Tackling - Still the Key to Successful Defensive Play

At every level of football and in every historical era of the game, tackling has always been, and will always be, the most important skill for defensive players to execute. Like all defensive coaches, we have several tackling drills in our arsenal.Before these three drills are described, it will help to describe the basic components of the tackling technique that we teach.Basic components of tackling technique:Leverage – the tackler takes away one direction for the ball carrier to cut by having his body in a “leverage” position. If the tackler gets head-up, he has lost the “leverage” position and gives the ball carrier two ways to go.Eye Focus – the tackling target is the near hip of the ball carrier.Feet – get the tackler to the ball carrier with a firm base before making contact. The tackler should be close enough to the ball carrier to step on or between his feet. The