Rogers Youth Football Association  

Tackle Techniques - Tackling and Blocking

Rogers Youth Football teaches the Heads Up Football tackling and blocking technique, which was developed by USA Football and has become the new standard for player safety and proper technique.

Starting as three pilot programs in 2012, Heads Up Football is now used by more than 7,000 youth and high school programs. Rogers Youth Football has adopted this approach to make the game safer for our players by deliberating taking the head out of the contact. Simply put: we want our players to be safer, no matter the competition level.

We teach proper technique using shoulders (tackling) and hands (blocking) as the key contact points, supported by proper football work and balance.

You'll find more information and links to informative videos below.

Intro to Heads Up Tackling

USA Football’s Heads Up Tackling® is a step-by-step protocol to teach the core principles of the skill and sets a new standard in player safety. The program utilizes five fundamentals through a series of drills to reinforce proper tackling mechanics and teach players how to properly tackle with a focus on reducing helmet contact.

Heads up Tackling Expanded

  1. Breakdown Position
  2. Buzzing the Feet
  3. Hit Position (Squeeze)
  4. The Shoot (Swoop)
  5. The Rip (Drive arms up)

Heads UP Blocking

USA Football’s Heads Up Blocking® helps coaches teach players how to properly engage with a defender, drive with the legs and maintain the correct body position for effective and safer play.

The 5 fundamental are:

  1. Stance
  2. Get Off
  3. Strike
  4. Stick
  5. Finish
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