Tackling Technique: Poke and Block
In pairs, the attacker dribbles at walking pace and the defender practises two tackles: the poke tackle when the ball is far from the attacker's foot, and the block tackle in front.
- Age
- U11–Senior
- Players
- 4–16
- Duration
- 12 min
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Area
- 10 × 10 m
- Type
- Technical
- Approach
- Intermediate
- Format
- Circuit
- Objectives
- Technical: 1v1 defending
- Concepts worked on
- Technical:TacklingInterception
- Tactical:Delaying
- Physical:Balance
Training diagram
Legend
- Attacker
- Defender
- Run without ball
- Dribble
- Ball
- Cone
Defenders who never learn to tackle either dive in or never win the ball. This drill isolates the timing: wait side-on, and tackle when the attacker's touch takes the ball away from their foot. The low speed keeps it safe and makes the technique clear before it is used in 1v1 games.
Objective
Choose the moment and the type of tackle: poke when the touch is long, block when the ball is in front.
Organisation
- Channels of 10 × 10 m, one pair per channel with one ball.
How it works
- Round 1: attacker dribbles slowly with longer touches; defender pokes the ball away with the front foot when it is out of the attacker's control.
- Round 2: attacker dribbles straight at the defender; defender makes a block tackle with the inside of the foot, body behind it.
- 5 repetitions each, then swap; finish with 30-second live 1v1s.
Coaching points
- Approach, slow down and get side-on before tackling.
- Poke: front foot, toe on the ball, quick and back to balance.
- Block: weight forward, ankle locked, inside of the foot through the middle of the ball.
- Never leave the ground.
Progressions
- Attacker increases speed.
- Defender must tackle and keep the ball (win, not just clear).
Regressions
- Attacker walks; demonstrate each tackle first.
Variations
- Shoulder-to-shoulder tackle in a race for a ball rolled by the coach.
Key principles
- Patience, then commit with balance.
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