play, Rugby drills, Tackling
Here is a 15-minute mini contact session based on reintroducing players to the contact area. What’s important in this early stage is to revisit the basics of contact. Not only as players’ techniques may have slipped during lockdown, but also in an effort to make everyone’s contact area safer and better. The session focuses on technique in a safe but competitive environment, enabling the players to have fun with first getting the contact positions right and then working on their tackling. MORE
in Return to play, Rugby drills, Tackling
This session reintroduces players to the tackle, checking that players remember the basics of tackling safely and working on getting clear of the tackle area quickly once the tackle is completed. MORE
