Tackle Drills

Stance

4 Key points to the stance:

• Feet: Shoulder width apart, weight on balls of feet
• Squeeze: Shoulder blades
• Sink: Bend the knees, lower waist
• Hands: Hands are ready to throw upper cuts

Near Foot

Start in proper football stance. Call commands for either left or right foot to explode into the near foot stance.

Swoop

Swoop is a good breakdown position as the tackler approaches the ball-carrier with the appropriate foot leading based on leverage. Like the ladder drill—either left to right or right to left—the leading foot matters. At the end of the bag, players freeze in place.

Shoot

Start in a kneeling position behind a bag. Bend at the waist ("sink") and explode forward while throwing uppercuts ("hit").

• Give the commands: Sink & Hit
• Hold up a number with your hand to ensure players keep their heads up
• Cleats should not be in the grass

Upper Cuts

Start in ready position with left or right foot lead. Drive for 5 yards using uppercuts.

This can be done with a large exercise ball. Bounce the ball toward the tackler and have them perform the same drill. Increase difficulty by varying bounce angles.

Near Foot Near Shoulder

Two players stand 5 yards apart. Ball carrier heads toward tackler holding the ball in front of their chest. Tackler leads with near foot and touches with near shoulder-side hand.

Near Hip

Set up three cones in a triangle. The runner heads to a cone while the tackler tracks them with correct foot lead, watching the runner’s hip. Start slow.

Run & Gather

Tackler mirrors the ball carrier. When the ball carrier sinks hips, tackler gathers into a swoop to stay balanced and lateral.

Form Tackle

• Run
• Swoop
• Upper cuts
• Drive for five
• Keep head up for vision

All Blacks Rugby - Tackle Form

Low Impact Tackling

Tight Angle Tackle

Same as form tackle, but with resistance. Bag carrier stands behind the bag and walks forward with it.

Angle Tackle

Bag carrier walks with the bag at an angle away from tackler. Tackler performs a form tackle.

Sprint Tackle

Same as angle tackle but with resistance, like Tight Angle Tackle.

Kneeling Drive

Start on one knee (e.g., left). Drive with same-side shoulder, head to the opposite side. Push bag forward into the ground. Progress from no pads to full pads.

Standing Drive

Same as kneeling drive, but from a 2-point stance. Progress from no contact to full pads.

2-Step Standing Drive

Near foot lead, swoop and tackle dummy. Done in full pads, no resistance.

Running Drive

Player in pads tackles moving dummy with no resistance, applying full progression: close, swoop, drive.

Tackle Tube: Leverage Step and Drive

Use two tackle tubes. Coach stands between two lines of tacklers. Left line uses left foot/shoulder; right line uses right foot/shoulder. Take 2–3 steps before landing on tube.

Tackle Tube Tuesday: Half-field Cornerback/Saftey

Linebacker Fill Drill

Use a tackle tube and 3 bags to simulate OL gaps. Coach rolls tube into a gap; LB must scan nearby gap before attacking tube behind the pad. Runner direction determines shoulder lead. No stepping over bags.