The Contact Angle On A Thigh And Drive Tackle Is? The 13 New Answer

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Tackling is the most important defensive skill, and USA Football has two systems to help you create progressive frameworks that develop the tackle itself, the tackle defender, and team defense.

The Shoulder Tackling System was developed in partnership with the Seattle Seahawks to provide defenders with a plan and the fundamentals needed to stop the ball carrier. Building on this, the Advanced Tackling System is available to further improve techniques and metrics to build a better tackler and defender.

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Tackling is at the heart of the game of rugby and the physical nature of the sport is one of the reasons I love it. However, tackling is not just about aggression, it requires a lot of skill that revolves around timing and use of technique.

There are 8 different tackle types that I am going to explain to you today. Each of them you must master to advance in rugby, namely: side-on tackle, front-on tackle, tackle from behind, the softer tackle, the strike and engagement, the strike and spin, and the strike and pass. We’ll also look at the crucial skills on how to actually properly fall to the ground.

The side on tackle

The side of the tackle is aimed at the waist

One of the most common tackles in the game, especially for defenders who play to a drift defense system. As a former outside center this technique was particularly important to me, unfortunately I tore both tendons in my shoulder in the process, but we won the game so it was worth it (btw I continued to play the game for the rest of the game too, hard as nail me!). That’s how it’s done:

The tackler’s tackle side targets the attacker’s hips and thighs, crouches before contact, and then explodes on contact by wrapping their arms around the attacker and placing their head cheek-to-cheek with opponents behind.

Let’s break this down further:

Before: The tackler should position themselves on the ball carrier’s inside shoulder, or more often than not, this is simply the side of the body opposite the tackler. A few meters before the tackle, crouch and bend your knees and hips. The chin should be kept high, the back should remain straight and the eyes should be on the target.

During: The tackler should explode towards the ball carrier, attempting to position the head behind the player’s body, which is sometimes known, and the cheek-to-cheek (buttock to cheek) position. The shoulder should hit the target area (thigh), the arms should wrap around the player, and the tackler should drive his legs. Squeeze the legs and slide down the legs until the player falls over is the goal.

After: ​​Continue to drive legs if player doesn’t fall to the ground. If the player goes down, the tackler most likely will too, and it’s imperative to roll away from the ball carrier and the ball and get to your feet as quickly as possible. At that point, you can then re-enter the game from your side of the ruck and fight for the ball.

Pro tip: If the tackle is close to the touchline, it may be possible to use your momentum in the tackle and swing the player’s legs around to touch the touchline, taking them out of the game and getting the turnover .

The front under control

Notice the straight back in the tackler

The most direct and aggressive type of tackle in rugby. A physical struggle to stop a player’s forward momentum and regain possession of the ball. I used to be afraid of it and even started to close my eyes! I quit as soon as I realized that if I got deep enough with a straight back, I was unstoppable! That’s how it’s done:

To perform a front-on tackle, just prior to making contact, lower your height by bending your knees and hips and lean forward with your head elevated. Explode into the attacker, aiming for contact just below the rib cage and with your head to the side, wrap your arms.

Let’s flesh this out a bit more:

Before: Position yourself slightly inside the ball carrier so you’re tickling from the outside in. Move forward quickly, reducing the attacker’s time to build momentum. Squat down a few steps in front of the machine, bending your knees and hips but keeping your head high.

During: Explode into the attacker and aim between the waist and hips, making sure the head goes to the attacker’s near side and not over their body. Wrap the arms around the player, you may be able to hook the included leg under the knee joint to make it easier to lose balance.

After that: Land on the player and let go. Be careful not to lift the player’s legs and fall over. Try to get back on your feet as quickly as possible so you can maintain possession.

Pro Tip: At the contact point, the tackler’s body should be in contact with the ground from bottom to top with a straight back. It is very difficult to be pushed backwards from this position. Jonny Wilkinson was the clear master at it and he wasn’t a big guy, but he could back hit players much bigger than himself.

When I met Jonny I was surprised that he was smaller than me in every way, on TV he just looked so dominant in a tackle I thought he must be taller (I’m 6ft 15 btw). Interestingly, I’ve compiled some information and written an in-depth article on the average height and weight of professional rugby players that you might also be interested in to see how tall these players actually are and where you fit in.

“You don’t stop fighting until you’re back on your feet.” Richie McCaw – All Blacks Legend

The attack from behind

Pay attention to the correct placement of the head

A difficult tackle as this often has to be done at speed and there is a risk of heel strike. The best players have a knack for getting the timing just right. That’s how it’s done:

To attack from behind, first aim for the player’s waist. It usually takes a dive to “catch up” with the player. Make front shoulder contact and wrap your arms around your waist, resting your head on the opponent’s near side. Slide down to the legs, squeeze them tightly and drop the player.

