Any Football/Rugby players out there?

[CalBears99]

Any of you guys play or played Football or Rugby? I play rugby and I really want to improve my tackling. I always get owned when other guys use their juke moves on me. I can only tackle them if I square up on them. What do you guys do when people try to juke on you?

[KCJ58]

Any of you guys play or played Football or Rugby? I play rugby and I really want to improve my tackling. I always get owned when other guys use their juke moves on me. I can only tackle them if I square up on them. What do you guys do when people try to juke on you?

do you play for a college team or a high school team, or adult league

[TimDris]

I played football when I was younger but now I play just hockey and im starting to play rugby. My entire family played rugby so i remember being there at the fields watching my dad every weekend.

Since i usually play wing cause im small and quick im what you call an "ankle-biter". I just focus on keeping my hips square and wrapping up their knees...

[Chucky]

I personally play rugby, and pretty much the most important thing for me when I am hitting, is to make sure I use my body and not just arm tackle him, as well as wrapping my arms tight.

[7-11]

I play rugby and as a loose forward my primary job is to be tackling the entire game (not much of a ball runner these days). Anyway tackling technique all comes down to conditions and context - i used to play fullback so i'd be making alot of one on one, open field tackles. For these my thinking was to always cut down the thinking time of the guy with the ball, if you rush their thinking most guys just aren't going to be good enough ball runners to step (or duke or whatever) you. Then it comes down to size and your natural ability to stick tackles. I'm guessing you're not a natural tackler (not a concern, most guys i've played with my whole life are completely useless with their natural form in making a tackle) so what i'd recommend is to concentrate on their hips (alot of people get carried away with what they're doing with their feet, hands, head etc.), drive in with the shoulder (try to get your head to the side, i've been knocked out multiple times from being tired and misjudging a tackle), and wrap your arms around him. Arm tackles are the most frustrating thing to see as a team mate so try to avoid it.

Don't think any of that made sense but anyway. tackling has always come pretty naturally so it's hard for me to explain technique.

[ATLDirtyBirds]

When you are head up, watch their hips. When they plant on their foot (let's say they plant it to the right of you) move a little to your left. More than likely they are bringing it back the way. Since they have most of their weight on the planted foot, it will take them time to get restarted and you can get them.

Hips don't lie though. And if they are moving their hips and feet an insane amount, just fire right at them.

[7-11]

Hips don't lie

That's prety much the perfect piece of tackling advice, who would've thought Shakira was into that kinda thing

[JagHombre22]

I played high school football a couple of years ago...I was a WR...but when I went to the police academy and even the police department I work for...they taught us how to tackle....

you have to go low...to tackle people straight up you must have either good leverage or even better upper body strength...or both...

the other day, another officer was chasing a crack head and requested back up...I joined the chase but I cut the guy off ahead of him...long story short...I tackled the guy low, around the legs (upper thighs)...had I tried to go head up with him he would've probably run me over...

[CalBears99]

Since i usually play wing cause im small and quick im what you call an "ankle-biter". I just focus on keeping my hips square and wrapping up their knees...

Yeah, I'm a wing too for my high school team. If the guy with the ball is stupid I can sometimes just push him out of bounds.

Thanks a lot guys.

['cuse-213]

Surprised a few of you play rugby. Its NOWHERE around my location.

[OSUGiants17]

I stop, breadown, take one step back and wait for them to make their final move. If they take to long I just go after them.

[TimDris]

Yeah, I'm a wing too for my high school team. If the guy with the ball is stupid I can sometimes just push him out of bounds.

Thanks a lot guys.

My high school doesn't have rugby, so I usually play on like college age teams with experienced kids so the out of bounds stuff usually doesn't happen with me. But lots of times if a kid sees he won't be able to get around me they'll just punt it which is always nice.

[7-11]

My high school doesn't have rugby, so I usually play on like college age teams with experienced kids so the out of bounds stuff usually doesn't happen with me.

I'm not sure if i completely believe this, when we had our tour of Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland and France the general tactical play of the Canadians was nearly laughable. We were told after the game that the 5/8th and the halfback (the two main playmakers and tacticians for those who don't know) played in the national under 19's squad, and for the life of me i couldn't pick them as even decent players.

