At-Risk Tackling Techniques and Effectiveness in NCAA Division I Collegiate Football

Abstract

Background: Head-down tackling has been associated with injuries to the brachial plexus, cervical spine, and head in high school and collegiate American football. Head-down tackling has also been associated with decreased effectiveness in successful tackles compared with head-up tackling. Purpose: To assess tackling techniques used during National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I football games and to evaluate the successful tackling rates according to technique. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Three reviewers analyzed 1000 consecutive solo defensive tackling attempts made in the 2021 season (October to December) by 8 universities within the NCAA Southeastern Conference. Slow-motion replays were used to analyze the success of the tackling attempt, the tackling method, and the initial point of contact with respect to the offensive player’s waist. The chi-square or Fisher exact test was used to analyze categorical data, and the 2-tailed Student t-test or the Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze continuous data. Results: Head-up and head-down tackling occurred in 902 (90.2%) and 98 (9.8%) tackle attempts, respectively. Head-up tackles were successful in 76.2% of the attempts compared with 55.1% for head-down tackles ( P < .001). Tackles were made at or above the offensive player’s waist in 777 (77.7%) attempts and below the waist in 223 (22.3%) attempts. Tackles at or above the waist were successful in 77.6% of the attempts compared with 61.9% of tackles below the waist ( P < .001). The inside-shoulder method was used in 592 (59.2%) tackles, the arm method in 317 (31.7%), the head-across-the-bow method in 72 (7.2%), and the helmet-to-helmet method in 19 (1.9%). Inside-shoulder tackles had the highest success rate of 93.2%, compared with 41.6% for arm ( P < .001), 59.7% for head-across-the-bow ( P < .001), and 73.7% for helmet-to-helmet ( P = .001) tackles. Inside-shoulder tackles resulted in head-up tackling in 92.9% compared with 41.7% for head-across-the-bow ( P < .001) and 57.9% for helmet-to-helmet ( P < .001) tackles. There were no recorded injuries to the tackler. Conclusion: Head-up tackles, tackles made at or above the offensive player’s waist, and inside-shoulder tackles had the highest success rates. Head-down tackling and tackling below the waist were associated with poor tackling methods, including head-across-the-bow and helmet-to-helmet tackles, which had lower success rates.

At-Risk Tackling Techniques and Effectiveness in English Premiership Rugby

“…The results of this study indicated that head-up tackles were successful in 80.7% of the tackle attempts in contrast to head-down tackles, which were successful in 71.1% of tackle attempts ( P = .0072). This was similar to findings from prior studies in American football by Stockwell et al 10 and our author group 6 indicating that head-up tackles are associated with higher success rates than head-down tackles. Moreover, in the current study, tackles made at or above the waist were successful in 80.7% of the tackle attempts compared with 73.1% of tackles below the waist ( P = .0193).…”

“…Moreover, in the current study, tackles made at or above the waist were successful in 80.7% of the tackle attempts compared with 73.1% of tackles below the waist ( P = .0193). Similarly, in our previous study on American football, 6 tackles made at or above the waist were successful in 81.2% of the tackle attempts compared with 67.2% of tackles below the waist ( P < .001). Our current analysis also found that, as with previous findings, 6 executing a head-up technique will naturally raise the point of contact with the ball carrier to deliver a tackle at or above the level of the waist.…”

“…Similarly, in our previous study on American football, 6 tackles made at or above the waist were successful in 81.2% of the tackle attempts compared with 67.2% of tackles below the waist ( P < .001). Our current analysis also found that, as with previous findings, 6 executing a head-up technique will naturally raise the point of contact with the ball carrier to deliver a tackle at or above the level of the waist. This demonstrates that there is a strong resemblance in successful tackling methods between American football and rugby.…”

“…Other tackling variables of interest included head position relative to the offensive player’s waist at point of contact (at or above the waist or below the waist) during the tackling attempt, as well as tackling method: head-across-the-bow of the ball carrier ( Figure 1A ); head-to-head, inside-shoulder ( Figure 1B ); or arm ( Figure 1C ) tackle. A modified version of a previously described method for analyzing American football tackles by our author group 6 was used for tackle analysis ( Appendix Table A1 ). 15 Any injuries associated with the tackle were also obtained.…”

“… 10 In contrast, safer tackling techniques (eg, tackling with the head up and making contact with the inside shoulder) have demonstrated higher rates of tackle success in American football. 6 …”