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Under 8/10 – The Tackle

In New Zealand ‘Tackle Box’ sessions must be carried out by all Under 8 coaches before the season starts. From then on it is a good idea to continue with tackling practice at every level of the game. Good technique and safety are paramount.
Progressions

Confidence Builders: play games that involve tackling type activities that will build confidence and a desire to tackle.

Technique: Fast Feet: tacklers need good foot speed. Small steps are imperative to a correct and safe position in the tackle.

Technique: Correct Position: keeping the eyes open, back straight, hands in a catching position with elbows in and moving forward, knees bent, prepare the tackler to get in close and hit with the shoulder.

Technique: Getting in Close: to arrive in the correct position to make the tackle the tackler must move in close using short steps and get his leading foot close to the ball carrier which is followed in by his leading shoulder. The shoulder makes contact before the arms are wrapped around the ball carrier. The tackler then keeps his feet alive and drives forward whilst squeezing his arms.
This is referred to as “Go Dance Go” in ‘Tackle Box’ which highlights the three major parts – Get in close / hit & squeeze / drive the feet.

Tackle Activities:  these are dependant upon age and ability. Key factor is making sure the tacklers cheek ends up on top of the tackled player and not underneath him. ‘Cheek to cheek’.

Key Tackle Words

  • Sight the target: look at what you are going to hit. All tackles are below the nipple.
  • Face Up!: keep the eyes open, back straight, hands in a catching position, elbows in, and go forward towards the ball carrier. “Chin off chest” is a good coaching phrase so that the head stays up.
  • Keep feet alive: small steps with feet moving quickly. Adjust so that the leading foot is close to the ball carrier.
  • Drive: Make firm contact with the shoulder, with the head to the side. Cheek against cheek (bottom)
  • Wrap: Punch arms forward and around the ball carrier and squeeze them tightly around the tackled player.
  • Power Drive: continue pumping with the feet to complete the tackle.
  • Be First Up: Get back to your feet as quickly as possible and recover the ball.

ACTIVITIES
Confidence Builders
1-Wrestling:
1 v 1. Start on knees. Which player can get the other player on to his back.

Move to static standing wrestling. Which player can force the other player to the ground.

Move to wrestling starting just a small distance apart so that the players have to move forward to grasp the opposite player to begin the wrestle.

2 v 2. Mark out a small ring with 1 v 1. The partner calls ‘change’ when he is ready.

2-Games
Even teams playing scrag. Mark out a small grid depending on numbers. One team has to carry the ball over the end line to score and the other team has to carry it over the opposite end. Pretty much a free for all.  Make up your own rules.
Mark out a large grid to play Bullrush. Start with one or two tacklers in the middle who can tackle any player as they run through to the opposite end. They can choose a runner by calling the player out. As soon as that person is caught they join the group in the middle until there is only one player left who is the winner.  Bullrush can be called if the tacklers want every player to run through at the same time or if the attacker gets through without being tackled.
If tackling is too tough use two handed touches or rippa belts.

3-Technical and Safety
The tackler is on his knees facing the attacker who walks directly towards him. As the attacker arrives the tackler moves his head to one side, hits with the shoulder on the leg just above or below the knee, wraps his arms and drives forward off his knees to put the attacker on the ground.
Check to make sure the tacklers head finishes up on top of the tackled player.
Have the attacker being tackled on both sides of the defender so that he uses his left and right shoulders.

Fast Feet
1-The tackler and the attacker walk towards each other and stay square on. Start 2/3 metres apart. As the attacker is about 1 metre away he will step to either his right or left and carry on walking in a line taking him away from the tackler.
The defender will start taking short quick steps about 2 metres away and will make adjustments so that he is able to step in close to the attacker with his closest foot (and closest shoulder).
The tackler should end up in the correct body position with his shoulder on the body just above the hip. This can be taken further when ‘live’ tackling takes place if it is desirable.
2-Hustle. The coach places his players in a straight line facing him. They all start by moving their feet quickly up and down on the spot.
He will make 4 different calls of ‘forward, back, left, & right’ at which time the players have to move in that direction by taking short and fast steps.
The coach could also teach the players about the correct positioning for the tackle.
Instead of making calls the coach could ‘point’ so that he knows the defenders are watching and getting used to focussing on one target.
Correct Positioning “Go Dance Go"

