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Tackling FundamentalsWhat it takes to be a great tackler

1. You must have CONFIDENCE

2. You need VISION

3. You must move your FEET

4. You need to understand ANGLES

5. You must have TOUGHNESS

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Tackling FundamentalsMost common mistakes

1. The tackler stops his feet and lunges.

2. The tackler lowers his head and loses vision.

3. The tackler “opens the parachute” with his arms

4. The tackler does not have a strong base

5. The tackler takes a bad pursuit angle

Missed tackles are the difference between a good defensive football team and a bad one and most big offensive plays are the result of a missed tackle.

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Tackling FundamentalsHow do we master the art of tackling

1. We teach proper fundamentals

2. We execute drills that stress proper technique

3. We learn to understand tackling situations

4. We work on it EVERYDAY

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Tackling FundamentalsTackling Situations

1. Open field

2. Angle (inside out and outside in)

3. Sideline

4. 2 on 1

5. Phone Booth

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Tackling FundamentalsBasic Elements

1. Eyes on the target

2. Come to balance

3. Shimmey the feet

4. Holster the hands

5. Lateral mirror step

6. Club and wrap up

7. Run your feet

8. Stay square

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Tackling FundamentalsDrills

1. Shimmey

2. Shimmey---Break

3. Sprint---Shimmey

4. Sprint---Shimmey---Break

5. Break---Club---Wrap

6. Wrap---Spin (stay square)

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Tackling FundamentalsDrills (continued)

1. Box – Head up

2. Box – Inside Out

3. Box – Outside In

4. Sideline

5. 2 on 1

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Tackling FundamentalsThe importance of pursuit

1. Great pursuit is critical to playing outstanding defense

2. Pursuit does not require great ability, it does require great effort

3. Every player must understand the proper angle

4. A great defense will find a way to get all 11 players to the ball on every play

5. Pursuit creates opportunities for takeaways

6. We work on it EVERYDAY