NEAR HAND TACKLE

Key Points

• Move alongside or level with the opponent.
• Eyes on the ball.
• When the opponent’s far leg is forward step across their space with the near leg
• Shouldering the opponent flick the ball away with the hand nearest the opponent when the ball is free in the solo or bounce
• Knock the ball away from the opponent to gain an advantage
• Recover the ball to win possession

Practice the Technique

Drill 1 – Basic – Pairs

• Divide the group into pairs.
• Mark out a channel approximately 5 metres wide using cones.
• Each pair start walking side by side through the channel with Player A attempting to step across and execute the near hand tackle on an imaginary ball.
• Change roles after a number of attempts.
• To progress the drill, as soon as the component elements have been practiced, introduce a ball.
• In this case encourage Player A to toe tap or solo the ball on every stride to afford the tackling player a number of chances to practice the tackle. 

Drill 2 –Intermediate-Tackle in 3’s

• Divide the players into groups of 3.
• Mark out a channel approximately 5 metres wide using cones.
• This drill is designed to improve the timing of the tackle.
• Player A on the right of the group solos forward.
• Player B in the middle attempts to perform the near hand tackle and knock the ball to Player C in the process.
• Change roles after a number of attempts
• To adapt the drill Player B is in possession and Player C attempts to perform the near hand tackle and knock the ball to Player A.
• Increase the pace of the drill as the proficiency of players improves.

Develop the Technique

Game Play Drill 1

• Mark out a grid 15m x 15m
• Two Players with a Ball each enter the grid from one side
• Two tackling players enter the grid from each adjacent side
• The players in possession continue to solo around the grid as the tackling players attempt to perform the near hand tackle
• After a set time reverse the roles

Game Play Drill 2

• Mark out a channel using cones from approximately 45 to 20m out from goal and approximately 10m wide
• Divide the players into defenders and attackers
• The attackers line up at the beginning of the channel each with a ball
• The defenders line up to the side of the channel
• In turn each attacker and defender enter the channel.
• The attacker attempts to get past the defender to take a shot at goal from the end of the channel
• The defenders may only use the near hand tackle to dispossess the attacker