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LOGINDefend like Ali
“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee”. Use top boxing skills to get close and powerful to make better tackles. This activity concentrates on scanning and good footwork.
WHY USE IT
Develop better tackling technique by using balanced footwork to track and then tackle the ball carrier, as would a boxer shadowing and then punching an opponent.
SET-UP
Lots of 5m boxes, then a 15m box, split in half lengthways for the game.
HOW TO DO IT
EXERCISE
- Put pairs of players inside the box. Give one player in each pair a ball. Have the ball carrying player bob around in the box, with his partner shadowing him.
- When you shout “tackle”, the ball carrier plants his feet. The non-ball carrier then drives his shoulder into the side of the ball carrier and holds. Check for head positioning.
- Develop by having the shadowing player using a boxing stance and gripping the ball carrier in the tackle, but not fully tackling them.
GAME
- Play 2 v 3. Have two attackers aim to score at the far end. One of the defenders can move between the two boxes, whilst the other two defenders have to stay in their halves of the box (so there can only be two defenders at anyone time in the same half as the ball carrier).
- Rotate one attacker and one defender after each attempt. Use full contact.
TECHNIQUE
- Step into the tackle.
- Drive the body forward with the head going into the side of the ball carrier.
- Once the “punch” is made – grip and squeeze with the arms.
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