rugby tackling under 9s fear

Rugby CoachCoach

you must use tag or touch rugby for u 9's, not takle.

Rugby CoachCoach

keep practising tackling every week for 5-10 mins. Some will take to it quickly, and others will take a year or more, but as long as you encourage, then they'll get there.

Richard BuntonCoach, England

u9s can tackle its u8s who shouldnt.  Get the kids focussing on tackling the shorts and no where else with correct head position (they tend to look up in the tackle not looking at what they are doing).  Play bulldog but instead of really big areas, change the shape so the kids arent moving so fast at the start.  10 metres between start and finish then as confidence grows move it to 12 then 14 etc.

Rugby CoachCoach

They find that the prospect of someone charging at full speed, head on, scares the life out of them. ( I scares me to and I've been playing for 20 years :o) Our guys are also shy of putting in big hits, so avoid that pressure too.

So, we start with simple, less dynamic drills. Start them in similar sized pairs 6inches apart and get them to just make contact with their sholder, head in correct place and  "rock" the ball carrier  a little. We do it quick repeats with a count of 1...2... IN... 1..2.. back 1...2... IN 1... 2... (add in a bit of running on the spot "fast feet" before the IN )

Then progress to wrapping arms around. Same small gap, same count.

Some variation with ball carrier facing forward, left or right to check tackler head placement.

Then make the jump to putting the opposition on the floor and making thr hit a bit bigger.

Then make the gap bigger. We sometimes start with the tackler in a squat or sprinters start stance to start them with a bit lower body position.

Then variations of ball carrier walking backwards away from the tackler.

We do it in short sessions, and progressed over several weeks. IMHO the key is to remember that they don't tend to have hard physical contact in the rest of their lives, and to a 9year old it is all a bit scarey.