If you’re looking for [tag]football defensive drills[/tag] for your   [tag]football[/tag] team try this drill.   We call it the circle of fun. It helps to teach taking the proper angles and using the proper form when tackling.

All players form a circle with a 6′ space between each other.   One coach stands in the middle of the circle to control the drill, give encouragement and instruction. The coach in the middle has 2 footballs.     Pick a starting point/person to start with and toss the ball to them.

When they get the ball they start running counter clockwise around the outside of the circle.   You then point to the player 4 places to the right of the runner to through the center of the circle to go tackle the runner.   The tackler must take the correct angle to go between the other players in the circle to make the tackle with his head in front and wrapping the arms.

If the tackler misses or fails to make the tackle, he must go back through the circle to make another attempt.   when the tackle is made, the coach in the middle tosses the 2nd ball the next runner (the person to the left of the first runner) and calls out the first person to the left of the tackler to tackle the runner.   The first runner returns the ball to the coach and goes back to his original space.

Once everyone has done the drill going counter clockwise, you start over doing it clockwise.     It takes about 20 minutes and the kids love it.   We saw great improvement in our tackling after implementing this drill.

Note: The other coaches should be on the outside of the circle and provide positive feedback when tackles are executed using the proper form and review the proper technique with those that fail to demonstrate the proper form.