Download Article
Plus, find out how to avoid missed tackles & fouls
Download Article
Tackling with the right form and fundamentals will keep your players safe and your team ahead. You can learn to drop quickly into a basic tackling form, shooting up and into the offensive player with extreme agility, accuracy, and power. With the right fundamentals, you'll never get juked out of your shoes, get trucked over, or execute a lazy arm tackle again. See Step 1 for more instructions.
How to Tackle in American Football
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent, and hips low. Keep your head up, back straight, and shoulders squared. Stay low as you shoot forward. Then, plant your foot and explode up into the other player, bringing your arms under his to lift him off the ground.
Steps
-
Keep your feet shoulder-width apart. To tackle properly and safely, you always need to maintain good tackling form, staying low and striking with a wide base. To learn the correct form, start by keeping your feet shoulder width apart, your knees flexed slightly. [1] X Research source -
Keep your shoulders back. To give yourself the most power and the most control in your tackles, work on keeping your shoulders back and down. It might feel kind of silly, like you're jutting your chest out and standing like a duck, but practice standing with a wide, strong base and keeping your shoulders back.Advertisement
-
Get low. [2] X Research source Proper tackling form involves getting low and keeping a roughly 45 degree angle with your back, which should be straight because your shoulders are back. Squat with your feet still shoulder width apart and bring your hands up into what is sometimes called the "Breakdown" position, your basic tackling form.
-
Buzz your feet. As you move, you'll want to take many small quick steps when you're getting ready to tackle. Some coaches call this "buzzing" the feet, taking small, quick steps in forward progress.
- Practice shuffling sideways, forward and back in this basic position, keeping your feet moving and bouncing at all times. You need to be able to spring in any direction at any moment, especially when you're defending the run. The first fundamental of tackling is getting mobile in this position.
-
Keep your head up at all times. When you're moving, when you're tackling, when you're on the other side of the field from the ball, you need to have your head back and your eyes up at all times on the football field. [3] X Research source
- You need to maintain what is called the "laconic position," in which your neck is flexed back slightly, not perfectly straight so your eyes are pointed down. Doing this will keep your eyes up, giving you a good sight of the field, and will keep your neck safe during play.
- Dropping your head during a tackle or leading with your helmet can result in injury, paralysis, or death. This is a crucial part of proper tackling form.
Advertisement
-
Accelerate to the ball. On the field, run as you normally would and then drop into your breakdown position, feet buzzing, any time a player you need to tackle gets close. Usually, you'll want to do this when you're in a bubble of 3 or 4 steps from your opponent. [4] X Research source
- Dropping into breakdown will decelerate you, making you more accurate in your tackle, setting you up for a well-timed and on-point hit.
-
Shoot from your breakdown position. Most of the power that comes from your tackle will come from springing forward into the ball carrier with your hips. Because you're low with a wide center of gravity, you've got the ability to spring from your core and stop their forward progress, as long as you're tackling correctly.
- As you prepare to tackle, take one plant step and ensure that your head and eyes are up before spring into the next step in the tackle. Have a coach or other player check your hit prep step to make sure your back is straight, your butt is out, and your eyes are up.
- Tackling has much less to do with arm strength or speed and much more to do with proper form. A very strong player with poor fundamentals won't be as good a tackler as a player who maintains good form and strikes correctly.
-
Shoot 'n rip. From your plant step, you'll explode up and into the player you're tackling, bringing both of your arms up and under his arms, and both of your hands up behind his back. Bringing your arms up will help take the player off the ground, forcing them to lose their momentum, balance, and footing.
- When executing a proper rip, your hands should end up somewhat higher than your eyes. Both of your arms should move up and pull back after you've ripped. Hugging the player back into you.
- Always keep your head up and eyes on the ball carrier. As you make impact with your shoulder your arms keep your face-mask up and your eyes to the sky.
-
Drive into the tackle. After you've accelerated into a well-timed rip, let your legs do the rest of the work. Pump your legs hard to push him backwards and up, taking him off his feet and to the ground. [5] X Research source
Advertisement
-
Watch the other player's hips. Most jukes or other fake-outs that'll leave you tackling nothing but air are done with feet and the upper-body movements. The hips don't lie. Watch the player's belt-bucklet to see which direction he's progressing and anticipate his movement. Maintain good breakdown position and keep your feet buzzing to be able to shift direction and catch up with his movements. [6] X Research source
-
Stay wrapped. If you execute a good rip and your player doesn't go down or get taken off his feet, stay with him for as long as possible, wrapping up and holding on. If you slip down, that's ok, just keep holding on to his waist, legs, or feet to slow him down as much as possible and wait for the cavalry to arrive. Don't try to do anything fancy, just stay wrapped up and deadweight the other player to make it as difficult as possible to move.
