Tackling Is A Base Fundamental Of Playing Successful Defense. Fundamentals

Tackling Tackling is a base fundamental of playing successful defense. Fundamentals are skills that can be learned, taught and continuously improved on. It is imperative that every player have a thorough understanding of how we tackle, the different types of tackles, and what we want to accomplish from these different types of tackles. The most important part of tackling (obviously) is stopping the forward progress of the ball carrier by bringing him to the ground. Like all football skills, there are elements of tackling that are consistent in all types of tackles. The prerequisite, however, is good football position. This is the natural and comfortable position from which a football player can operate. The following points outline a good football position: 1. Bend at the legs, not in your back. 2. Your back should be straight with your head up and your tail down. This should balance the weight of your body over the balls of your feet. (Never get over extended and have your weight in front of or behind your feet) 3. Your weight should be on the balls of your feet, with your feet slightly pointed in. 4. Your feet should be spread out about should width, and your hands should be dangling in a comfortable position with your elbows slightly bent. 5. Make sure you can “operate” from side to side. There are five elements that are essential to all types of tackles. These are consistent to tackles in every situation you may be placed in. Mastering these elements will make you a successful tackler. 1. EYES – Keep your eyes focused on the numbers of the ball carrier. Do not focus on the hips or buckle as these will cause to over extend. React to what you see and let your eyes guide your body. 2. CONTACT POINT – This is the area where your body comes into contact with the body of the ball carrier. Your head should be up with your neck bulled, and your shoulders should be in the numbers area of the ball carrier’s chest plate. 3. SHOUDLERS PARALLEL – You should keep your shoulders parallel to the aiming point on the ball carrier. This will allow you to react to movement and focus on your contact point. 4. ARM WRAP – As you approach your contact point, your arms should com up alongside the ball carrier. You should attempt to lock your hands around him, or if this is not possible, grab as much cloth as you can. The combination of arms and legs will determine whether the ball carrier falls forward or backward on the tackle. 5. LEGS – Your legs are very important in providing leverage for your tackle. You need to lift to get his cleats off of the ground. When you make contact, you should “rise” through the ball carrier. The ability to move your legs through the tackle is essential in driving the ball carrier backwards at the moment of contact. To be a successful tackler, you must use your judgment in different situations as to what type of tackle to use on the ball carrier. Do not let these judgments to interfere with your natural

ability to make a play. The end result is always the most important statistic. However, there are certain types of tackles that are appropriate in certain situations. 1. SELLOUT TACKLE – This is the type of tackle that you make when you feel your teammate around you. You know that you will have immediate help. These are the hardest hitting tackles that you make with reckless abandon. There is no stutter stepping as you run full force through the ball carrier. You will create the most violent collisions on a sell out tackle. You hit as hard as you can. These are the coaching points for the sell out tackle: OBJECTIVE – Make the tackle. Create a reckless collision. Take a chance. a. b. c. d. e.

Run through the ball carrier after finding the contact point. Keep head up. On initial contact, explode hips into the ball carrier. Never stop your feet. Do not hesitate, even if you are coming from a far distance.

You have done a great job on a sell out tackle if you cause a fumble or violently knock the ball carrier backwards. 2. ANGLE TACKLE (SIDELINE) – Foot ball is a game of angles. We must be able to angle tackle properly. We want to have a swarm mentality on defense. Swarm and angle tackling coincide. An angle tackle can be made over short distances or from longer distances. OBJECTIVE – Make an inside-out tackle on a ball carrier so as not to allow him to cutback across your face. a. Bring your speed under control when you realize that you must perform an angle tackle. b. Position yourself so that if the ball carrier decides to cutback across the grain he will run right into you. c. On approach to the ball carrier your aiming point should be the near shoulder. d. On contact, attempt to “jar” the ball carrier in an “east-west” direction. AS you make contact your outside arm should reach for his outside shoulder and your inside arm should come across his back. e. Wrap your arms, drive your legs, and follow through the tackle. The angle tackle becomes an upper body tackle. You have done a good job if the ball carrier does not cutback across your face.

3. SURE TACKLE – This also commonly known as the open field tackle. This is used in a situation when you must bring down the ball carrier by yourself. This occurs when you do not have any close support from your teammates or on a quarterback sack. You must understand body balance and control. You cannot be faked out on an open field tackle. You must have patience and field awareness. OBJECTIVE – To make a high, sure tackle. Make sure you grab some part of the cloth or some part of the ball carrier. Do not let him get away. a. b. c. d.

Bring your body under complete control. Do not stop your feet from moving. Keep weight on the balls of your feet. Allow yourself enough distance to move side to side once the ball carrier declares himself. e. Keep your eyes on his numbers and mid-section. Do not go for the head fake. Do not duck your head. f. As you begin to wrap, grab cloth and keep high. g. Do not leave your feet until you feel him going down. The sure tackle is a high tackle. You have accomplished this if the ball carrier goes down to the ground. You are not necessarily looking for a tackle in which the ball carrier gets knocked backwards. 4. GOAL LINE TACKLE – This type of tackle is used mainly by linebackers and safeties in short yardage and goal line situations. It can also be used in short yardage situations. Goal line tackles should knock a ball carrier backwards. They are usually high tackles that occur above a pile or in mid-air as a ball carrier jumps over the line of scrimmage (goal line). OBJECTIVE – Make a “high, hard” tackle that knocks the ball carrier backwards. Do not allow any forward progress. Stop him in mid-air and you will get immediate help. a. Drive your feet into the tackle with your body in a good football position. Keep your head high and feet moving. b. You must keep your shoulders lower than the ball carrier’s shoulders to maintain leverage. Explode through the tackle and grab as much cloth as possible. c. Square yourself on the contact point, shoulders parallel. Focus on the ball to prevent the ball carrier from extending it over the line. d. Bring the ball carrier down. You have done a good job on the goal line tackle if the ball carrier does not cross the line of scrimmage. You are trying to prevent a conversion for a first down or a touchdown.

5. SOLID TACKLE – This is also referred to as the “Form” or “Perfect” tackle. A solid tackle exhibits all the components of tackling in a face up situation of a ball carrier and tackler. A solid tackle is a tackle that probably occurs 5-6 times per game. This is the type of tackle you must first learn. OBJECTIVE – Bring the ball carrier to the ground from a face up situation by executing all the components of a base tackle. a. b. c. d.

When you see the ball carrier, focus in on his numbers with your eyes. Aim your shoulder pads at his numbers. Make sure you keep your shoulders square with him. As you begin to make contact, throw your arms around his body as you follow through with your hips. e. Keep your feet moving. You have done a great job on the solid tackle if the ball carrier snaps backwards after contact and you put him on his back. In all phases of tackling, the mental attitude in which you tackle is of extreme importance. A burning desire to accomplish this skill will always supersede perfect form. If you have a combination of the two, you can be devastating. Tackling (and swarm) is what defense is all about. Violent tackling discourages ball carriers from running hard. Violent tackling can change the momentum of an offense and a game. Ask yourself how good a tackler you are. You can improve. You will improve. Be confident in your ability to tackle.