Game version
Shadow-form game: practice the footwork and body position on a partner’s walking line with no contact at all. Swap, and share one thing you liked.
Controlled Partner Tackle
Tackle a partner at walking pace, then jogging pace, using every safe tackle stage.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
Only with a coach and a partner of similar size.
Core: Jogs. Beat your own run of balanced stances.
- Ages
- 14 and up
- Time
- 15 min
- Players
- You and a partner
- Space
- Yard or field
- Bring
- Mats, partner, coach
- Level · skill
- Advanced · Safe Tackling
The steps
How it works
- Only with a coach and a partner of similar size.
- The carrier walks a straight line; you track them and close in.
- Bend at the hips, head to the side, cheek to the hip, ring of steel, and drive.
- Do 6 each side at walking pace; your coach says when to try a jog.
Coaching point
Track, close, cheek, wrap, finish.
Safety: Only with a coach, and not before age 14 (or later, as your club's union allows): kneeling tackles first, then tackles on your feet. Partner within one age year and of similar size, at walking pace before jogging. Head up and to the side, cheek to cheek with the hip, never head first. Tackle at the waist or below. No swing tackles, lifting or throws. Any head knock or symptom (headache, dizziness, neck pain): stop, tell the coach, and no more rugby until a doctor clears you, at least 21 days for children.
Make it fun
Play it, don't drill it
Challenge
Pick a level: Less (partner walks), Core (jogs), More (changes direction). Beat your own run of balanced stances.
Story
You are a shadow that stays right in front of its owner.
My best
Beat your own count
Beat your own run of balanced stances. Only your own number counts: today against last time.
Practice makes progress
Print it now, or save it free
Free for families and teams
Save this drill to your child or team, free
Sign up and the free rugby week for this age opens in your child's planner, kept to healthy limits. A coach can send this drill to the whole team as homework, and parents see every session logged.
14 days free for a family, no card · Running a team is always free
Does your child's coach know about this?
An email from you to the coach, with the words ready. Nothing is tracked and nobody is rewarded.