KS3 · Physical education · Year 8

Tackling and contact in rugby

Invasion games: tactics and strategies to outwit through rugby

Learn it. Recall it. Make it stick.

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Your learning goal

I can replicate the correct safe tackling technique.

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Tackling and contact in rugby: slides adapted from the imported teaching text; recall questions created from its keywords, learning points and common mistakes. Self-check practice, with no automatic grading or XP. Answers stay on this page and are cleared when you leave.

What you’ll learn

I can replicate the correct safe tackling technique.

Key learning points

Move: a safe tackle is made by hitting the ball carrier low, with your head to the side of their body and wrapping arms.
Move: keeping arms wrapped until the ball carrier is secured on the ground, before releasing, prevents a missed tackle.
Think: if your head is in front of the ball carrier there is a high risk of injury.
Feel: playing with different people can increase experience at responding to how attackers try to evade space.
Connect: adjusting the intensity applied to a tackle helps build confidence in less experienced/smaller players.

Words to know

tackle: a defender brings the ball carrier down to the ground
confidence: the degree to which a performer believes they have the ability to perform and complete tasks with success
high tackle: a tackle above the line of the shoulders is considered dangerous play and results in a penalty and possible yellow or red card

Common mistakes

Pupil think that if they go in to tackle at the legs they will get kicked in the face.

If you tackle low, with your head to the side and wrap their legs with your arms, they’ll go down safely and you won’t get kicked.

For parents, carers and teachers

It may be beneficial to group pupils by confidence/ experience levels for each of the practices so pupils feel confident with who they are tackling. Remember, contact versions of the game should only be managed by suitably experienced and qualified staff (inc. concussion training).