[CalBears99]

My high school's team is touring Argentina this spring. Just throwin' it out there.

[7-11]

My high school's team is touring Argentina this spring. Just throwin' it out there.

Are you going? That'll be absolutely awesome. I've been on a few New Zealand tours and one world tour for rugby, best times of my life

[CalBears99]

Are you going? That'll be absolutely awesome. I've been on a few New Zealand tours and one world tour for rugby, best times of my life

Dude no way I'm going haha. My school's got about 70 kids on the rugby team. Only like 24 are going and it'll be mostly seniors (I'm a junior). Plus I'm not big enough for varsity yet. Hopefully my senior year I'll be on varsity. The varsity team is #13 in the U.S.

[bored of education]

I just own everyone. I awesome open field tackling. I'd key on their mid area square up and keep my head up. if they juked one way or the other you put your head acorss wrap up and take them home

[Bills2083]

I was planning on playing rugby, but I missed the signups...

I play football though. The best thing you can do is go low. This kid on my team is the strongest kid I've ever seen. Another kid is extremely skinny. He brought him down with ease by just going low.

[Moses]

I'm not sure if i completely believe this, when we had our tour of Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland and France the general tactical play of the Canadians was nearly laughable. We were told after the game that the 5/8th and the halfback (the two main playmakers and tacticians for those who don't know) played in the national under 19's squad, and for the life of me i couldn't pick them as even decent players.

Rugby isn't our sport. :D

You won't find it in many high schools and the university teams aren't anything special either. Sort of a fringe sport like Lacrosse.

[Bills2083]

Dude no way I'm going haha. My school's got about 70 kids on the rugby team. Only like 24 are going and it'll be mostly seniors (I'm a junior). Plus I'm not big enough for varsity yet. Hopefully my senior year I'll be on varsity. The varsity team is #13 in the U.S.


what HS do you go to?

[Chucky]

Rugby>Football

Just throwing it out there

[bored of education]

Rugby Owns !!!

[Bills2083]

Rugby>Football

Just throwing it out there

to watch/play, or both?

[Chucky]

to watch/play, or both?

I actually dont watch much rugby, but definatly to play.


Also what positions are you guys.


I am a severly undersized prop

['cuse-213]

Rugby>Football

Just throwing it out there

Playing for over 20 years>Playing for 5

Not the arguement I should be in, I know nothing about rugby. I figure with no pads, injuries are more common?

[Moses]

Playing for over 20 years>Playing for 5

Not the arguement I should be in, I know nothing about rugby. I figure with no pads, injuries are more common?

No pads mean people don't play with the same reckless abandon though. It's kind of like how hockey was before facemasks were mandatory in the minors.

[7-11]

Rugby isn't our sport. :D

You won't find it in many high schools and the university teams aren't anything special either. Sort of a fringe sport like Lacrosse.

Haha, yeah i know, we just kind of expected to be playing a much better side as the team's we were playing in Europe were pretty well renowned. Then we show up to Canada expecting some team that would have half their national underage squad and we get these guys we beat by 50 as they struggle to tactically adjust to anything we do. Keep in mind this was played 4 hours after we stepped off a plane from France, and whilst we were ridiculously hungover

[Moses]

Haha, yeah i know, we just kind of expected to be playing a much better side as the team's we were playing in Europe were pretty well renowned. Then we show up to Canada expecting some team that would have half their national underage squad and we get these guys we beat by 50 as they struggle to tactically adjust to anything we do. Keep in mind this was played 4 hours after we stepped off a plane from France, and whilst we were ridiculously hungover

Try us at hockey. :D

[bored of education]

Scrum Half and wing in college
a couple year mens club
more concussions than Young, Aikman, Favre, Chris Chandler combined. I made a thread about them go find it.

[Chucky]

Playing for over 20 years>Playing for 5

Not the arguement I should be in, I know nothing about rugby. I figure with no pads, injuries are more common?

