Tackling
Pressure Front Block Tackle
Teach a safe, strong front block tackle
Tackling
Defending
Pressure Front Block Tackle is a 12-minute tackling drill for 2-14 players, suitable for Under 9 to Adults at beginner, intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.
Back to drill libraryTackling
Defending
Technical Practice
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Minimal Equipment
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Under Pressure
Duration
12 min
Players
2-14
Pitch size
14 x 8 yards
Ability levels
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Pitch diagram
Pressure Front Block Tackle — Crossing and finishing — wide delivery into the box · 14 x 8 yards
Step 1 of 5Both players walk in and make a controlled block tackle on the ball.
- 1. Both players walk in and make a controlled block tackle on the ball.
- 2. Build the speed up gradually across the sets.
- 3. Finish with the winner driving the ball out of the area.
- 4. The defender is released the moment the ball leaves the server's foot.
- 5. The working player scores by completing the action before pressure arrives; the defender scores by blocking it.
- Cones mark the area
- Full goal
- Dashed lines = wide crossing channels
- Ball
- C = coach / server
- Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble
Objectives
- -Teach a safe, strong front block tackle
- -Time the tackle to the attacker's touch
- -Build confidence in the duel
Setup
- 1Two facing lines six yards apart with a ball in the middle in a 14 x 8 yards area.
- 2Position a recovering defender behind each working player, starting two yards back.
- 3One ball per pair.
Coaching instructions
- 1Both players walk in and make a controlled block tackle on the ball.
- 2Build the speed up gradually across the sets.
- 3Finish with the winner driving the ball out of the area.
- 4The defender is released the moment the ball leaves the server's foot.
- 5The working player scores by completing the action before pressure arrives; the defender scores by blocking it.
Coaching points
- -Firm ankle and a strong base
- -Contact through the middle of the ball
- -Follow through and take the ball away
- -Feel the pressure with your body, take the touch away from the defender
Common mistakes
- -Soft ankle causing injury risk
- -Tackling with the toe
- -Facing your own goal and getting trapped by the press
Where this drill fits
- More football tackling drills
- More football defending drills
- football drills for U10s
- football drills for U12s
- football drills for U14s
- football drills for U16s
- Football session plans built around this theme