New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

Going into contact

I can tackle and form rucks and mauls safely

New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

Going into contact

I can tackle and form rucks and mauls safely

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Move: driving your body weight up and under an opponent forces them backwards, stopping their attacking momentum.
  2. Move: additional attackers and defenders at the breakdown enter from behind the backfoot of the last player and bind on.
  3. Think: joining a ruck or maul must be done from the back foot to be onside.
  4. Feel: confidence to initiate contact comes from repeated execution with the correct technique.
  5. Connect: supporting less confident classmates to execute successful tackles in practice conditions shows kindness.

Keywords

  • Smother tackle - a more upright tackle that wraps the player and ball to prevent an offload

  • Duck and clean - a player lowers their body to get underneath an opponent before driving them away to secure possession

  • Late tackle - a penalty offence for tackling a player who has already passed or kicked the ball

Common misconception

Pupils fail to fully commit to a tackle which allows players to break free and score.

Defenders must fully commit to tackle the ball carrier and keep hold until they are on the ground to avoid giving the opposition an overlap or charge through scoring opportunity.


To help you plan your year 10 physical education lesson on: Going into contact, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

It may be beneficial to pair pupils in ability/confidence levels and in the game provide bibs for any pupil that may not wish to be tackled directly (a touch can be used). Contact versions of the game should only be managed by suitably experienced and qualified staff (inc. concussion training).
Teacher tip

Equipment

30+ cones, balls (1 between 3), 12 tackle bags, 6 sets of 7 bibs

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - physical activity

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
What is a dummy pass?

a switch pass
Correct answer: a pretend pass
a pop pass

Q2.
How can you support the ball carrier?

Correct answer: run with them
shout at them
tackle them

Q3.
When a player passes and then receives the ball on the other side of the ball handler, what is it called?

Correct answer: a loop
a switch
a dummy switch

Q4.
4. If a high tackle occurs, what happens next?

advantage
Correct answer: penalty
conversion

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
Why is it useful to duck and clean?

Correct answer: to remove opposition
to pass further
to get more speed

Q2.
How should you go into a tackle?

tentatively
cautiously
Correct answer: confidently

Q3.
A late tackle is when a player is tackled after they have done what?

Correct answer: released the ball
evaded the defence
caught the ball

Q4.
Which direction should you aim to force the attacker in a smother tackle?

sideways
towards you
Correct answer: backwards