One of the drills we use is that tackling circuit. I realize that when we give up touchdowns and big plays it is almost always due to poor tackling.
Tackling Circuit Drill
We have 4 stations and break down into 4 groups (high reps).
1st station is Head Up Tackling.
We put the bags behind the player who is low with shoulder to protect himself, and the tackler takes 3-4 steps and “hit, wrap, lift, drive.” (our tackling technique). Great form drill.
2nd station is Angle Tackling.
The tackler stands on even line as the runner looking forward at coach. The runner takes off on “go” to coach upfield in middle about 10 yards. The tackler must take an appropriate angle to get to ball carrier before he reaches coach. The formation looks like a big V. We teach stay low, head in front, head up, look for the ball, and drive to the sidelines.
3rd station is coach on arm bag and player must shed the block and get to the runner who is moving side to side.
Tackler must use rip, swim, shoulder blast, shiver, or bull rush to get past coah with bag and tackle runner.
4th station is Sweep Pursuit Tackle.
We see so many sweeps that we must practice this tackle. We line up runner and tackler head up with runner 5-8 steps to the tacklers left or right & 10 yds apart. We put two big bags about 5-7 yds out wide and create a wide lane. On “go” the runner sprints to the bags and the tackler must shuffle, turn his hips, and pursue. He must get to the lane and breakdown (hit,wrap,lift,drive) and make the tackle. We teach them use hips and drive runner back. We also do this drill with 2 runners and 2 tacklers.
This drill lasts for about 20 mins, 5 mins each station. We always move on “go” and teach them to stop on the whistle.
