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LOGINWhy you can't split tackling and defence
You can’t coach one without the other, or players won’t associate the skills with the game. By CHRIS CHUDLEIGH, founding coach of School of Hard Knocks.
Tackling is a skill. Defence is a composition of skills that incorporates tackling, among other facets, that help to make your try line impregnable.
To teach tackling without reference to how you are going to defend could mean that you practice thousands of head-on tackles in training - but, actually, in a match, very few players will make that sort of tackle.
So if we are looking at how we teach and practise tackling within the realms of working on our defensive co-ordination, we need to ask ourselves what we are trying to achieve from our defensive efforts.
The answer ’to stop the other team from scoring’ doesn’t have enough detail and is taken as read anyway.
Consider, instead, ’to press the opposition to the opposite touchline to force them out of space’ or ’to close down their outside options, forcing them back towards our forwards’.
The two styles of defence will employ a different type of tackle - pressing the opposition towards the touchline will use side-on tackles, while closing down the space will use more front-on tackles.
Avoid the early plant
Defenders who sit down into the tackle too early can easily be sidestepped. They need to keep moving and balanced
Derail the train
Have the tackler come from the side, especially against a larger player. It is easier to derail the train than to stop it head on. Avoid attackers running straight at defenders in training. Make the defender move
Use game realistic DEFENCE practices for tackling
Make tackle practices replicate what happens in games. For instance, 10 is unlikely to make many head-on tackles. He is probably going to be working with the flanker to double tackle or slide out in a drift defence
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Defence/tackling essentials
- Both with teaching and practising tackling, never take it in isolation.
Always relate it to the team’s goal in defence. Before tackle training, ask players what the team’s defensive aims are.
- If players are likely to have support close at hand then set up practices in situations that will develop to reflect this.
In the activity above, the 10 has a flanker on their inside shoulder.
- Always ensure the defender enjoys success.
They must believe they can do it, so it is no good conditioning the attacker to run gently. The tackle must be a proper tackle.
- Create some situations where the odds are in the defender’s favour.
This can either come from the space permitted, the support available or the lack of options for the attacker. This helps build confidence for the tackler.
- Never allow your defenders to plant their feet.
They must always be encouraged to move towards the tackle. This then means they must approach the tackle from one side or the other. Defenders that get square on to their target can be beaten on both sides. If they come from one side, the attacker only has one option and we have begun to channel them.
- Never condition attackers to run directly at a defender.
It either fills them with trepidation or presents them with an easy challenge. Ball carriers should look to beat the tackler.
- Smaller defenders should derail bigger attackers.
Side-on or semi side-on tackles are the most effective way to bring down larger opponents. Encourage defenders to work to the side of the ball carrier before coming forward to make a tackle.
Use tackle footwork as part of your warm-up exercises. It is an essential part of making better tackles in the next section of training.
Chris Chudleigh
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