Youth Football-Form Tackling Progression
The basic fundamentals of tackling are crucial for safe and successful defensive play throughout the game. The most important aspect of defensive football is your team’s ability to tackle. Any successful team tackles well.
- Good stance–hitting position
- Keep head up to avoid injury and see what you are hitting
- Drive through ball carrier’s midsection with your shoulder pads
- Head up and across the ball carriers body-very important
- Sink your hips and sky your eyes (should look like a power cling exercise)
- Wrap up
- Grab cloth
- Wide base–drive ball carrier back
Tackling should be practiced twice a week in youth football. My team tackles Tuesday and Thursdays each week. Remember when I say tackling that doesn’t mean we kill each other each tackling drill. I do form tackling (technique half speed) and live tackling drills (live full go). Proper techniques for tackling should be practiced. Head up tackling, open field tackling and angle tackling is key.
Preach taking good angles to the ball, keeping head up, sinking hips, and running though the ball carrier. Also get that head across the ball carriers body!
I love a good tackle, hitting hard and properly is very important. Good Job.