They tackle too high
Arms round the shoulders, grabbing shirts, heads in the wrong place
Why it happens
- Standing tall feels safer: going low means heading towards the ground.
- Tag habits: they're used to reaching for the waist with their hands, not their shoulder.
- They start the tackle too far away, so they're still upright when they arrive.
- Nobody has shown them where their head goes, so they look at the carrier's chest and tackle what they're looking at.
What to say
✓ Say this
- “Eyes on the belt buckle.”
- “Little steps, get close, sink.”
- “Cheek to the hip, wrap, squeeze.”
- “Great height! That's the one.”
✗ Not this
- “Hit them hard.”
- “Stop them any way you can.”
- “Just grab them.”
- Praising a high tackle because it stopped the player.
The drill ladder
Move a group up a level only when they hit the "ready for next level" sign. It's fine for groups to be on different levels.
Belt buckle tag
How it works
- Normal tag rugby in a small square, but a tag only counts if both hands touch the ball carrier's hips or waist.
- The tagger has to bend their knees and get low to do it. A high touch on the shoulders or back is play on.
- Coach calls “low!” on good tags. Swap teams every two minutes.
Coaching points
- Eyes on the belt buckle, not the face.
- Little steps in close, then sink the hips.
- This drill is tag only. No holding, no tackling.
Ready for the next level when: Nearly every tag is two hands on the hips without being reminded.
Kneeling hip hug
How it works
- Tackler kneels on one knee. Ball carrier stands side-on, close enough to touch.
- Tackler puts their cheek on the carrier's hip, wraps both arms round the thighs and squeezes for 3 seconds. Nobody goes to ground yet.
- Then the carrier takes one slow step. The tackler wraps, squeezes and rolls them gently onto the grass. Swap after 3 goes.
Coaching points
- Cheek to the hip, head behind the ball carrier. Never in front.
- Arms wrap below the waist. If an arm goes round the chest, start again.
- Slow is fine. We're learning where the head and arms go.
Ready for the next level when: Every player can wrap at hip height with their head to the side, 5 times out of 5.
Walking gate tackle
How it works
- Set a 2m gate with two cones. The tackler waits beside the gate in a crouch; the ball carrier walks through it.
- As the carrier reaches the gate, the tackler steps in side-on, sinks, cheek to the hip, wraps and brings them down gently.
- Carrier lands and places the ball back. Swap roles every 3 goes. Progress the tackler from a crouch to standing.
Coaching points
- Sink before you arrive, not when you get there. Bend the knees, flat back.
- Shoulder hits the thigh or hip. Nothing above the waist.
- Ball carrier: fall and place the ball, as in Fall and roll.
Ready for the next level when: Tackles from standing are at hip height with the head to the side, 5 out of 5.
Jog and sink
How it works
- Ball carrier jogs down a narrow channel. Tackler starts 5m away and moves forward to meet them.
- Tackler shortens their steps, sinks and tackles at the hips. Carrier goes to ground and places the ball.
- Reset and go again. Keep the channel narrow so the tackler can commit.
Coaching points
- Short steps, low hips, head to the side. Set the height before contact, not during it.
- If a tackle goes high, stop and go back to the gate drill for a few reps. No telling off.
- Lots of short goes. Swap after 3 each.
Ready for the next level when: Tackles stay at hip height when the carrier is jogging, nearly every time.
3v3 low tackle game
How it works
- 3v3 in a small area, full tackle. Matched teams, so the biggest kids play each other.
- A low, wrapped tackle at the hips earns a point for the defence. A high or unwrapped tackle is a penalty and the attack keeps the ball.
- Short games, 2 minutes each, then swap teams. Referee it closely.
Coaching points
- Praise the height, not the hit.
- Stop the game and re-teach straight away if a head goes in front.
- Keep the area small so there are lots of tackles and no long run-ups.
Ready for the next level when: Go back a level any time technique slips. When low tackles are the norm, this becomes part of normal game time.
Why height matters
- Aim for the hips and waist, well below the base of the sternum. That leaves room for error when players are moving.
- A high tackle is how heads clash. Low tackles are safer for both players, not just the carrier.
- Any suspected head injury: off the pitch, no return that day. Follow England Rugby's HEADCASE guidance.
Common coaching mistakes
- Letting a high tackle go because it stopped the player. Height is the whole point.
- Starting tacklers too far away, so they arrive upright and reach.
- Mismatched pairs: a small tackler can only reach a big carrier's waist by going high.
- Moving to live games before the gate drill is clean.
Related problems
TackleConfidence
My players are scared of contact
Hesitating, pulling out of tackles, turning their back
RuckContactOur rucks are a mess
Pile-ups, players off their feet, the ball stuck under bodies
ConfidenceBall carrierWellbeingMy players are afraid of getting hurt
Worried about knocks, falls and big kids. Holding back in games, nervous before training.