Handling a tackle?

Question
Hey!

What is the best way to go down if tackled? I just joined a team and because I'm a smaller player, I'm worried I won't fall correctly and get injured. What's the best way to fall and best position to lay down until I'm free to get up?

Answer
John,

Rugby is a possession sport, so it always the goal to maintain possession of the ball and advance.  Of course, the opposition is trying its best to prevent that by tackling you and causing the ball to be taken from you.

Securing the ball is very important.  Even before actually hitting the ground, consider the following:

1.  The further the ball is away from the body, the greater the likelihood of you losing it

-Often the ball is lost when the ball carrier is swung around by the tackler and the ball leaves his hands.

-to counter that, bring the ball in closer to your body

2.  The fewer hands on the ball, the greater the likelihood of you losing it

-Often the ball is lost when the ball carrier uses a hand to break his fall and only has a weak single handed grip on the ball.  Both the impact on the ground and the weakness of the grip will cause the ball to pop loose.

-to counter that, keep two hands on the ball.  


Now you need to go to ground in a safe manner.  

The technique for going to ground in a tackle is:

-do not put hand out to break the fall.  
-roll along the arm, shoulder, and side where the upper body will make contact first.  
-do not make contact with the shoulder point (region of the Deltoid muscles) but with the shoulder blade (scapula).  
-as the lower part of the body makes contact with the ground, roll along the outside of the leg, to the hip, and to the torso.

My preferred method of holding the ball when going to ground is:

-hold the ball parallel to your spine (up and down)
-hold the ball at the chest so the tip is in line with your armpit.
-hold the top of the ball with your 損rotecting?hand with the forearm pressing against the front of the ball down the length of the ball.  Your elbow should be near the bottom tip of the ball.
-with the securing hand  grab the base of the ball and press upward.
-you should now have the ball being pressed into your chest with forearm and being squeezed between both hands.
-use in conjunction with the going to ground technique described above.

I have found that holding the ball like this allows me to secure the ball, but have it available for a strip from a teammate as long as I am on my feet,  or easier to post under control when I hit the ground.

Deane Shephard
Stuttgart RC