Youth Football Fundamentals: Tackling and Pursuit Techniques & Drills

Youth coaches, are you ready to experience a systematic tackling progression that teaches kids how to tackle the right way? Jack Gregory shows you how to teach the basic techniques and fundamentals of tackling that are safe and effective.

Tackling Drills
Gregory diagrams proper techniques before taking you to the practice field for a live demonstration of his tackling drill progression featuring players from his youth team. His teaching covers:

• The three step progression L.E.G.; "Load" your body, "Explode" up into the runner, "Go" through the ball carrier at full speed
• A sequence of basic, intermediate and advanced tackling drills so you can adjust your practice depending on our players' ability
• How teaching the proper way to fall will reduce your teams injuries
• Coaching "cue words" that allows the players to learn the proper technique quickly

Starting with the Bag Drill, Coach Gregory takes you through four basic drills that teach the L.E.G. tackling system. This tackling progression develops a youth player's tackling technique and skills set by using various angles and aiming points on the ball carrier.

Intermediate drills such as Spin Tackle and Quick Angle force the tackler to "lock and load" on the ball carrier. Advanced drills challenge the players with game-like conditions. The shed is introduced as well as seven different drills that train players to be tackling machines.

Pursuit Drills
Gregory's pursuit progression features six drills that help train players to take a good angle to the ball and make tackles or create a turnovers. In a unique twist, Gregory shows the drills using a soccer ball, which allows you to control the speed and angle of attack, while getting in a lot of reps. You can simulate off tackle, sweep, iso, and even pass plays by throwing the ball where it needs to be.

The pursuit drills start in an individual, non-contact format to teach the angle of attack while reinforcing technique. Gregory adds one-on-one drills that focus on squaring up to the ball carrier or beating him to the perimeter. The progression includes a four-player force-and-contain drill and a back five pursuit drill that introduces a "Shoot Defender" (or a mike linebacker), while maintaining inside and outside leverage.

With just a few modifications, these drills can be used with any defense.

Shut down your opponent and keep your players safe this season with these essential tackling and pursuit drills.

178 minutes. 2013.