Games & drills for tackle technique

The Falcons coaches use a variety of games and breakout drills to progress their tackle technique session. The players respond to questions to vary the style of coaching

Coaching the leg Tackle

An example of a basic 1v1 exercise to practice the leg tackle.

Coaching the leg Tackle

An example of a basic 1v1 exercise to practice the leg tackle.

Wasps - Footwork The Key To Big Tackles

Aggressive tackling is fundamental to Wasps performances and their players physicality is part of their DNA. Brad Davis overseas a tackle technique session that will change your approach to coaching the tackle

Reaction Tackle

Keep your players on their toes with this quick-fire 1v1 tackling exercise. Start with bags then progress to live tackles. Defending players have an obstacle to negotiate before performing the tackle, just as they may have in a game.

Quins Defence - 1 v 1 tackle skills

Close contact in a small channel ensures the players work their movement skills in both attack and defence. The coach reinforces the skills for contact prior to progressing this exercise

Defence - Blitz or Drift

In the last ten years two defence systems have been coached and implemented. The Wasps academy coach provides some of the latest ideas and how to use games to coach the skills and cement the understanding

Game - Tackle Touch

Whether you're introducing tackling to young players for the first time, or re-introducing it to senior players after a summer away, this is a great game to play to ease back into it. It isolates the 1v1 tackle and puts emphasis on technique without the high speed impact of a full contact game.

Develop Confidence For Tackling

Developing confidence in and around the tackle is very important when starting to teach tackle techniques. This clip provides a few ideas that you could use in your sessions

Tackle - Coaching safe head position

Coaching the correct head position for tackling is one of the most important skills for a coach, this clip shows a few examples that can be used with progressions

The Tackle Battle

Winning the collisions in contact is crucial in the modern game. The coaches provide some theory and practical examples of drills and games to reinforce the basic principles to be effective. The coaches use a variety of progressions and games to keep the session challenging

Tackle Technique & Progressions

Introducing tackle technique to players is a challenging process and the Wasps coaches ensure the players understand and are competent at each step prior to progressing to the next one

Coaching tackle technique & progressions - Mini

Coaching tackle technique never stops. As players get older, the challenges become more complex and coaches need to provide more detail to improve the finer skill sets. This video provides some expert tips that may help you improve tackle technique and the first phase of the ruck / breakdown.

Quins - Choke Tackle Technique

Harlequins coaches and players discuss the choke tackle, as well as the importance of enjoyment at training, and differences between players

How to coach the Catch or Choke Tackle

Some of the latest ideas around tackle technique and what defenders are trying to achieve. This session provides the technical progressions needed to teach the choke / catch tackle

NSW Waratahs Tackle Technique

Some insight into how the NSW coaches approach coaching the tackle. This clip provides some tips on "How to coach" and some practical examples

Kiwi Tackling - Coaching Dominant Tackling

To be a dominant tackler you need to practise the core skills regularly. The tackle has many factors to it and here are some tips from New Zealand

Game - Defence Touch

Another conditioned game that will test your players' fitness. This requires all defenders to perform a 'down-up' after each touch, before re-aligning. As players become tired, more gaps will appear, testing the defence even more.

Tackle technique 1

Tackle technique

Learning Tackle Technique

The Choke Tackle

The choke tackle is a technique used to slow attacking ball down. By wrapping the attacker high around the ball and lifting them slightly, their momentum is reduced and they are unable to make the offload. The longer a tackler can keep them from going to ground, the more time the rest of the defence have to get ready.

Tackle technique 3

Tackle technique

Learning the tackle technique

Tackle technique 5

Tackle technique 5

Impact Wrap Tackle

Impact Wrap Tackle

Tackling - When is the tackle completed?

It is very much an individual choice as to when a tackle is completed to when the defender can compete for the ball. What is generally accepted is that good tackle technique will enable the defender to "Be ready" for his next task. This clip explores why a strong grip or "Ring of steel" will enable the tackler to be dominant

Passive Guard Tackle

This tackle is necessary when the defender is not in a position to make a strong aggressive tackle and uses the momentum of the attacker to bring them to the ground

Passive Guard Tackle

This tackle is necessary when the defender is not in a position to make a strong aggressive tackle and uses the momentum of the attacker to bring them to the ground

Developing Low Tackle Technique

Here is a new drill from London Scottish that encourages players to stay low in the approach and throughout the tackle

Tackle Technique - Full Session

[WITH DRILL VIDEOS] This session from Joe Goodman (Bristol University Rugby) has been designed to prepare players for a return to full contact competition, re-establishing correct technique to ensure safe, efficient tackling through progressively increasing the level of contact and complexity of skill execution.

Chop Tackle - Pad Drill

Aim to develop good tackle habits through repetitive practice. Using pads allows you to train with intensity whilst lowering the impact on the body.

Back To Back Pre Contact Wrestle

Players sit back to back, arms interlocked and knees bent. The coach says left or right. The players must battle to pull their partner to the floor on the said side.

Around The Clock Tackling

Set up 5 cones around in a circle. The tackler works out from the first cone to make the tackle. The tackler then backtracks around the next and then comes forward to make the tackle again. Two tackles off the right shoulder, one front on and two off the left shoulder.

Sausage Pad Tackling - Getting Low

Make sure players are getting low early and close to tackle the sausage pad, they shouldn't be diving into the pad.

Sausage Pad Tackling - Getting Low

Make sure players are getting low early and close to tackle the sausage pad, they shouldn't be diving into the pad.

Explode Up Tackling

Tackler starts on their knees. As the ball carrier gets closer the tackler steps up to give them more power and punches through to give them more power. The tackler drives through and finishes on top.

Tackle Technique - Progressions for Juniors

This clip illustrates tackle technique using progressions suitable to all players and possibly requiring regular revisit to embed safe and effective tackling

Tacking & evasion exercise

Developing core skills for evasion with other players

Complimentary Attack

Complimentary Attack