Fun tackling games: the circle and bull pups

WHY DO THEM?

These two games can isolate a technical aspect of the tackle, like footwork or shoulder contact. Or they can be a fun way to work on full tackling.

Circle

Set up

A 10m wide circle with cones around the outside, five attackers, one defender, one ball.

How to do it

The tackler stands in the middle with other players around the outside. The ball is passed from the tackler to each player and back in turn (see picture 1A). You shout “GO” when the ball is in the hands of one outside player who then aims to cross the circle to the outside cone directly opposite (see picture 1B). Score points for reaching this cone or each completed tackle. Run for 60 seconds before swapping the tackler.

Bull pups

Set up

A 15m x 10m box, with corner flags if possible. Play 4v1 (no ball).

How to do it

Put one tackler at one end of the box and four attackers on the opposite line. You call “GO” and the attackers aim to get to the far side (see picture 2A). Either using touch or full tackling, if an attacker is “tackled” or goes out of bounds, they join the tackler for the next round and so on until there is only one attacker left (see picture 2B). Give attackers only three seconds after “GO” before they must leave their line.

Technique

• Get close to ball carrier
• Head to the side of ball carrier, not in front
• Use leg drive to finish the tackle