-
Keep your hands free of the face mask. When tackling from the side or behind, it's a possibility that'll you'll unintentionally get your hand wrapped up in the other player's face mask, which is a serious penalty at all levels.
- Do your best to stay clear of the face mask by keeping your hands in fists as you tackle. Your fingers won't do much for you during a well-executed tackle, so you might as well keep them safe by tucking them in and avoiding a risky penalty or injury.
-
Don't leave your feet. Whether you're a linebacker or a safety, it's important to stay on your feet and maintain good breakdown position to make accurate and powerful tackles. Don't jump unless you're defending a pass, and only tackle up and back, executing accurate rips.
- Watching games on Sunday, you might see players in the backfield flying around, parallel to the ground, making highlight reel helmet shots that are both spectacular and inaccurate, as well as extremely dangerous and illegal. These players are taking lazy shortcuts and getting lucky.
-
Worry about stripping the ball last. Many players get excited about causing a fumble and start immediately pounding at the ball, trying to tear it loose as soon as they make contact, allowing the offensive player to gain extra yardage. Worry less about the highlight reel and worry more about taking the player to the ground. Shoot and rip. [7] X Research sourceTom Brady, Professional Football Player
Once you've developed your football skills, focus on improving your mental game. "Every quarterback can throw a ball, every running back can run, every receiver is fast, but mental toughness is what translates into competitiveness."
Advertisement
Community Q&A
Search
-
QuestionHow can I become a good running back?DonaganTop AnswererPractice 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.
-
QuestionHow can I make a huge hit without missing my target?DonaganTop AnswererYour hits don't have to be "huge." While you're thinking about "huge," your target may escape. Just concentrate on bringing the man down.
-
QuestionWhy don't you recommend advanced tackles?Community AnswerThis can lead to a missed tackle and allow the offensive player to gain more yards.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Reader Videos
Submit a Video Tip!
Share a quick video tip and help bring articles to life with your friendly advice. Your insights could make a real difference and help millions of people!
Submit a Video
Coming Soon!
Tips
- Keep your head up, read your opponent's hips, stay low and wrap up.Thanks
- Keep your head up, stay low, and wrap up.Thanks
- Stay low, the lower you are, the easier this is.Thanks
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
Warnings
- Wrap the waist, pick up, and crush down full force forwards.Thanks
- Never, ever lower your head and make a helmet-to-helmet tackle or hit.Thanks
- Don't ever try to hand tackle someone unless you are at a good speed and angle.Thanks
Advertisement
References
- ↑ https://www.shakinthesouthland.com/2011/4/12/2095338/linebacker-fundamentals-tackling
- ↑ https://www.coachup.com/nation/articles/proper-tackling-technique
- ↑ https://www.ducksters.com/sports/football/how_to_tackle.php
- ↑ https://www.coachup.com/nation/articles/proper-tackling-technique
- ↑ https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/how-to-tackle-like-a-pro-2/
- ↑ http://www.artofmanliness.com/2013/11/27/how-to-tackle-like-a-pro-2/
- ↑ http://www.shakinthesouthland.com/2011/4/12/2095338/linebacker-fundamentals-tackling
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvAUXHA8OE8
About This Article
Article Summary
X
The best way to tackle is to take small, quick steps while you run. Get into position by squatting down with your feet shoulder-width apart and your shoulders back. Keep your head up at all times to avoid injury. Once you make contact, bring both of your arms up as if you’re hugging the other player, and continue holding on until the play is over. To learn more about how to avoid getting juked or missing a tackle, keep reading!
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 467,030 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "This video is a great representation of what you need to do to help you succeed in football."
Advertisement
80%
of readers found this article helpful
.
Click a star to add your vote
% of people told us that this article helped them.
"This video is a great representation of what you need to do to help you succeed in football."
"It showed me how to get my hips low!"
"It helped me very much to tackle!"
"It helped me in Oklahoma Drills."
"It was easy to understand. "
