Drill category

Football tackling drills

Tackling drills build safe, confident challenges in 1v1 and 2v2 pictures where players must time the contact.

What to coach

Front foot low and firm
Tackle through the ball
Win it, then play out

Filter the tackling drills Football session plans

All 46 football tackling drills

Every drill below has its own page with the full setup, coaching points, progressions and a pitch diagram.

1v1 Defending — defending drill, 15 min, Under 5 to Adults
Tackling Technique — tackling drill, 12 min, Under 8 to Adults
1-to-1 Defending Technique — defending drill, 14 min, Under 5 to Adults
Block & Slide Tackle Technique — tackling drill, 12 min, Under 10 to Adults
1v1 Defending Duels: Switch To Score — defending drill, 15 min, Under 10 to Adults
1v1 Defending Duels: Five Second Counter-Press — defending drill, 15 min, Under 10 to Adults
1v1 Defending Duels: Target Zone Bonus — defending drill, 15 min, Under 10 to Adults
1v1 Defending Duels: Overload Rotation — defending drill, 15 min, Under 7 to Adults
1v1 Defending Duels: Restart Realism — defending drill, 15 min, Under 9 to Adults
1v1 Defending Duels: Two-Goal Decision — defending drill, 15 min, Under 7 to Adults
1v1 Defending Duels: Limited Touch Build-Up — defending drill, 15 min, Under 10 to Adults
Cover And Balance Triangle: Switch To Score — defending drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Cover And Balance Triangle: Five Second Counter-Press — defending drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Cover And Balance Triangle: Target Zone Bonus — defending drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Cover And Balance Triangle: Overload Rotation — defending drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Cover And Balance Triangle: Restart Realism — defending drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Cover And Balance Triangle: Two-Goal Decision — defending drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Cover And Balance Triangle: Limited Touch Build-Up — defending drill, 16 min, Under 10 to Adults
Front Block Tackling: Switch To Score — tackling drill, 12 min, Under 10 to Adults
Front Block Tackling: Five Second Counter-Press — tackling drill, 12 min, Under 10 to Adults
Front Block Tackling: Target Zone Bonus — tackling drill, 12 min, Under 10 to Adults
Front Block Tackling: Overload Rotation — tackling drill, 12 min, Under 8 to Adults
Front Block Tackling: Restart Realism — tackling drill, 12 min, Under 9 to Adults
Front Block Tackling: Two-Goal Decision — tackling drill, 12 min, Under 8 to Adults
Front Block Tackling: Limited Touch Build-Up — tackling drill, 12 min, Under 10 to Adults
Side-On Tackling Channel: Switch To Score — tackling drill, 14 min, Under 10 to Adults
Side-On Tackling Channel: Five Second Counter-Press — tackling drill, 14 min, Under 10 to Adults
Side-On Tackling Channel: Target Zone Bonus — tackling drill, 14 min, Under 10 to Adults
Side-On Tackling Channel: Overload Rotation — tackling drill, 14 min, Under 9 to Adults
Side-On Tackling Channel: Restart Realism — tackling drill, 14 min, Under 9 to Adults
Side-On Tackling Channel: Two-Goal Decision — tackling drill, 14 min, Under 9 to Adults
Side-On Tackling Channel: Limited Touch Build-Up — tackling drill, 14 min, Under 10 to Adults
Poke Tackle Pressing: Switch To Score — tackling drill, 12 min, Under 10 to Adults
Poke Tackle Pressing: Five Second Counter-Press — tackling drill, 12 min, Under 10 to Adults
Poke Tackle Pressing: Target Zone Bonus — tackling drill, 12 min, Under 10 to Adults
Poke Tackle Pressing: Overload Rotation — tackling drill, 12 min, Under 9 to Adults
Poke Tackle Pressing: Restart Realism — tackling drill, 12 min, Under 9 to Adults
Poke Tackle Pressing: Two-Goal Decision — tackling drill, 12 min, Under 9 to Adults
Poke Tackle Pressing: Limited Touch Build-Up — tackling drill, 12 min, Under 10 to Adults
Defend The Gate: Switch To Score — tackling drill, 15 min, Under 10 to Adults
Defend The Gate: Five Second Counter-Press — tackling drill, 15 min, Under 10 to Adults
Defend The Gate: Target Zone Bonus — tackling drill, 15 min, Under 10 to Adults
Defend The Gate: Overload Rotation — tackling drill, 15 min, Under 8 to Adults
Defend The Gate: Restart Realism — tackling drill, 15 min, Under 9 to Adults
Defend The Gate: Two-Goal Decision — tackling drill, 15 min, Under 8 to Adults
Defend The Gate: Limited Touch Build-Up — tackling drill, 15 min, Under 10 to Adults

Drills by age group

Tackling drill questions coaches ask

How many football tackling drills are there on Football Coach Hub?

There are 46 football tackling drills in the library, each with a setup, coaching points, common mistakes, a progression and a regression so you can run it with mixed abilities.

What equipment do I need for tackling drills?

Most drills need only a ball per player, cones and bibs. You can filter the drill library by the kit you actually have, including mini goals, full goals, poles, ladders and rebound boards.

How long should a tackling practice last?

Ten to fifteen minutes on one technical practice is usually enough before players need a change of picture. Follow it with the same theme inside a small-sided game.