The Breakdown

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The Breakdown

Key points to the breakdown are to rapidly bring the players body under control, get the player into position to deliver the scything blow, preparing to hit like a ninja sword slicing through the opponent. The movement prepares the body for the explosive release of speed in the contact.

Breaking down also takes advantage of the bodies stretch shortening reflex. The muscles are wound up like a spring prior to the impact releasing the spring into the oposition player. The movement must be learned and executed at speed. It is all about control and speed.

Drills that teach the beakdown

Each one of these drills progresses to the next drill progressing the players skills. Stay with a drill until the player has improved his skill and he gets the hit explosively and accurately 90% of the time.

1. Standing Breakdown

• Start the player standing in the break down position in front of a tackle bag.
• Player grips the bag, which has been marked with tape to indicate the height of contact.
• Player lifts the bag off the ground explosively throwing the bag either over his head or out in front of him.
• Alternate where the bag is thrown

2. Stepping Break Down

• Player stands in the Linbacker position three steps away from the tackle bag.
• Player quickly steps towards the bag, breaks down and hit and lifts the bag throwing the bag over his head.

3. Running Break Down

• This drill is the same as the previous drill except that it starts about 5 meters away from the tackle bags
• On the hit and lift the bag is not thrown but carried through the tackle for at least four steps.
• add additional bags so each break down and hit is called by the coach to a different bag to begin to simulate game calls in the backline.
• additional players are added to the drill increasing the number of hits and communication between players. The coach calls players to cross in the drill.
• player reacts to where the coach goes. The players all run up to the bags butonly the bag where the coach has gone is tackled. The other players immediately sprint running backwards to the start.

4. Winning points

• player bends at the kness more than the waist
• hit and drive up through the bag is key
• upper body remains taught through out the hit and lift
• the head is ALWAYS up
• The head goes to the side of the ball and this is called by the coach
• Coach simulates the support player and the tacklers head must go to the side of the support runner - this simulates a player running with the ball in two hands the tackler must learn to read where to tackle the on rushing player
• imagine your legs are a powerfull bow that shoots a straight arrow at the opposition.
• Contact is with the front of the shoulder upper pec. While the head slides to the ball and directs the player in the hit
• The drills must develop explosiveness in the player. If the bags are to heavy at first, perfect the technique on light bags then move back to heavy bags.
• Coach must always ensure that hitting form is good because perfect practice makes perfect