Now let’s add some meat to the bones:

Before: When chasing back as fast as you can, target the lower back with the expectation that if the player moves away from you, you’ll naturally punch further down around their waist to complete the tackle.

During: Leaping onto the attacker and making shoulder contact while simultaneously wrapping your arms around the attacker. Glide down around the player’s thighs, constraining their movement. Squeeze your legs tightly with your upper arms and use your body weight to push them down properly.

After: Roll away from the tackled player, get back to your feet, and get back into play as quickly as possible.

Pro tip: If the player escapes you, you can still make an effective tackle by jumping for the back heel and tapping it as hard as you can. Most of the time, the player loses balance and falls to the ground.

Jacques Burger Tackling Master Class

Famed for his incredible work speed and great tackles, for both Saracen and Namibians, listen to Jacques Burger demonstrate exactly how to attack from the front, sides and back.

Jacques Burger Tackling Tips:

Some of Jacques’ key points for front-on tackling and big hitting are as follows:

– Get off the line hard.

– Try to hit man and ball.

– Try to get under the ball.

– Keep your head up and your back flat.

– Punch and lift a leg or drive through.

– Try to picot the player on its centerline point.

– Stand up and try to get straight to the ball.

– If in doubt, simply remove the legs.

There are a few more tackle types to cover, so keep scrolling…

The tap tackle

One last desperate tap tackle by Chris Ashton

As a last resort, you might be able to trip an opponent with a tap tackle. It’s usually scrum halves, wingers and full-backs who attempt this tackle, but anyone could find themselves capable of executing it. Here’s how to type tackle:

To perform the ankle tap tackle, you are chasing an opponent and are unable to put in a regular tackle. Simply dive with the outstretched arm closest to the attacker, aiming to swipe the standing foot away from under the runner. Make firm contact with the heel of the boot and try to pull it through powerfully.

The smother tackle

A great tackle when a larger player is tackling a smaller player, possibly when a forward is tackling a back as obviously greater power makes it easier to hold the player up and prevent him from dumping. This results in a transfer of possession in the form of a scrum if the tackled player cannot clear the ball.

Execute the smoother tackle by getting your feet as close to your opponent as possible. Drive your shoulder into the ball carrier and wrap your arms just above the ball’s position to pin it to your body. Keep the player in this position for as long as possible.

Before: Approach the ball carrier and try to get your feet as close to your opponent as possible so you can wrap from a closer position and get more support with your arms on the ball carrier.

During: Drive shoulder into ball carrier and wrap arms just above the position of the ball to keep it against your body. Keep driving the player backwards and try to turn them towards your teammates. Try to hold the player as long as possible and prevent him from getting the ball away.

After: Continue holding the player up until the referee’s whistle signals a transfer of possession and a scrum to occur. Teammates usually come to help and it’s important that they also get under the ball and help prevent dumps.

The hit and go down

Sometimes the best way to quickly recycle the ball is to just hit the ground, present the ball cleanly, and allow teammates to move the ball away.

Before: The balls should be held with both hands in order to make unloading as easy as possible or to keep them in safe contact. Approaching the contact zone, body position should be low and stride lengths should shorten and then there should be a larger power step into contact.

During: Here we try to ride our legs with continuous short steps for as long as possible. Once that swing is over it’s time to drop to the ground before the opponent has a chance to stop you, it’s a fine balance. To do this, simply push your torso down to the ground by dipping it forward and towards the lawn.

After: Once on the ground, use two hands if possible, place the ball backwards toward your teammates who are coming for the ruckover. You should turn your whole body as parallel as possible to the sideline so that you can put the ball as far back on your side as possible.

Pro tip: If you’re trapped on the floor after presenting the ball, consider putting your hands over your head to avoid catching a bolt on your head and causing a cut.

Photo credit:

Photo 2 – ST vs Gloucester – Luke Burgess tackles 2011, PierreSelim, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Common.

Photo 3 – Maro Itoje and Mako Vunipola towards Olivier Missoup, Leon Power and Rory Clegg 2015 Clément Bucco-Lechat, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo 4 – Guy M’ (11) playing against Spratton Prep’ School in a rugby union match 11/2005; Image by R. Neil Marshman (c) No machine-readable author given. Brookie assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo 5 – Saracens – 20151213 – Richard Wigglesworth, Guillaume Boussès and Chris Ashton Clément Bucco-Lechat, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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