Light Weight Winger

Question
Alrighty, U19 union club. 17, 6' 160lbs. Just even during practice I'm getting tossed back when it comes to playing defense during our practice drills. Any tips on taking these big guys? Hell, we have a 380lb kid on our team, it's ridiculous.

Answer
Hi Eric, don't be too hard on yourself. While defense is important a winger is rarely going to have anything more than another winger running at him. In the case of larger fellows do your best, hang on and wait for help to arrive. With bigger guys like you talk about it is a hard ask to have you take a guy like that front on. With your big 300 pounder try stepping him and allowing him to run by but quickly tackle him from behind wrapping your arms around his lower hips and slide down to envelope his leggs. With a firm wrap around his legs the big guy will go over. Worst case scenario just hang on so a team mate can come to assist. Don't over do your efforts at training the key thing is you do your best and just make sure your actual games are where you put your body on the line (so to say). Also go over my past answered questions and look for questions relevent to you. I answer a lot of questions on tackling, see the example below:

Subject:  tackling
Question:  QUESTION: Hey, I am a winger and I like to rush up at kick offs, how can I be sure that i will not miss tackle the opposition because I am always by myself when i get there?

ANSWER: Hi Addison

I have recently answered a question like this so I pasted it below, the same applies to you. In particular to wing: make sure you "shepherd" the player to the side line. If you miss the tackle there is a better chance the player will step out or get caught by a team mate in support.

"I suggest the simplest thing. When a player is moving towards you (or vice versa) do not look at their body as a whole, instead focus on the point of center between their hips. Often a coach will tell you to "eyeball" the "string of their shorts". This focus will allow your brain to only register the runner's center of gravity: the "mass" of their torso. No matter what a runner's arms, legs or head does the torso is usually stagnant.

Keep you feet active, stay on your toes either moving towards them or running in place. Close the space between you and the runner swiftly but stay in control. This is to limit the runner's options as much as possible.

Focus on the "string of their pants" and drop your center of gravity to set up the hit. Aim the shoulder to that string.

so summarize:

1. keep the feet active "live"
2. focus on the "string of their pants"
3. drive the shoulder to the "string of their pants"