Few defensive moves take the starch out of your opponent like a successful tackle. In a flash you force him from offense to defense without even getting a shot.
Front Block Tackle:
One of the best bread and butter tackles is the basic front block tackle. It's like a defensive version of the push pass. That is, your tackling foot is turned outward, toes pointing up and sideways and ankle locked. The idea is to make the tackle with the largest blocking surface - the full inside of your foot.
You must show yourself quickly on the ball, putting immediate pressure on the ball carrier. Force his attention to the ball, block his direct path to the goal, and cut off his passing angles. If you set him up right, even though your tackle might fail, you will cost the ball carrier valuable time by forcing him to go around you.
How to Prepare:
You prepare for the tackle by getting into a position from which you can pounce on the ball like a tiger, explosively and without warning. Be in a crouched position, legs comfortably apart and well bent, weight on the balls of your feet. Keep your feet moving. If you get too heavy on your feet or get caught upright, you can be put off balance and left stranded. Even if youre lucky enough to make contact with the ball you can be easily brushed aside.
Always stay within striking distance, because strike you must at the slightest opportunity. The tackle itself must be fast and smooth. Get your non-tackling foot beside and as close to the ball as possible. Then, almost simultaneously, come through with the tackling foot.
Put your weight behind the tackle, driving the inside of your foot through the centre of the ball, brushing aside you opponents foot and stealing the ball. There's nothing like combining this with a good shoulder charge to knock your opponent off balances as you follow through with your tackle.
Position and support
Position and support become critical when the ball gets wedged between you and the ball carrier. Good body balance on your supporting foot will allow you to keep firm pressure on the ball while exerting a second effort to drag the ball over the opponent's foot or pull it out sideways.
Good tacklers don't pussy-foot around. Go whole-heartedly or don't go. The most common tackling error is a tendency to stick out a foot tentatively, either to avoid injury or to sort of hedge your bet. This is the worst way to tackle and best way to get hurt. A leg dangling without good support is easily brushed aside. You're more likely to come away with an injured ankle than with the ball.
How to Practice
The best way to practice the front block tackle is in a situation like a hockey face-off. Put a ball between you and a friend. On a signal both of you try to win the ball. Later you can both stalk the ball, with each trying to beat the other to the punch.
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