Completely incorrect, while there are no pads, you have to make an attempt to wrap on every tackle. THerefore there are not guys just launching themselves and laying out players with no attempt to wrap. i.e. Sheldon brown on reggie last year. or most hard hitting safeties in the league.

Also there is no blocking,which is where tons of footbal injuries occur

[7-11]

Try us at hockey. :D

I have a feeling we'd own you lot at that too. I'm thinking 20-0.



Oh wait that's right, 98% of people in Australia can't even skate, maybe we might lose.

[Moses]

I have a feeling we'd own you lot at that too. I'm thinking 20-0.



Oh wait that's right, 98% of people in Australia can't even skate, maybe we might lose.

99.9% of people in Canada don't even know what a rugby looks like. :D

[CalBears99]

what HS do you go to?
Greenwich HS in Connecticut
I actually dont watch much rugby, but definatly to play.


Also what positions are you guys.


I am a severly undersized prop
I'm a wing. Taller than most of the other wings, but not stronger.
Playing for over 20 years>Playing for 5

Not the arguement I should be in, I know nothing about rugby. I figure with no pads, injuries are more common?

We can't touch the other guys above the shoulders, there's no blocking which means no getting blindsided, no kickoffs similar to football so no slamming into guys at 30 mph... And you're encouraged to tackle the legs rather than trucking people.

[7-11]

By the way i'm a blindside flanker, been playing since i was 10 and onyl just got moved into the forwards a couple of years ago (a sad moment for meat the time, but i've grown to love it). This past season i got a contract to play colts (under 20's) for a pretty major club in Sydney, getting a couple of hundred bucks a game and free gym/equipment etc. was pretty sweet for somehting i'd be doing for free.

[CalBears99]

By the way i'm a blindside flanker, been playing since i was 10 and onyl just got moved into the forwards a couple of years ago (a sad moment for meat the time, but i've grown to love it). This past season i got a contract to play colts (under 20's) for a pretty major club in Sydney, getting a couple of hundred bucks a game and free gym/equipment etc. was pretty sweet for somehting i'd be doing for free.

daaamn. haha we wouldn't have that kinda stuff for rugby in the states.

[7-11]

Scrum Half - 4 years in college
1 year mens club
more concussions than Young, Aikman, Favre, Chris Chandler combined. I made a thread about them go find it.

Wow, what is wrong with you?

[CalBears99]

btw, 7-11 you play union not league right?

['cuse-213]

Completely incorrect, while there are no pads, you have to make an attempt to wrap on every tackle. THerefore there are not guys just launching themselves and laying out players with no attempt to wrap. i.e. Sheldon brown on reggie last year. or most hard hitting safeties in the league.

Also there is no blocking,which is where tons of footbal injuries occur

In this case football>rugby

:)

[7-11]

btw, 7-11 you play union not league right?

Yeah union, if i played at the equivalent level in league i'd be earning quite a bit more. Too bad i suck at it

[CalBears99]

Yo maybe we should make an official rugby discussion thread since we've already answered my question

[bored of education]

i already made one lol ill up it ok

[7-11]

Yo maybe we should make an official rugby discussion thread since we've already answered my question

I tried once, it sucked

EDIT: it was actually a world cup thread, but it still sucked

[Chucky]

In this case football>rugby

:)


Scrums and Rucks are much more intense than anything in football and more physical.

Not to mention that Rugby is non-stop and unlike football if there is a 60 minute game there wont only be like 15 minutes of actual playing

[7-11]

Scrums and Rucks are much more intense than anything in football and more physical.

Not to mention that Rugby is non-stop and unlike football if there is a 60 minute game there wont only be like 15 minutes of actual playing

Yeah it's really a completely different game played by completely different athletes. Aerobic fitness is much more critical unlike football where it's more concentrated on anaerobic and explosive movement

[UKfan]

Used to play as a centre, then moved to flanker. It's a fun game no doubt.

[YAYareaRB]

I play Center primarily. I've been playing since I was eight. My dad used to play when he was back in Fiji so he forced me and my brothers to play at a young age. It's definitely helped my running back skills.

