What is Tackle Football Drills – Timber Tackling Drill?
Tackle Football Drills – Timber Tackling Drill is a free football drill on FantasyHQ’s Football Coaching hub for tackling work. Use the setup notes and coaching cues below to add it to this week’s practice plan.
- Tackle Football Drills – Timber Tackling Drill is part of FantasyHQ’s free football drills library.
- Focus: Tackling.
How to run this drill
Tackle Football Drills – Timber Tackling Drill is built for youth, high-school, and volunteer coaches who need clear drill language — not a random cone circuit. Beginners can install the first progression; experienced staffs can layer competition.
- Read the purpose once, then walk the setup on air before live tempo.
- Demonstrate one clean rep so players see landmarks, pad level, and finish.
- Run short competitive periods — quality reps beat long lines.
- Close with one coaching cue players can repeat in the huddle next period.
Full drill
If you need tackle football this drill is perfect for the beginning of the year and for new players learning how to tackle.
Timber Tackling Drill
Two players about 1 yard apart facing each other.
One player secures the football and stands straight up with his feet together.
The other players assumes the breakdown position.
The player with the football falls forward with feet stationary on the ground as if he is a tree falling in the woods. – “TIMBER!”
The other player steps forward, bites the ball, shoots his hands up the back and grabs cloth, and drives his legs forward to reset the falling tree in the upright position.
Do not instruct the players to take the ball carrier to the ground. Can be done at walk through, 50 % to 100 % progression.
Once comfortable with mastering techniques, you can have the “tree” fall on an angle to force the tackler to move quickly into position and utilize proper form.
