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Lesson 4 of 6
  • Year 10
  • OCR

Tackling and defensive line speed

I can come up as a defensive line with my team and take down the opposition using a successful tackle.

Lesson 4 of 6
New
New
  • Year 10
  • OCR

Tackling and defensive line speed

I can come up as a defensive line with my team and take down the opposition using a successful tackle.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Move: tackling is performed with a low body position, arms wrapped to secure the ball carrier until they hit the ground.
  2. Move: side shuffling whilst getting back onside quickly allows defenders to keep an eye on the ball.
  3. Think: staying as a flat defensive line will leave no gaps for attackers to run through.
  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

  • Defensive line - the formation of defending players spread across the field to prevent the attacking team from advancing and scoring

  • High tackle - a tackle that is above the shoulders and is very dangerous and illegal, so a penalty would be awarded

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

Common misconception

Running up quickly to tackle the ball carrier is always the best thing to do.

Moving up quickly to tackle the ball carrier is only the right thing to do if the rest of your defensive line is with you, as you can leave gaps which makes it easy for the ball carrier to stop you and break up the pitch to score a try.


To help you plan your year 10 physical education lesson on: Tackling and defensive line speed, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

It may be beneficial to pair pupils up 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 2), tackle bags (1 between 2) and 6 sets of 7 bibs.

Content guidance

  • Additional qualification required
  • 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?

switch pass
Correct answer: pretend pass
pop pass

Q2.
How can you support the ball carrier?

Correct answer: run with them
shout at them
tackle them

Q3.
What is it called when a player has already passed the ball but is tackled?

Correct answer: late tackle
high tackle
offside

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

advantage
Correct answer: penalty
conversion

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
Where should you aim to tackle the ball carrier?

shoulders
Correct answer: lower legs
hips

Q2.
What is a high tackle?

Correct Answer: tackle above shoulders

Q3.
How is it best to move as defenders?

quickly by yourself
still
Correct answer: as a line

Q4.
A defensive team has made a tackle, the attackers get up and play the ball but all the defence stay where they are. Which rule does this break?

Correct Answer: offside rule, the offside rule, offside