Tackling, An Essential Part Of Football

To learn the basics of tackling is to learn the essence of football. There are many good manuvers and styles of tackling. This article talkes about tackling saftey and also gives some basic skills and techniques.


Tackling Fundamentals and Safety

Learning how to perform a proper tackle is fundamental to the game of football. If you, or your players don't take tackling seriously you will not stop the offense and could also cause injuries. Some points to remember when tackling:

First is to cut off your opponent by placing yourself directly in front of them. You can do this by placing your foot between your opponent's feet. Also, at this time thrust your arms backward to prepare for the next step.

Second, push your other foot keeping your knees low and bent, and in sync with your feet throw your hands up hard around the offensive player. At this point you are well planted in front and your head should be in direct contact. To protect yourself never, ever try to tackle with the crown of your head, but instead keep your head back, and your head square. You need to literally imagine that the football is a big hamburger and you want to bite it and not slam your forehead against it.

The third and last step is to bring your hips up and drive the opponent backwards and towards the ground. Setting yourself up for this last step will ultimately prove the success in the tackle.

Traditional Driving Block

Driving and blocking are the bases for a good lineman. Hence the name for the most common drive: the drive block. When you want to remove an opponent effectively you will use the drive block again and again. It starts with the lineup, when you are facing your opponent notice which way they are aligned, if they are off to the right then you will drive them to the right if the play is occurring on the left side of the field. Execute the drive by bolting off the line with your play side foot; again if the play is happening on the left side then you will use your left foot. Connect hard against your opponent, bring your other foot into play and continue to drive in the aligned direction.

Powerful Blocking Strategy: Double Teaming

Football is all about strategy and fining, or making weak spots in your opponent. A great technique that will give you an advantage on the line is double team blocking. It is basically putting two linemen on one. The strategy works for putting a hole in the line of scrimmage as two easily overpowers one. Here are some pointers for this strategy: First, players need to step together, and second lock hips. This forms an impenetrable line in the middle and as each lineman is on the edge of the opponent it will be very difficult to go around. The double team should focus on the shoulders, and arm pits of the opponent to control dominance. To be effective the double team has to work in a fast blitz like maneuver.