Tackle training tips

A ‘round-the-corner’ tackle can create further chances for the steal. 

This would be used when the defense has a numerical advantage, or you see it in space on the edge. Here, you tend to have more individual runners, instead of pods with quick support.

The round-the-corner tackle is less a vertical drive, but instead is characterized by the tackler turning their hips and shoulder post-contact, driving over the side a fair bit and their body swinging around on the finish, opening up the contest for the ball.

Think of it as: "I’m going to cut the legs – and boom! You’re down on the spot where the contact happened."
Getting them down quickly is hugely important. Time on their feet means support can come. 

You may trade them falling forward for speed to ground, whereas above, you were happy to stay in the drive – it takes more time but they go further backward.

Outcomes

1. Dominate: We can either counter-ruck or buy ourselves time to reload in defence.
2. Steal: Put the ball carrier onto the ground on the spot so the second or third player can steal the ball.

The coach’s eye changes the same drill

I’ve mentioned at least five key points and, within those, there is more detail.

In training, we need to adjust our training to suit our players and not bring too many points to the session too early.

A newer player may only be focused on one key point. The same drill, where we ask the player to do three things really well, makes the same activity more complicated and challenging.

Sometimes, coaches can stick with the same drill but make it more complex by demanding more.

Even advanced players have different needs, especially when it comes to troublesome areas.

If a player is good at taking away the space, you might want to focus them on getting their chest down and their knee a bit more forward, so those are the coaching cues prior to execution.

However, the same drill for player two, who has different struggles, could be about getting off the line and taking away the space. You won’t want to even mention the knee or chest angle until you are happy with their launch.

In summary, good tackle coaching is much more then knowing the technical model and the key points – it’s when to ask more and who may need support on different individual items.

Deeper on ’Knee over toe’

In the final step before the tackle, if the foot gets too close to the ball carrier, or if the defender over strides, it is hard for the tackler to generate power. 

It’s about the shin angle. If the angle is upright, then it’s hard to move forward with the same energy. 

If the shin is upright, the centre of mass is often back behind, and, if they try to push off the front leg, the shin angle will make the knee and hips go up.

To go forward, it’s best if they think about a ‘Z’ shape.