[niel89]

i play too. im kinda a prop/lock. i mainly play lock because of the guys on my team fill those spots and i just go to lock. im 6'3" about 250lbs and im still learning how to play. ive been playing since like september and im really enjoying it, i just had to learn when to go hard and when to relax a little. my first game i died because i tried to sprint every where. fun sport though, sad part is ill never be the best in my family. my sis is a national player.

[someone447]

Haha, yeah i know, we just kind of expected to be playing a much better side as the team's we were playing in Europe were pretty well renowned. Then we show up to Canada expecting some team that would have half their national underage squad and we get these guys we beat by 50 as they struggle to tactically adjust to anything we do. Keep in mind this was played 4 hours after we stepped off a plane from France, and whilst we were ridiculously hungover

Isn't that pretty much the point of rugby? At least the team i was going to play on was like that.

To the OP, I play football as a defensive back. The most important thing to remember is to keep your feet moving and drive through the tackle. I can't really speak for rugby, because I always play in pads, and without having pads the technique changes a little.

1)Watch their hips, their hips will always go in the direction they are going. If you find someone who can make their hips go one way, and they go the other, you have found the person who may be the most skilled RB ever.

2) Keep your feet moving

3) Head up, shoulders down.

4) Make contact and drive through the ball carrier.

[CalBears99]

I'm surprised there are so many ruggers here.

[7-11]

Isn't that pretty much the point of rugby? At least the team i was going to play on was like that.

haha yeah it used to be for me, then it got a little more serious and i'm really not sure if i enjoy it more or not.

[etk]

Watch their hips when they're juking, and use your arms to balance yourself as you get ready to attack. Come in low, bow your neck, strike with your shoulder, wrap and drive your feet. If the man is bigger than you, just try to wrestle him down. If he's smaller, you should be able to rise him off the ground and get a nice finish. If you're a wing you'll be making a lot of ankle tackles, but I was a flanker so I got some good pops. Just keep your head up and to the side (different from football) to avoid injury.

[UKfan]

Watch their hips when they're juking, and use your arms to balance yourself as you get ready to attack. Come in low, bow your neck, strike with your shoulder, wrap and drive your feet. If the man is bigger than you, just try to wrestle him down. If he's smaller, you should be able to rise him off the ground and get a nice finish. If you're a wing you'll be making a lot of ankle tackles, but I was a flanker so I got some good pops. Just keep your head up and to the side (different from football) to avoid injury.

Definitely very important, think Jonah Lomu. You weren't stopping him if you hit him above the hips, but he can't run if he has no legs. My favourite team Leicester Tigers are very good tacklers and are worth watching for strong defence.

[TACKLE]

Technique is important but the key to tackling is being fearless. You can't be tenative or afraid of missing the tackle. Once you refine your technique, when your tackling a guy don't think, just be aggresive. Sometimes you have to put your body in harms way to make the play. All the best tacklers I know all had one thing in common, they are all fearless and aggresive. Tackling is just as much physical as it is mental.

[7-11]

Technique is important but the key to tackling is being fearless. You can't be tenative or afraid of missing the tackle. Once you refine your technique, when your tackling a guy don't think, just be aggresive. Sometimes you have to put your body in harms way to make the play. All the best tacklers I know all had one thing in common, they are all fearless and aggresive. Tackling is just as much physical as it is mental.

Yeah that's all true, but mentally thinking you have to be fearless and actually playing with no regard for your body are completely different things.
I've lived through this problem in a big way. When i was about 16 i was 6'1 and about 165lbs, absolute stringbean. I was playing outside centre and was doing alright in club competition but in representative stuff i was struggling to make the hits i was used to making. I had a bit of a dodgy shoulder (due to the fact there wasn't anythign else there besides skin and bone) so i lost confidence in defense in a big way and lost my fearless nature when making a tackle. 3 years later im 6'3 and 210lbs, i've moved to the forwards and although i'm still the 2nd smallest forward in my starting team i'd back myself to hit harder then all but one. So really i think when your a smaller guy it's gotta be all technique. Hit the gym, get some confidence in what your body can put up with, and then it's time to really dish out some hits.