1-In pairs standing 3/4 metres apart facing each other. One player is the attacker with the ball, the other is the defender.
Players walk towards each other with the defender taking short steps. A metre or so away the attacker changes angle (but keeps walking). The defender moves in with his short steps; gets in to a crouch by bending his knees; keeps his eyes open and his back straight; has his elbows in and his hands pointing up; keeps moving forward and sights the target where he is going to hit with his shoulder; steps in close; hits with the shoulder; his face is on the back side of the attacker; drives his arms through and squeezes them; continues driving with the legs and falls on top of the attacker.
The coach can break this down in to separate parts and stop both players as it progresses, checking on the positioning for the tackle.
Once the players have practiced this on both shoulders over a number of sessions they should be ready to move on to tackling from a walk, then a jog.

2-To continually reinforce the correct position ask the defender to take up the tackle position on the tackler : a) as he gets in to a crouch about a metre away  b) as his shoulder makes contact   c) at the completion of the tackle.
Alternatively when the players are in their “Hustle” formation stop them at any time and check their position.

3-Make sure the crouch is executed by getting the attacker to hold out his arm parallel with his shoulder as if he was going to fend. The tackler must step in low and under the arm to get the foot close and the shoulder ‘on’.
Ensure the tackler is carrying out the activity on both sides of the body.

4-Which shoulder decision making – in pairs about 2/3 m apart as before. This time when the attacker changes direction he is not going to let the defender know which way he is going. As the attacker changes direction the defender must get all the parts in unison (fast feet, small steps, balance so that he can step in with the closest foot, crouch, eyes open, elbows in, hands up, leading shoulder hitting target, drive arms through, drive legs and squeeze arms)
This is a good activity to continually increase the difficulty by building up the intensity and the distance apart.

Tackling Activities
1-Reinforcing the Shoulder
This is a good activity as many tacklers at all levels tackle with their arms and not their shoulders. By carrying this out on a regular basis it will provide confidence and understanding of how important it is to get the shoulder ‘on’ in the tackle. This is what provides the strength and power.
Mark out a 3 x 3 grid. Three attackers stand along one side; one at each corner and one halfway between the other two attackers on the same line.
The tackler is on his knees in the middle of the opposite line. Each player will walk briskly towards the tackler in turn so that the tackler must make a side on tackle on both shoulders and a front on tackle. Coach correct technique on the move.
Change over the tackler when appropriate.
This drill can be developed with the players jogging and then running (but not stepping the tackler)
Advancing on, the tackler can then tackle from a standing position so that the additional skills (moving forward with short steps; crouch; step; drive; wrap; and head on top are coached. Remember the shoulder is the key point and it will require all the skills put together to achieve this)
2-1 v 1
If the coach thinks the players are confident and ready for this then he can set up a small grid (3 x 3) with the attacker in one corner and the defender starting in the opposite corner on the same side of the grid. This will help the defender run forward and come up on the inside of the attacker so that he is already in a good position to hit from the side with his shoulder.
The attacker will try to score a try over the line that the tackler is defending.
Key points for the tackler: position inside the ball carrier so that you are dictating his angle of run and it enables a side on tackle / face up-eyes open-back straight- elbows in-hands pointing up / sight the target (just above or below the hip) / short steps and crouch / place the leading foot as close as possible to the attacker and drive in with the shoulder making contact / place the head behind the ball carriers body / drive the arms through and wrap them around the body / continue with the leg drive / complete the tackle and quickly get to your feet and recover the ball.
Change sides in the grid so the tackler practices on both shoulders.
Make the grid slightly bigger if the players can handle the small grid.

Falling in the Tackle
This skill can be taught in isolation but must continually be reinforced during the tackle sessions.
The ball carrier in contact should try to stay up and drive his legs as long as possible.
Position the ball away from the point of contact. Keep it in two hands where possible.
As he goes to ground he should tuck his shoulder under and roll on to his upper back.
The body should end up between the ball and the opposition.
He is now in a position to place the ball or pop it up to a team mate.

Practices:
Walk through the technique highlighting the key aspects.
Tackler on knees. Coach focuses on the ball carrier and his falling technique.
Tackler standing. Ball carrier trying to dominate so that he can stay up and drive before the fall. Then using correct technique. Complete the place or the pop pass.