Low tackling

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Low tackles stop the progress of ball carriers. While they are more difficult to avoid, they also require more courage on the part of the tackler. So use this session to encourage good technique, but also create greater confidence in the tackle.

Warm up time: 5-7
Session time: 8-10
Development time: 8-10
Game time: 15-20
Warm down time: 5-7

What to think about

This session uses a learning style that works backwards. That is, the practice starts with the tackle almost complete. It then develops with the previous element of the tackle technique being introduced. The sequence is:

In the tackle position just before taking the ball carrier to ground. Shoulder and arms are engaged with the ball carrier, with the head behind and foot close to the target.
The position just before stepping into the tackle. The tackler’s eyes are on the target, with the body bent at the hips and arms out ready to wrap around.
Moving into the tackle. Balanced running, on the balls of the feet, with eyes on the target.

Make sure step one is correct before moving on to step two, and so on.

set-up

Aim at the shorts with your shoulder.
Step in close to the ball carrier.
Keep your eyes open, drive in the shoulder, wrap around with the arms and hold tight!

What you get your players to do

Place one player, holding a ball in both hands and with his feet together, next to a ruck pad on the ground (optional). Put another player (the tackler) to the other side in a crouched position, with his front foot next to the ball carrier and his arms nearly, but not quite, wrapped around the ball carrier. Ask the tackler to grab and complete the tackle with the ball carrier falling into the ruck pad. Progress by:

The tackler has his arms at the side, before grabbing and tackling.
The tackler is one step away from the ball carrier, so he steps, grabs and tackles.
The tackler walks in to make the tackle.
The ball carrier walks and the tackler tackles him into the ruck pad.

Start with an almost completed tackle where the tackler just needs to complete the grab to put the ball carrier on the ground. Progress backwards.

Development

Set up a tackler and ball carrier as in the middle picture. Have the ball carrier run to either side of the central cones, keeping two hands on the ball. The tackler has to make a tackle before the ball carrier makes it to the far end, or tackle him out of the coned box. Change starting points to add or reduce the pace of the ball carrier.

Related Files

Core-192-low-tackling.pdfPDF, 193 KB

The ball carrier runs left or right and aims to score at the far end without being tackled or driven out of the box.

Game situation

Set up two tacklers and three ball carriers as in the bottom picture. Shout out a letter or name of a ball carrier. That player aims to score over the far line, with one point awarded for reaching the first line between the cones, and two for reaching the second. Only one defender can tackle at a time, so they have to communicate well. See how many attempts it takes for the attack to score 10 points.

Shout out which ball carrier is to advance. The defenders have to decide who will tackle that player.

What to call out

“Lock the head in behind the ball carrier”
“Drive up and through the tackle, like a jet plane taking off”
“Hold on tight”

Dan Cottrell

Dan is a practising RFU Level 3 coach and coach educator. He coaches with the Bristol Bears DPP programme, is head coach of Bristol Schools U18s and the Rugby Performance coach for Bristol Grammar School.

He was head coach of Swansea Schools U15, Young Ospreys Academy, assistant coach with the Wales Women's Team for the 2010 World Cup, director of rugby for Cranleigh School, Surrey. He played for Bath, Bristol, Esher and Clifton, South West division, Gloucestershire and Surrey.

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