TACKLING

Wales centre Jamie Roberts executes a perfect tackle at pace

Create confident all-star tacklers

You need to target key factors when good players are poor tacklers. Addressing their weaknesses will transform technique and make good hits the norm.
England winger Chris Ashton missed an incredible seven out of eight tackles in the 6 Nations matches against Ireland and France. One of those led to Wesley Fofana scoring a try that put France ahead in the first half. It is not that he is not a brave player - he simply tackled poorly in those two matches. And Courtney Lawes, a destructive force in the tackle, also missed four out of nine against France, including Fofana in that same tryscoring run. Most experienced coaches will tell you that tackling is a state of mind as well as good technique. Putting yourself in a position to make contact will hurt. So a technically good player might still miss tackles because he closes his eyes at the wrong moment, or turns his head because he is afraid of the impact. Unfortunately, we cannot give players bravery pills but we can give them confidence. This comes from good, repeated technical training where players can sense the success. Lots of specific praise helps: Strong wrap with the arms, well done or Great shoulder impact. Confidence and technique go handin-hand. Use a good warm-up activity to get players minds and bodies ready for the rough and tumble of tackling but in that warm-up, give players technical focus. It could be head position or footwork and that then becomes the target for the rest of the session. On page 4 Paul Tyler gives us his best tackling warm-up to get players into contact mode while Mark Calverley gets players passing, tackling and jackling in groups of 10 on page 5. Just remember to use tackling aids like tubes and ruck pads sparingly as they provide activity and not realism. Words by:

Dan Cottrell
Activities by:

Paul Tyler and Mark Calverley

Target a key factor

1. Give them confidence with easy chances of success. 2. Show them confidence with praise of good technique. 3. Warm them up with the technical focus included. 4. Use tubes and pads to reduce impact but keep it match-like and repetitious.

! Focus on the finish not start

Les Kiss, the Ireland defence coach, says we often focus on the approach and initial contact of the tackle. However, this can be imperfect and still lead to a good tackle because the tackler adjusts on impact and gets his feet and grip right to complete the tackle. Praise good finishes to tackles because a perfect start doesnt mean a perfect ending.

Issue 305

RUGBY COACH WEEKLY

TACKLING: All ages - work in pairs

My best tackling warm-up

Build the basic skills of tackling into your warm-up to develop player technique and get them prepared for the rest of the session.
The basics of footwork and positioning for tackling need to be constantly practised and improved. Using tackle technique exercises and games in your warm-ups is a great way of maximising your training time.

WHY USE IT

Put an attacker and defender 2m apart

Have them shuffle side to side, with the defender mirroring the attacker

Set up

1
3m

2m

As many 3m x 2m boxes to accommodate all your players working in similar ability pairs.

HOW TO DO IT

In a 3m x 2m box, the ball carrier and defender move sideways along their lines. The ball carrier tries to get away from the defender who has to try and stay opposite the ball carrier (see picture 1). When the carrier thinks he has lost the defender he sprints across the box to score (see picture 2). The defender has to make a twohanded touch to prevent him doing so. Let the same player attack for 30 seconds and then swap roles. Finally, the defender has his hands behind his back and can only stop the ball carrier with his shoulder (see picture 3).

When the attacker thinks the defender has left some space, he sprints across the box to score

2
The defender wins if he can make a clear two-handed touch on the ball carrier Develop by having the defender keep his hands behind his back, and only impacting with his shoulder to make a successful tackle

TECHNIQUE

Successful tackling is about 80% positioning and that relies on accurate footwork. Defenders need their weight on the balls of their feet so they are able to move laterally very quickly and change direction and react to what is happening in front of them. The key is planting a foot as close to the ball carrier as possible to allow an effective hit with the shoulder.

Direction of run

Ground covered

Issue 305

RUGBY COACH WEEKLY

10 players, one tube

Not having lots of expensive equipment need not be a hindrance to good tackling drills. Use this quick activity to develop technique as well as fitness in a short period of time.
This promotes good habits: Following a pass after it has been made, listening to a tackle call, sharply changing direction to make a tackle, getting in close to make a tackle and getting up quickly to challenge for the ball.

TACKLING: all ages - work in 10s

WHY USE IT

Have the first numbered player pass to the next number (1 to 2)

1 follows his pass until he is called forward to make a tackle by 10

Put nine players numbered 1 to 9 around the outside of the box

3 1 2 9 8 7 10 6
10m
Put a player in the middle next to a tackle tube with a ball on the top

10m

Set up

One tackle tube, two balls, eight cones, 10 players.

HOW TO DO IT

Player 1 passes left to player 2 then follows the ball. Player 10 (holding the tube with a ball on top) calls out 1 at which point that player tackles the tube and secures the ball that falls off (see picture 1). Player 10 helps reset the tube (see picture 2) before taking 1s place on the outside cones. Player 1 then calls out 2 after 2 has passed and the tackle process is repeated, ending with player 2 replacing player 1 in the middle (see picture 3). The drill continues with players reacting to their number being called. Work for two minutes. Develop by changing the direction of the passes randomly or get the tube holder to call a random number or two numbers together to get tacklers to co-ordinate on up and one down tackling in unison.

1 picks up the ball and puts it back on top of the tube

2 9 8 7 1 10 6

10 helps pick up the tube before running across to where 2 is standing

4 5

When 10 reaches 2, 2 passes to 3, follows the pass and waits to be called to tackle by 1

2 10 9 8 7 1

3 4
10m

TECHNIQUE

Ring of steel when grabbing the tackle tube. Keep driving through the bag with short fast steps. Avoid diving at the bag. Land on the bag but get up quickly and find the ball.

5 6

10m

Repeat this in quick succession, with the emphasis on good technique and urgency to recover

Direction of run

Ground covered

Pass

Issue 305

RUGBY COACH WEEKLY