Purpose
The purpose of these Defensive Back Come to Balance Tackling Drills is to teach and improve the foot work, body positioning and weight distribution before executing a full tackle.
Terminology:
Come to Balance – is referred to as the position in which the knees are slightly bent, feet shoulder width apart and body weight equally distributed in which a player can move in any direction in the shortest amount of time.
Shimmy – is referred to as the short choppy forward steps that a player takes after he has come to balance.
Description
Drill # 1: Come to Balance –
This drill is executed by having three defenders 5 yards apart facing the direction of the coach who is 15 yards from the defenders. On the coach’s command the defenders will sprint for 5 yards and come to balance while chopping their feet in place. On the coach’s next command the defenders will sprint past the coach.
Drill # 2: Come to Balance with Shimmy Steps –
This drill is executed by having three defenders 5 yards apart facing the direction of the coach who is 15 yards from the defenders. On the coach’s command the defenders will sprint for 5 yards and come to balance. Once the players have come to balance they will start shimmying their feet closing the distance between them and the coach. On the coach’s next command the defenders will sprint past the coach (players should maintain a good tackling position while shimmying).
Drill #3: Come Balance, Shimmy Steps with 45/90 degree breaks –
This drill is executed by having three defenders 5 yards apart facing the direction of the coach who is 15 yards from the defenders. On the coach’s command the defenders will sprint for 5 yards and come to balance. Once the players have come to balance they will start shimmying their feet closing the distance between them and the coach. On the coach’s next command the defenders will sprint at either a 45 or 90 degree angle for 5 yards. This drill will end with players coming to balance once more. (this drill simulates a change of direction by the ball carrier. It is essential that the defender takes good directional steps in order to stay on the proper pursuit path).
Drill #4: Putting it all together –
This drill is executed in the same manner as Drill #3 with the exception of having the defensive backs backpedal for 4 – 5 yards before executing the remainder of steps in Drill #3.
Coaching Points
- Stay on the exact path (no drifting).
- Head up and eyes on the numbers
- Back always at a 45 degree angle
- Feet shoulder width apart
- Keep feet moving at all times
- Take good directional steps
Equipment
- none
These Defensive Back Come to Balance Tackling Drills are contributed by ©2007 Thomas Kearney, in the meantime Associate Head Coach – Tight Ends at Truman State University. The Truman Bulldogs play in the MIAA(Mid-America Intercollgiate Athletic Association, NCAA Div. II)
When he contributed this Defensive Backs Drill he was Assistant Head Coach and Secondary Coach at Iowa Wesleyan Tigers (then Mid-States Football Association, NAIA, now UMAC, Upper Midwest Athletic Conference, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III )