Football Toolbox

Minimal Contact Tackling Drills

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This article was originally posted on the Glazier Coaching Blog.

The video shows drills from the Cary-Grove High School (IL) tackling circuit.  There is more information about what they do below the video.

The staff looked at game film to see what was happening and worked to create practice drills to replicate and rep the actions.

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They run a 5 station defeating block rotation followed up immediately with a 5 station tackling rotation on Mondays and Tuesdays.  Early in the season the circuits take 20 minutes (teaching phase).  Later in the season it morphs into the rep and cue phase and takes 12 minutes of practice time.

The presenter in the video is Defensive Coordinator Matt Furlong.  Check out his entire video (including the defeating block circuit) on Glazier Drive

The Cary-Grove philosophy is to develop skilled defensive football players that are not position specific.  That allows:

  • Players to play multiple spots within the defense.
  • Don’t need as much depth.
  • Improved coverage special teams play.
  • Created week to week scheme flexibility in both fronts and coverages.
  • The staff to deal with decreased practice time
  • Stay simple defensively while defending several complex offensive systems.
  • Improved player safety by minimizing contact
  • Get players to have a growth mindset