Covertackle
Premiership Player
- Banned
- #1
ive been encouraged to think more about the skill of tackling and how it relates to AFL as against NRL. i played RL all of my youth and into my late 20's. i had the good fortune of having some pretty good coaching as an adult, so i understand the basics of tackling pretty well. what ive written is basically me thinking out loud. any ideas or input from others here would be appreciated.
apart from the basics, 'tackling' in the NRL has moved on from those days, to the extent that clubs now employ wrestling coaches, to keep players on the ground longer to give the defence longer to get set. but thats another topic.
i now coach a junior RL team, and am helping out a junior AFL team as my son plays both codes. teaching the RL kids to tackle is pretty straight forward. the aim is to ground the player, preferably without him getting the ball away (offload). a tackle can be made from shoulder to toes. even ankle taps are ok. tackles are taught from front on, side, behind, and 'ball and all'.
however, teaching AFL kids how to tackle makes me consider how to teach them, as the outcomes we are looking for in AFL are different to that in RL. as are the type of tackles required, and i believe in AFL you cant tackle below the knees?
watching 'port' play on the weekend a commentator said "tackling in our game has increased 3 fold over the last 20 years".
if this is the case, AFL kids really do need to learn some basic skills of how to tackle. this is my take on what is required to further the understanding and the skills required by AFL kids as the game changes.
there are safety issues to be considered. in any attempt at tackle, a players head should be positioned so he wont get it under a falling player. but also what must be thought about is the tactical aspect of why we should make a tackle in AFL and the style of tackle to employ to get the best result.
in league, you tackle an opponent to prevent him making yards, and stop him promoting the ball. in AFL you tackle to stop a player, but also to win the ball. this presents a different concept to that of league, and requires some consideration.
firstly, i dont believe in guernsey slings, or tackling with the hands. these are bad habits, and therefore good habits of tackling correctly should be taught even before a player uses these skills (u11's?). 1st contact should be made with the shoulder with the tacklers head positioned behind the forward momentum of the running player.
keeping that in mind, as well as the idea that in AFL we are trying to win the ball by tackling, and stopping an opponent from offloading or kicking; in a chase situation if you are close enough you should hit the player with the shoulder in a ball and all tackle, where you hit a player with the correct shoulder and wrap your arms around his torso to stop him promoting the ball, and continue to drive your legs as the player gets taken to the ground. if the initial impact hasnt dislodged the ball, he must release when he is on the ground. this gives your team the opportunity to win the ball.
if you are further away from the (side on) running opponent, the tackle should be aimed at the hips, tacklers head behind the player. this will disrupt a kick or handball that the player is attempting, and again he must release the ball once on the ground or it will be dislodged in the initial 'hit'..
front on tackles are not a general part of play in the AFL. but players will run at you and step in either direction. the correct tackle in that situation is to hit the player preferably under the ball or at ball level, driving forward as you impact. if the player is running to your left, use your left shoulder, or to your right, use your right shoulder. this keeps your head behind the momentum of a falling player. if the player is further away, but in front, the attempt at tackle should be made lower, hips or thighs.
so in summing up, the preffered method of tackle in AFL should be at ball level or just under it. if the player is too far away for a high tackle then a diving tackle for the hips or thighs should be employed. the aim is to firstly disrupt the players attempt at promoting the ball, and secondly to win the ball back for your team.
apart from the basics, 'tackling' in the NRL has moved on from those days, to the extent that clubs now employ wrestling coaches, to keep players on the ground longer to give the defence longer to get set. but thats another topic.
i now coach a junior RL team, and am helping out a junior AFL team as my son plays both codes. teaching the RL kids to tackle is pretty straight forward. the aim is to ground the player, preferably without him getting the ball away (offload). a tackle can be made from shoulder to toes. even ankle taps are ok. tackles are taught from front on, side, behind, and 'ball and all'.
however, teaching AFL kids how to tackle makes me consider how to teach them, as the outcomes we are looking for in AFL are different to that in RL. as are the type of tackles required, and i believe in AFL you cant tackle below the knees?
watching 'port' play on the weekend a commentator said "tackling in our game has increased 3 fold over the last 20 years".
if this is the case, AFL kids really do need to learn some basic skills of how to tackle. this is my take on what is required to further the understanding and the skills required by AFL kids as the game changes.
there are safety issues to be considered. in any attempt at tackle, a players head should be positioned so he wont get it under a falling player. but also what must be thought about is the tactical aspect of why we should make a tackle in AFL and the style of tackle to employ to get the best result.
in league, you tackle an opponent to prevent him making yards, and stop him promoting the ball. in AFL you tackle to stop a player, but also to win the ball. this presents a different concept to that of league, and requires some consideration.
firstly, i dont believe in guernsey slings, or tackling with the hands. these are bad habits, and therefore good habits of tackling correctly should be taught even before a player uses these skills (u11's?). 1st contact should be made with the shoulder with the tacklers head positioned behind the forward momentum of the running player.
keeping that in mind, as well as the idea that in AFL we are trying to win the ball by tackling, and stopping an opponent from offloading or kicking; in a chase situation if you are close enough you should hit the player with the shoulder in a ball and all tackle, where you hit a player with the correct shoulder and wrap your arms around his torso to stop him promoting the ball, and continue to drive your legs as the player gets taken to the ground. if the initial impact hasnt dislodged the ball, he must release when he is on the ground. this gives your team the opportunity to win the ball.
if you are further away from the (side on) running opponent, the tackle should be aimed at the hips, tacklers head behind the player. this will disrupt a kick or handball that the player is attempting, and again he must release the ball once on the ground or it will be dislodged in the initial 'hit'..
front on tackles are not a general part of play in the AFL. but players will run at you and step in either direction. the correct tackle in that situation is to hit the player preferably under the ball or at ball level, driving forward as you impact. if the player is running to your left, use your left shoulder, or to your right, use your right shoulder. this keeps your head behind the momentum of a falling player. if the player is further away, but in front, the attempt at tackle should be made lower, hips or thighs.
so in summing up, the preffered method of tackle in AFL should be at ball level or just under it. if the player is too far away for a high tackle then a diving tackle for the hips or thighs should be employed. the aim is to firstly disrupt the players attempt at promoting the ball, and secondly to win the ball back for your team.