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I played rugby all through school in Scotland. Starting at eight years old they had us spend months on tackling drills, and a lot of it was how not to hurt your
by alex_stoddard 16y ago
I played rugby all through school in Scotland. Starting at eight years old they had us spend months on tackling drills, and a lot of it was how not to hurt yourself in making a tackle. I wince just about every time I see an American football hit now I live in the U.S., just from the risk the tackler is taking with their body.
However there are other significant differences between (union) rugby and American football which make removing protection dubious. There is no blocking in rugby so only the ball carrier faces being hit and is almost always aware the hit is coming. Also a man on the ground must release hold of the ball so there is no need to go all out to force a fumble.
- dagw 16y agoThe other huge difference is that tackles in rugby are mostly from behind with both players moving, meaning there is less in the way of an actual collision. American football has a lot more tackles involving two players running into each other head on or the tackling player running into a stationary player.
- andrew1 16y agoI can't believe that's true; tackles from behind can only really occur when a player has broken the game line, which happens far less often than a player running into defenders on the game line.
- mootothemax 16y agoThe other huge difference is that tackles in rugby are mostly from behind with both players moving That's simply not true. When you're taught to tackle, it's always from the point of view of someone running in to you. In fact, I remember "classic"-style tackling from behind being actively discouraged, as no-one wants a mouth full of fast-kicking studs.