Rugby coaching tips and drills to improve tackling

Whatever your defensive system, your rugby players need to be able to tackle. Here are some rugby coaching drills and tips to help improve your defence with better tackling skills.

Shoulders are the only weapon

In terms of the power involved in making a tackle, the "shoulder is the only weapon" is an effective mental reminder to the players. With the arms outstretched and aiming to impact with the shoulder, the player will produce a far more aggressive contact than the arm tackles many younger players tend to perform.

Of course the shoulder-only tackle must be discouraged. It is illegal and dangerous for the tackler and tackled player alike.

Shorts

An old favourite from junior schools rugby. A good way for players to approach a tackle is to focus on the shorts of their opponent. This aligns the tackler's vision at the right height and, since the moment of a moving playing is around the hips, it reduces the likelihood of the tackler being fooled by a dummy pass.

Tennis balls

Get your players to practise tackling with tennis balls (or juggling balls or rolled up socks) in their hands. This encourages them to wrap their arms around the tackled player, rather than relying on a weak grip with the hands.

Betsen's eyes

As one of the world’s most aggressive and effective tacklers, Betsen rarely misses his man. Any picture of this tackling machine's craggy face inevitably show one of his key attributes. He keeps his eyes open in contact.

Jim Love, of the New Zealand Rugby academy, told Better Rugby Coach that his best advice is to try to focus on this in tackle practice for a week.

Bin tackle bags

A number of coaches tell us to bin the tackle bags for a quick improvement in your side's tackling.

With tackle bags, players too easily become accustomed to making the types of tackles they would never dare to attempt in a game, flying in at the wrong angles amongst other misdemeanors.

Yes, use them for a short time, but not week in, week out at every rugby coaching session.

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