Rugby: Tackle Technique 5/5- Grip

Close down space quickly, make yourself big, keep moving forward with short steps, stay balanced, take contact, grip tight.

*AUDIO DESCRIPTION ON* Put six cones out around in a circle. One player starts with the ball at the top of the circle. The attacker runs forward and the defender must make the tackle from the angle they're starting from. The defender gets back up, retreats to the next cone and makes another tackle from a different angle.

Working in a grid. Start both players half way in between the cones of one side of the grid. When commanded, each player is to run around the outside of opposite cones and into the grid. Idea is for the tackler to stop the player with the ball from getting out of the grid.

Player with ball walking on knees and the tackler coming in form the side. Shows correct way of the player to present the ball. Player going around the back of the tackler in the tackle, landing on their back and presenting the ball.

Player with ball walking on knees and the tackler coming in form the side. Shows correct way of the player to present the ball. Player going around the back of the tackler in the tackle, landing on their back and presenting the ball.

2 Players to a grid. Player with ball starting at one side of the grid and their aim is to reach to other side of the grid to win. Tackler starting at the side of the grid and their aim is to prevent the other player to reach the other side of the grid by tackling them.

Balls and cones In a 10m grid, two teams on two adjacent cones. On GO, the player with the ball walks diagonally towards the opposite cone whilst a player from the other team comes out to tackle that player in the middle. First to feet picks up ball and scores on opposite cone, Return to start and change teams

Drill to practice making multiple tackles in a period of time. Set up a circle of 6 cones with a padman opposite each cone (between 2m and 5m away). Players starts on a cone in the centre of the drill (as pictured) and run forward to tackle the padman. On completing the tackle they run back to the centre of the drill and move clockwise to the next cone.  On the coache's call they run forward to tackle the next padman, returning to the centre of the drill after completing the tackle and move clockwise to the next cone. The drill continues until the players have tackled each bagman or at the coaches discretion. 

The aim of the drill is to develop tackle technique leading into contact.

The aim of the drill is to develop a double tackle from both sides, Left and Right.

The aim of the drill is to develop low tackle technique from both sides, Left and Right.

The aim of the drill is to develop tackle technique from Left and Right 

The aim of the drill is to develop good tackle technique from both sides, Left and Right under pressure

The overal aim is to maximise contact time with players while minimalising injury and fatigue.    For lower age groups; - Used for Fun  -Increace confidence and engagement.  For higher age groups; - Maximise contact time  - Minimalise injury  -Increace contact sessions per week (controlled) - Focus on technical rather than impact. 

Tacklers head behind the players with the ball (cheek to cheek) and the tackler to drive in with the shoulder. Player with ball landing on back first then placing the ball down.

In a grid an attacker is positioned on one end and a defender at the other end.  Defender passes to the attacker who attempts to score against the defender within the grid. 

Tracking hit (2 x 10 minutes in split groups)   Set up 3 different colour cones on the gain line. 2m spacing (set up 3-4 areas with 2 pads) Defender starts in the middle cone. Attacker has a pad. On "GO" the Attacker with the pad runs straight to one of the 3 cones.The coach can shout a colour to direct the Attacker to a certain cone. The Attacker must run straight to it. This drill will test Defender's front on and side on tackles: left and right.

Player with ball walking in a straight direction, with the tackler walking in from the side. Introducing a bit of pace into the tackle.

The player with the ball walks slowly in front of the other player. As the ball carrier is walking the defender should time their move so that they in the correct position to tackle when the player is in front of them. At this point the tackler should wrap their arms tightly around the other player's knees, position their head behind their bum and drive with their shoulder to bring the player to the ground. Falling to their bum before rolling onto their shoulder, once on the floor the other player should place the ball above their head on the ground.