Illinois: Tackling Fundamentals

The tackle is the most important fundamental of football. The following is an explanation of the progression of a good shoulder tackle. Good Football Position When teaching a player how to perform a tackle, begin by teaching a good football position. A good football position is a position of leverage, mobility and power.The feet should be a shoulder width apart with the toes pointed straight ahead.The weight of the body should be forward on the front of the feet. Bend at theknees and place hips in a power position, just as if performing a three-quartersquat lift. Chest should remain over the knees; the knees should be over thetoes. Eyes focused forward. Hands relaxed, hanging outside the knees.FocusFocus refers to aiming point on the ball carriers body that the tackler is traininghis eyes. Use ball carrier jersey number for aiming point. Which jersey numbertackler focuses on is