Why tackling confidently starts long before contact

When a young player hesitates before a tackle, it’s easy to assume they’re scared. But more often than not, it’s not fear that’s holding them back. It’s uncertainty.

That moment of hesitation usually comes from a lack of trust in their movement, head or body position. They’re unsure how to get into the right shape, when to move, or how to stay balanced under pressure. Once those foundations are in place, everything changes.

The tackle becomes something they attack, not something they endure.

Confidence is built through movement

Before a player can make an effective tackle, they need to feel confident moving into contact. That means understanding how to stay balanced, how to control their footwork, and position their body to manage impact safely and effectively.

At The RT Academy, we see this in players at every level. When their movement is efficient, their tackling confidence grows naturally. They no longer hesitate. They trust their technique, stay composed, and commit fully.

Preparation beats power

Tackling confidently has little to do with size or strength. It is about timing, control, and consistency. A player who knows how to approach the tackle, how to move, set their feet, and strike safely, will always have the advantage.

That confidence does not appear overnight. It is built through short, structured sessions that prioritise movement quality over collisions. With repetition and clear coaching, players learn to move with intent and precision every time they step up to make a tackle.

Turning hesitation into control

We have worked with hundreds of players who have gone from hesitating before contact to thriving in it. The difference is structure.

When players follow a clear plan that builds their body position, reaction time, and decision-making, they develop the muscle memory needed to move instinctively. Suddenly, contact feels less chaotic and more controlled.

Building that confidence

That is exactly why we created The Tackle Guide, a structured resource designed to help players develop the movement, timing, and body control needed to tackle with confidence.

Each short drill focuses on one key part of the process, helping players build strong habits that transfer directly to game situations. The result is more controlled movement, safer contact, and growing belief every week.

👉 Explore The Tackle Guide

Short sessions. Stronger contact. Growing belief.

That is how confidence is built.