This past season, we set a goal as a staff to help our team become better tacklers. We felt that we had under performed on defense and that we could correct a lot of those mistakes by focusing on great tackling technique. My staff and I set out last off-season to find better ways to teach tackling. We also wanted to use better teaching methods and drills to improve safety and decrease injuries, including concussions.
Along the way, we studied the "Hawk Tackle" used by Pete Carroll at Seattle. I played rugby in high school and college and know of the validity of using this method. It is a safe, efficient tackle and can be taught using his drills and performed with little or no previous coaching experience. You can find that video
here. I would suggest you watch it and learn from one of the best coaches of all time! It's great stuff!
Another one we studied in the off-season was "Heads Up Tackling," a program put out by USA Football. You can learn more about that
here. They have a bunch of info on the site that can be used by both sides of the ball and has good stuff to teach safe football techniques. An excellent resource for coaches, players and parents alike.
We decided to do a mix of drills from both methods to improve our tackling. I love the Hawk Tackle emphasis on leverage and choosing an aiming point to track when in the open field. I also believe that teaching the Heads Up methods are critical in efficient and safe tackling. We emphasized this all summer and fall and did not suffer one injury because of it. This was one of many things we changed to decrease our overall injuries (click
here for more information on that.)
Please note that each drill is first taught at a walking pace! We build up to 90%+, but never tackle 100% and/ or slam to the ground. This is a technique teaching drill not a "Lets see who's tougher" drill.
With each drill, we focus on squaring the shoulders and hips toward the Offensive player so that we are in position to make a perfect tackle. I will refer to the perfect tackle as a "Jag Tackle" for the remainder of this article (the Jaguar is my current team's mascot). When we are within 3 yards (the bubble), we gather or "buzz" our feet, taking short, quick steps to prepare our body for a Jag tackle. As we "buzz," we sink our hips and load our hands (also known as "holstering" them).
When we make contact with the ball carrier, our head is up, our chest is big, our arms and hips are in a loaded position ready to explode on the tackle. Our legs and feet are in what is sometimes called the "Hit" or "Power Step" position with feet staggered and knees bent in a semi-lunge position. As contact is made with our face mask and chest, we shoot our hands up and around the ball carrier, reaching for the area on the back of the jersey where the name is placed, grabbing for cloth. At the same time, we shoot our hips forward and drive with our legs. When this happens, the ball carrier should be picked up off the ground and carried back 3-5 yards. Offense should not resist being picked up!
So without further ado, here is our circuit.
HOW 1 CIRCUIT CAN IMPROVE YOUR TEAMS TACKLING IN AS LITTLE AS 10 MINUTES A WEEK WITHOUT RISK OF INJURY
Each drill is run for 2-3 minutes. We expected our players to run from station to station as part of their conditioning. Players are able to receive multiple reps at each station. All of these drills can be done without a football (which makes it more efficient because you don't have to worry about fumbles and recycling the ball back to the front of the line). Each drill uses two lines designated as offense and defense respectively.
Station 1: Angle Tackles
Setup- Four cones set up in a 5 yard by 5 yard box. Two lines of players face each other on the "left" or "right" side of the box.
Running the drill- On the coaches call, both players leave their cones and head toward each other at a 45* angle. As the defense approaches the ball carrier and breaks the bubble, he squares up his body with the head on the far shoulder. This forces the defense to get in front of the ball and square up the body. He executes a Jag Tackle and carries the ball carrier and sets him down nicely on his feet. They then rotate to the end of the opposite line. This is continued until all of the players execute the tackle to the right, and then switched so that each player can practice to the left.
Points of emphasis
1. Make sure the head is up and on the far shoulder. Although this is an angle tackle, we want the defender to be as square as possible when making the tackle.
2. Hips and hands should shoot through allowing an easy pick up and carry for the defense. Feet should never stop moving!
Key Phrases- "Get your head up and across (to the far shoulder)." "Shoot the hands/ hips." "Grab cloth." "Keep your feet moving!"
Station 2: Open Field Head to Head Tackles
Setup- 4 cones set up in a 10 yard by 10 yard box. Two lines of players face each other.
Running the drill- On the coaches call, both players leave their cones and head toward each other. The ball carrier is allowed one juke or change of direction in the box until team shows proficiency. As the defense approaches the ball carrier, he buzzes his feet, consistently moving toward the ball carrier. When he breaks the bubble, he squares up his body with the head on the far shoulder, just like in the previous drill. He executes a Jag Tackle and carries the ball carrier and sets him down nicely on his feet. They then rotate to the end of the opposite line. This continues until the groups are rotated.
Points of emphasis
1. Ensure the defense is watching the "strike zone" of the ball carrier so that he doesn't get juked out. When players worry about missing the tackle, they put their heads down and often leave their feet!
2. Make sure the head is up and on the far shoulder. Although this is an angle tackle, we want the defender to be as square as possible when making the tackle.
3. Hips and hands should shoot through allowing an easy pick up and carry for the defense.
4. Feet should never stop moving! Don't take a big step once you have broken the bubble- continue to buzz and take short, quick, controlled steps toward the ball carrier.
Key Phrases- "Get your head up and across (to the far shoulder)." "Shoot the hands/ hips." "Grab cloth." "Keep your feet moving!"
Station 3:
Open Field Sideline Tracking with Tackle
Setup- 3 cones set up in a triangle where cones A, B, and C form a right angle. Cones A and B are 5-10 yards apart and cones B and C are 15-20 yards apart. Two lines of players face each other on cones A and B.
Running the drill- On the coaches call, both players leave their cones and head toward cone 'C'. The ball carrier runs with two speeds, fast and slow, to simulate the varying action of a game. The defense reacts to the offense: when the offense goes fast, the defense sprints at an angle to meet him, tracking his NEAR HIP. When the offense slows down, the defender squares up his hips, preparing for a cut back or juke, and laterally buzzes his feet continuing toward the ball carrier (quick shuffle). This varying speed and control of the hips continues until the two meet at cone 'C.' When he breaks the bubble, he squares up his body with the head on the near shoulder and executes a Jag Tackle. They then rotate to the end of the opposite line. This continues until the groups are rotated.
Points of emphasis
1. Ensure the defense is tracking the near hip of the ball carrier so that he doesn't over run the defender and stays in a good relationship to run him down at the sideline. The angle will change slightly when one player is faster than the other, but the drill still works the same.
2. When defender slows he should rotate his hips so he is square to the ball carrier.
3. When defender speeds up, he should rotate to a full run at the appropriate angle to meet the ball carrier.
4. At cone 'C' or sooner, defender should make a Jag Tackle, with head on the near shoulder and hands shooting to the far shoulder, grabbing cloth.
5. Ball carrier should walk/ jog/ run directly to the cone 'C' varying speeds every 4-5 steps. They are not trying to beat the defense, but to give them an obvious change of speed so that defense may improve on their skills.
Key Phrases- "Track the near hip/ eyes on the near hip." "Rotate the hips." "Keep your feet moving!"
** To be noted on Station 3- I noticed that many players were over running the ball carrier so I allowed my ball carrier to 'cut back' if he felt like he could. This corrected a lot of "cheaters."
I also added the ability to stiff arm later in the season, adding another element of open field tackling.
