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LOGINDon’t get the foot close in the tackle
To make a low tackle, you don’t always need to get your leading foot close into the ball carrier to be successful, writes ANDREW RYLAND
Traditionally, if the tackler wants to make a strong tackle, they get their front foot close to the ball carrier.
We use terms like ’split the stance’ or ’get inside the hoop’, where the tackler’s foot lands either between the feet of the ball carrier or inside an imaginary hula-hoop under that player.
This does create a strong impact if they are more upright because it Is easy to roll over the front foot – the centre of mass is close to the lead foot.
Under the old tackle law regime, if you are going to tackle at chest level, for the tackler to be loaded and strike at chest level, the foot is really close (see fig 1, below).
But when tackling at belly or thigh height (see fig 2, below), the foot needs to be much further back if you want to be effective, because the spine eats up the distance.
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The problem now comes from the overstride.
Because players have been conditioned to get their foot in close, they end up pushing off their back leg.
Their front foot is now stuck in front of them and their centre of mass is still behind this front foot.
If they try to follow through with an extra step, they find they can’t and lose power. That stops the player from generating the leg drive crucial to complete a strong tackle, let alone unbalance a player.
Help players manage this in a low tackle by:
- Not getting too close with the leading foot. If the shin is upright, that’s not a good sign.
- Finding the correct spacing for different players. ’Close’ for your lock may be very different from your scrum-half.
- Not overstepping to get the foot in close.
Andrew Ryland
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