Q&A for How to Tackle in Football

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  • Question
    How can I become a good running back?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Practice improving your running speed and agility. Train with weights to increase strength in every muscle. Do wind sprints. Carry a football around with you as much as possible to practice holding it securely. Practice using your blockers. Improve arm strength so you can protect the ball when you're hit. Memorize your team's plays. Show up for every practice, and work hard. Learn to throw blocks for other runners or the quarterback.
  • Question
    How can I make a huge hit without missing my target?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Your hits don't have to be "huge." While you're thinking about "huge," your target may escape. Just concentrate on bringing the man down.
  • Question
    Why don't you recommend advanced tackles?
    Community Answer
    This can lead to a missed tackle and allow the offensive player to gain more yards.
  • Question
    What does a proper heads-up tackle include?
    Community Answer
    It involves keeping your head up and your eyes up. Put your arms back, then throw them up while pushing your hips out to achieve good force on the hit. Rip your arms upward. Putting your head down could cause injury.
  • Question
    Were do I put my head during a tackle?
    Community Answer
    Your head goes to the side of the hip, "cheek to cheek". Keep your eyes up.
  • Question
    How can I avoid any head injury a when tackling an opponent?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Try to hit the opponent mostly with one of your shoulders and both of your arms.
  • Question
    Why do people get kicked out for tackling opponents hard if football is a sport in which you tackle to keep the opponent from scoring?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    It's possible an official thought a tackler was trying to injure an opponent. That could get someone ejected from a game.
  • Question
    How can I tackle someone hard enough to hurt them?
    Community Answer
    You just need to perfect your form. The better it is, the more efficient your hit will be. Keep in mind, however, that if the officials believe you are trying to hurt an opponent, you will at least receive a warning and possibly even be thrown out of the game.
  • Question
    I think going cheek to cheek is gross. You have your face in somebody's booty. How can I avoid that?
    Community Answer
    Well, sometimes you are going to have to have your head in some gross places in order to secure a tackle, but you can practice by putting your head to the side of someone's body. That might help with your problem.
  • Question
    Why are leg tackles not taught?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Two reasons: (1) they are dangerous for all parties concerned; (2) they're often less effective than tackling near the hips.
  • Question
    How can I tackle someone who has complete control of the ball?
    Community Answer
    It usually isn't much different from tackling someone without control of the ball. Make sure you tackle with your shoulder at the other guy's belt buckle and wrap him up and drive him to the ground.
  • Question
    How can I tackle someone low when I'm already Short?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Being short helps in tackling low. You simply want to hit people below the hips, preferably below the knees.
  • Question
    After I've wrap them, do I try running forward or to the floor to get them down?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    If you've truly wrapped him up, it doesn't matter what you do. He's not going anywhere, and the closest official should blow his whistle to stop the play.
  • Question
    What is the best way to strip the football?
    Community Answer
    Grab the hand without the ball or push it away; with your other hand, strip it.
  • Question
    I'm really tall and I have to tackle small people. What should I do?
    Community Answer
    You have to stay low, keep your shoulders squared and tackle through them.
  • Question
    Is it helpful to try and roll after I wrap up and am in the midst of bringing my target down?
    Community Answer
    No. This may or may not put your back to the ground, with you being at the bottom.
  • Question
    How would I tackle someone bigger than me?
    Community Answer
    Make sure you're low enough to grab the ball while aiming to throw their legs off balance. Focus on keeping your legs driving forward as well -- this will help prevent you from being thrown off balance or to the side.
  • Question
    Why is this not a slide tackle?
    Community Answer
    Because this is American football. It would be very ineffective, because it would be easy to get around.
  • Question
    How do I avoid getting tackled?
    Community Answer
    By not playing football. Unfortunately if you want to play football, tackling is inevitable.
  • Question
    How do I become a better safety Should I spin when I tackle?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Work on your speed, agility and vertical leap. Forget about spinning. When you go to tackle someone, you want to make and maintain firm contact with your opponent.
  • Question
    How do I become a good guard in football?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Practice blocking. A guard has to be good at stationary blocking as well as blocking while running.
  • Question
    I’m 6’4 and it’s hard for me to get low without compromising my strength in my tackle. Any tips?
    alex richards
    Community Answer
    Speed when you know you have to tackle. Speed up as you get near to your target, as this will help you gain momentum on your opponent.
  • Question
    No one tackles below the waist or ankles anymore. Why? It looks as though all they want to do is strip the ball and tackle around the arms.
    Alex
    Community Answer
    There are many different ways to tackle in the game of football. Although it is less common these days to tackle at the waist or ankles, many people think that is the best way to do it.
  • Question
    What if you’re too scared?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Build up to it gradually by practicing with a friend or family member. Tackle them "gently" at first. As you get more comfortable, become more aggressive and use more strength and speed.
  • Question
    How to make a fumble?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    There are various ways to cause a fumble: a hard tackle will sometimes do it; strip the ball by hitting it with your hand; or hit the ball with your helmet as you tackle the ball carrier.
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