The Near shoulder is the one closest to the ball carrier. Leading with the near shoulder and keeping the head behind or to the side is critical for safe, effective tackling. Cue: Profile, Sink, Near, Wrap.
What you need: Two cones. Mark a line. Open grass.
Setup: One kid is the ball carrier. The other is the defender. Start 10 yards apart.
How to run it:
- Review Profile and Sink first. The defender gets square and low.
- Teach Near: The shoulder closest to the ball carrier is the one that makes contact. If the ball carrier is on your right, the right shoulder leads. Head stays behind or to the side, never across the front.
- The ball carrier walks toward the defender at half speed.
- The defender gets into Profile, Sinks, and drives the near shoulder forward. Head is behind or to the side.
- Do 5 reps walking speed, then 5 reps at half speed run.
What to watch: Is the head across the front or is it behind/to the side? Head across the front is wrong and dangerous. Behind or to the side is right.
If they’re struggling: Have them practice in slow motion first. Just walking. Make sure they understand the Near shoulder concept.
If they’ve got it: Add full speed and have the ball carrier try to juke slightly. The defender has to adjust their angle while staying safe.
Based on the Hawk Tackle technique developed by Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks, adopted into USA Football’s Heads Up Football program. Head behind, never across the front. Eyes up through the chest, not into the chest.