Always score - tackle the core

Better tacklers anticipate where a ball carrier is going. You can improve anticipation skills by using this session to help focus on the core of the ball carrier. The hips don’t dummy, so if the tackler can keep his eyes on this area, he should make more tackles.

Warm up time: 5-7
Session time: 5-7
Development time: 10-15
Game time: 10-15
Warm down time: 5-7

What to think about

Keep checking the body shape just before contact. An unbalanced player just before contact will tackle poorly. The tackler should stay upright and dynamic (on the balls of his feet) until he is close enough to step in and drive up. He should do this by dropping his hips down, bending at the knees and ankles. Though the tackler must be balanced, he must also tackle on his terms - that means getting close to the ball carrier quickly.

set-up

1. Look at the hips of the ball carrier.
2. Keep balanced and follow the ball carrier until you are close enough to make contact.
3. Step in, dip and drive up, with a firm arm grip.
4. Finish the tackle and target the ball.

What you get your players to do

In pairs, one player is the defender, the other the attacker. Get the pairs to move around slowly and then shout “TACKLE”. The tackler moves into the ball carrier and lifts him up using a “bear hug”. He takes two steps then puts the player down (see picture 1). Reiterate the coaching points, swap round and repeat until all the players are comfortable with the techniques. Develop the exercise by getting the ball carrier to move around faster.