Think ball in the tackle

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A one-on-one tackle finishes when the tackler has got to his feet to challenge for the ball. The tackler needs to get into the habit of making the tackle and then getting into the best position to gather the ball and hold off the incoming opposition. This session works on speed and body angles.

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

What to think about

What can players do once they have successfully retrieved the ball? It depends on the support and the opposition in front of them. The best players turn with the ball and offload it quickly away from the tackle. Once he’s won the ball, the tackler must be in a strong position to take contact from opposition players, so should have a wide base, keeping the ball away from the oncoming players. What can the ball carrier do to prevent the tackler winning the race to get up first? The ball carrier should twist and roll in the tackle, to land on top of the tackler. They should place the ball away from the tackler and towards their own try line.

set-up

Tackle the ball carrier by driving him whilst you are still on your feet. Aim to land on top of him.
Bounce off the ground or the tackled player, then step over the tackled player to take the ball.
Rip the ball up and either move forward or turn to your own team.

What you get your players to do

Put a player next to a tackle pad, with a ball underneath it. The player falls onto the pad then gets to his feet to retrieve the ball. He should be in a strong position to be aware of where the opposition might come from. Progress by putting one player on one knee next to a ball carrier, also kneeling. The non-ball carrier tackles the ball carrier and gets up to retrieve the ball. Move to walking players and then running players.

The player bounces off the pad and then retrieves the ball in a strong position.

Development

Set up two pairs of players running around the outside of a 5m diamond shaped box. Give each player from each pair a letter, A or B. Pass the ball to a player in either pair. The ball carrier turns on the nearest cone and aims for the opposite cone in the diamond. The player with the same letter from the other pair enters the diamond straight away to make the tackle. The other two players have to circle the diamond before entering from a cone behind their team mate to support.

Related Files

Advanced-153-think-ball-in-the-tackle.pdfPDF, 132 KB

The tackler must tackle and get up to retrieve the ball before the opposition contest for it.

Game situation

Play a game of 5 v 5 in a 25m square. The game is full contact. When a tackle is made, both sides can only commit one other player to the tackle situation.

Only the tackler, tackled player, and one other from either side can contest for the ball on the ground.

What to call out

“Think ball”
“Be aware of where the opposition are coming from”
“Hunch your shoulders after gathering the ball”
“Put your hands beyond the ball before ripping up”

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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