Description

Frank DeLano, Head Coach, Haddonfield Memorial HS, NJ

Full video on Glazier Drive: Creating Effective Tackle Circuits to be Utilized on a Weekly Basis

OVERVIEW

This presentation is focused on teaching proper tackling fundamentals, specifically designed for football coaches at all levels. The presenter walks through a progression of drills, emphasizing that the tape includes both good and bad examples — the "good, the bad, and the ugly" — so coaches can learn to identify and correct deficiencies in real time.

DRILL PROGRESSION PHILOSOPHY

The presenter stresses a building-block approach to teaching tackling, comparing it to teaching a child to walk or ride a bike. Drills begin with a support tool (a broomstick, bat, or flag pole) to reinforce proper form, then the tool is removed so the technique becomes instinctive and "thoughtless." The key coaching cues throughout are shuffle/shimmy movements, keeping feet active, finishing with hip thrust, and eyes to the sky.

KEY DRILLS COVERED

The session covers a cone drill (cones set five yards apart) focusing on shuffle footwork and executing through contact, a bag drop drill that forces players to snap into power angles and throw their hands, and a rap-and-roll drill performed on knees using bags to minimize injury risk while reinforcing finish and first/second whistle discipline.

UNIVERSAL APPLICATION

The presenter emphasizes these drills work for every player — quarterbacks, kickers, linebackers, corners — regardless of position. They also scale to any age or level, from a seven-year-old at youth camp to a veteran starter.

PRACTICE INTEGRATION

Coaches are encouraged to build tackle circuits into their weekly individual periods based on what deficiencies appear on film, rather than running the same drills every week out of habit. The presenter also cautions against overusing verbal cues like "don't jump" and advocates for positive, visual triggers to build game-day discipline.

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