Real question:
Are you actually working on tackling this off-season?

No pads.
No full staff.
Limited space.
Spring sports everywhere.

So… do you? 👀

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🥋 Turn the Wrestling Room Into a Lab

If your school has a wrestling room, you’re sitting on a tackling gold mine.

• Padded floors ✅
• Padded walls ✅
• Secluded from the chaos ✅
• Sometimes even has dummies or gear ✅

You can practice fitting, striking, and finishing to the ground in a safe, controlled way. I’ve used it. I love it. If it’s available—use it.

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🛏️ Crash Mats Are Game-Changers

One of my favorite tools year-round?
Crash mats. Just a big, thick landing pad that lets players go to the ground without the usual pain and injury risk.

What can you do with it?

• Fit-and-drive drills
• Angle tackling
• Full-speed simulated reps
• Cones or shields to simulate blockers
• One-on-ones or mirrored work on each end of the mat

The only drawback?
They’re bulky. Tough to move and store. But if you’ve got space, get one.

🔍 Best dimensions:
8′ x 4′ and 8 inches thick
💡 Pro tip: Get them from wrestling, martial arts, or gymnastics stores—those hold up way better than old mattresses (seriously… skip the mattresses).

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🤼 Wrestlers Make the Best Tacklers

This is no coincidence.
Wrestlers tackle all winter long. Some do it all year.

By the time they hit the football field, leverage, balance, and aggression are second nature. Most have been doing it since they were 6 or 7.

You want to improve as a tackler?
Train like a wrestler.

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🧱 Block + Tackle = Football

Let’s not overthink it.

Ask any coach who knows ball:
Football comes down to blocking and tackling.

If you’re not working on it, you’re falling behind.
Even without pads, there’s work to be done:

• Fit drills
• Movement drills
• Reaction drills
• Controlled contact on crash mats
• And straight up mental reps watching film or talking ball

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⚠️ Know the Rules — But Find a Way

Every state and school district has different off-season rules.
Know yours.

But also know this: Players can get together and work. Small group sessions. Independent work. Accountability squads.

If you want to hit the field this fall, you’ve gotta hit the ground now.

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🎯 Why It Matters

Tackling will:

• Get you on the field
• Earn you special teams reps
• Make you valuable, even if you’re not the fastest or biggest

It’s a skill that rewards technique, reps, angles, leverage, and heart.

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🚀 Raise Your Game

Raise your IQ.
Raise your rep count.
Raise your impact.

Get to the football.

— Coach Chill 🧠🏈