Standing Tackle

Intermediatedefending

Approach quickly, then slow down, side-on, low.

Time it right, get your body low, plant your standing foot, and block through the ball with a firm foot.

Key points

•Close down the space first
•Plant your standing foot firmly
•Block through the ball, not the player
•Stay on your feet after the tackle

Practice with Coach Diego

Camera setup tips

· Place the camera side-on to you, 2 to 3 metres away.
· Keep your whole body in frame, head to feet.
· Phone on a tripod or a laptop webcam both work.
· Perform the movement, pause, repeat. Your coach speaks every 15 seconds.

Theory & Technique

The standing tackle is the cleanest and safest way to win the ball. First, close down the attacker until you're within tackling range — about one stride away. Plant your non-tackling foot firmly beside you with the knee bent for stability. Your tackling foot goes through the ball with the inside of the foot, ankle locked and firm. The key is timing: tackle when the attacker pushes the ball too far ahead or takes a heavy touch. Keep your body low and your weight slightly forward so you drive through the ball, not into the player. The best outcome is staying on your feet with the ball.

Fun Fact

N'Golo Kanté made more tackles per game (4.2) during Leicester's 2015-16 title-winning season than any other player in Premier League history. He covered so much ground that a popular joke said '70% of the earth is covered by water, the rest by Kanté.'

Watch the real thing

Learn from real coaches first. Your live scoring compares you to the reference figure above; these videos are for learning, and stay with their creators on YouTube.