Tackle Football Strategies for Kids

While tackling is second nature for experienced football players, it can be quite difficult for kids just learning the game. In life, young kids are taught that hitting others is bad. Coaches find themselves in conflict with parents, and teaching kids that tackling is just part of the game can take some time. Once this initial barrier is overcome, young kids need to be taught the proper form for tackling.

  1. Tackle the Coach

    • A neck injury is one of the scariest injuries that can occur while a player is attempting a tackle. In order to prevent this, a player must be sure to have his head up and eyes looking at the person he is tackling. When a player leads with his head, he could suffer a neck injury. In severe cases, paralysis could result.

      Players begin the drill by lining up facing the coach. The players take turns running at the coach at low speed and attempting to tackle him. If completed properly, the player will end up with his eyes in the coach's chest. The drill also allows the coach to reach out and stop the player if he is approaching with his head down. As the kids become more comfortable, padding and helmets can be added and the speed with which the players approach the coach can be increased.

    Group Tackling

    • Young players often have difficulty tackling an opponent upon impact. The speed of the game is so slow that the force with which players collide isn't enough to knock either player down. As a result, kids may need to group tackle.

      In the drill, one player acts as the ball carrier while two others practice group tackling. The first player approaching the ball carrier attempts to stop his momentum, ideally by bear hugging him. In the worst case, the tackler grabs the ball carrier by the leg and hangs on just to slow him down. Once the ball carrier has been engaged by the first player, the second player finishes the job. The drill gets the players used to tackling in general and as a group.

    Using a Tackling Bag

    • A tackling bag, a softer version of a boxer's punching bag, is a simple but effective tool. A child should begin the drill by running into the bag, wrapping his arms around it, and pushing it backward as far as he can. The drill should be performed in pads.

      By using the tackling bag, players learn proper tackling form while minimizing the chance of injury. The soft bag prevents neck injuries, even if the player fails to use proper form. The bag also eliminates player-to-player collisions.