Kids hate the wind sprints at the end of practice so why not let them get the benefit of wind sprints while enjoying themselves with this variation. The tackling drill is fast -paced and works well to encourage your non-hitters to give tackling a try.
Wind Sprint Alternative
Set it up like wind sprints but have one or two of your best tacklers in the middle.
The objective is for the players to run to the other side and not get tackled.
The tacklers in the middle try to tackle whoever they can and if they are successful, the newly tacked player(s) is now also in the middle.
The middle keeps getting more players as the line of runners dwindle. The last player to get tackled starts in the middle for the next round.
This is a fun drill for the players while also helping their running, tackling and toughness.
Tackling drill
We do a drill that I have adapted from running the figure 8.
We put two circular hoops on the ground to form an eight. The players run around the “8” at full speed. To do this they must maintain a low center of gravity.
What we add on is to make a hard form tackle on their buddy at the end of the run.
The thing we get is a very low level tackle, still above the waist but certainly under the other guys shoulder pads.
Other results from this are added agility, a quick renewed focus on a ball carrier, and some “non-hitters” get encouraged that hard contact is okay for them.
