You’re deep into the season and your team’s tackling is looking ragged. How do you reinvigorate the players? It’s time to initiate a programme of exercises to bring your defence back up to speed…
Yes, it can be done – developing technical theory into attack halting habits, and turning your young tacklers into stoppers.
After the tackle introduction, from knees to crouching to jogging, players need opportunities to turn theory into game practice. Click HERE to remind yourself of good tackle technique.
Start by asking the squad to reiterate the key factors of the tackle, and remember to praise good technique. And use whole-part-whole approaches where appropriate – this is a coaching method where a fuller exercise is stopped to focus on a particular aspect, before you return to the main exercise. So, you might return to the theory from knees upwards, or in later weeks return to a previous week’s training game.
Fitting it into training
Spend 15 minutes each week on the following programme. Play the game, and then break out into short skills exercises if you need to reiterate a point, before returning to the game. It should be done after a warm-up, with players wearing their normal match rig (such as gum-shields or padding).
WEEK 1 – THE GAME
The focus is on making tackles in games. So play a normal game but stick to walking pace only. Penalise anything faster than walking. Using slower-moving players removes possible fear factors, and provides plenty of time for players to concentrate on making tackles. Poor technique won’t put attackers on the ground and this is highlighted at low speeds.
WEEK 2 – UP THE PACE
Now the focus is on tackles at normal pace. Play your normal game but award a point for each tackle to the ground. This may mean a team will score more points by tackling than their opponents do by scoring a try.
WEEK 3 – STOP THE ATTACK
The final focus is on stopping attacks. Play the second week’s game but this time also award points to the attackers for offloading in the tackle. Strong tackles prevent offloads and thus doubly reward the defenders by depriving attackers of points. In addition, play turnovers after six consecutive tackles without opponents scoring – further rewarding good defence.
Consider other ways to promote good practice through these games. Such as extra points for when a tackler lands on the attacker, or gets to his feet quickly.
Using an inverted backline shape, your runners from a ruck can give the 9 more options to pick up the best-placed player to break the defensive line. An inverted three is a group of three players that line up so the furthest player is in front. All but the first player in the line can take the ball with a player in support to drive them out and away from the previous breakdown. It’s easy for the outside players to adjust their timing to support the first player if he’s the receiver. MORE
How to take the ball close to the gain line in attack to put the defence under more pressure. It will exploit quick ball from rucks by putting attackers flat, running angles and offloading before or after the tackle. MORE
Create pace onto the ball from a “free pass” to a static player by encouraging your players to organise themselves quickly and work in threes. When the rules state that a free pass has to be to a static player, your players have to be at ease with repositioning themselves to be able to generate some pace onto the ball. MORE
With up to five players in action, use this exercise to work on footwork, decision making and teamwork. Quick to set up, it can be used as part your RTP sessions or into the main season as a warm up activity. MORE
Match-time tackling can be 1 v 1, but often it’s a team effort, especially for younger players. Use this simple activity to build confidence, communication and tackle technique. MORE
We want to improve all the players’ skills in equal measure, but there’s never enough time. Instead, work on specific core skills to match the roles and responsibilities of each position. MORE
