VIDEO: Tackle balance

Improve your players’ ability to enter a tackle from a strong position, even though they may be off-balance. Use this exercise as a full contact activity or as part of preparation for a full defence session.

1. Put a ball carrier in a small box about 2m away from a 2m box marked out with different coloured cones.
2. Put a defender in the middle of this larger box.
3. Call out a series of colours which the defender has to touch.
4. Straight after shouting one of the colours, shout out "PLAY". The ball carrier runs forward.
5. The defender makes the tackle, then recovers to compete for the ball.
6. Note that the ball carrier in this video is wearing a tackle suit to reduce the impact.

DEVELOPMENTS

• Add in another attacker who is another box next to the defender, repeating the same pattern. They aim to get support, each for an offload or protecting the ball.
• Add another defender as above. In this case, they are aiming to steal the ball.

TECHNIQUE

• Get the same foot as the leading shoulder close to the ball carrier.
• Tight grip and then drive through to land onto top of the ball carrier.
• Always recover and back onto the feet quickly, but only once the tackle is completed.

Here are some more ways to improve your tackling.