How to Tackle in Football: The 6 Steps Every Player Should Master
Watch any Friday night game and you'll see the difference between defenses that tackle and defenses that collide. Big hits make highlight reels. Proper tackles win games. And with football faster than it's ever been, proper technique matters more for every player on the field.
Whether you're a defender, a coach installing fundamentals, or an offensive player who wants to be ready after a turnover, tackling breaks down into six teachable steps.
1. Break down and close under control
A missed tackle starts long before contact. As you approach the ball carrier, shorten your steps, drop your hips, and get your feet shoulder-width apart, using a coiled athletic base. Closing under control means the ball carrier's next cut doesn't leave you grasping at air.
2. Eyes up, head up always
Keep your head up and your eyes on the ball carrier's near hip through the entire approach and through contact. This is the non-negotiable of modern tackling: you tackle what you can see. A dropped head loses the target, and leading with the helmet is dangerous for both players (not to mention, a penalty). See it, then strike it.
3. Strike with the shoulder, head to the side
Contact comes from the front of the shoulder, aimed at the thigh-to-midsection zone depending on the situation, with your head sliding to the side of the ball carrier - "across the bow," never the point of contact. Your helmet is protection, not a weapon. This is how the game is taught at every level today, from youth leagues to the pros.
4. Wrap and squeeze
A shoulder strike without wrapping can lead to a bounced tackle. As your shoulder makes contact, shoot both arms around the ball carrier and clamp - grab cloth and lock your hands if you can. Strong runners break arm tackles all day; they don't break wrapped ones.
5. Drive your legs through contact
The tackle isn't over at contact, it's over when the ball carrier is on the ground. Keep your feet alive and drive through the runner, using your legs (the strongest muscles you have) to finish. Leg drive is the difference between a two-yard gain and a four-yard gain.
6. Finish to the ground, land on top
Roll your hips through, take the ball carrier down, and finish in control - ideally on top, never dragged underneath. Then get up and find the ball, because well-coached defenses treat every tackle as a chance at a takeaway.
Three drills that build the six steps
Fit-and-freeze: Partners walk through steps 1–4 at half speed and freeze at the wrap. Coaches check head placement and back angle. Perfect reps before fast reps.
Angle tackle on a bag or donut: Work shoulder strike and head-to-the-side on a moving target without player-on-player contact. Alternate left and right shoulder - every defender has a weak side until they train it.
Thud tempo team period: Full-speed pursuit and fit, wrap without taking anyone to the ground. Builds game-speed habits while limiting contact load across a practice week.
Where equipment fits in
No helmet makes tackling safe by itself - technique does the heavy lifting, which is why the six steps above matter at every level. What equipment can do is let players execute technique better. A lighter football helmet reduces neck fatigue across a long practice or a four-quarter game, which helps players keep their heads up and their form intact late - exactly when technique tends to break down. It's one reason LIGHT builds the lightest helmets in the game, top-ranked in Virginia Tech's independent testing.
Tackling FAQ
What are the steps to a proper football tackle?
Break down and approach under control, keep your eyes up, strike with the shoulder with your head to the side, wrap both arms, drive your legs through contact, and finish to the ground in control.
Where should your head be when tackling?
Up and to the side of the ball carrier — never the point of contact. You should see what you hit through the entire tackle.
What age should kids learn tackling technique?
Form fundamentals (stance, angles, wrap) can be taught early and practiced at walking speed without contact. Leagues set their own rules for when live tackling begins — follow your league's guidelines and a coach's progression.
How do you practice tackling without getting hurt?
Volume at low speed: walk-through fits, bag work, and limited live reps. Most tackling improvement comes from perfect slow reps, not extra collisions.
Why do players miss tackles?
Usually before contact: approaching too fast and out of control, dropping the eyes, or striking without wrapping. Fix the approach and the wrap, and the miss rate drops.