Tackle and Turnover

Winning the ball cleanly and going the other way fast — near-hand tackling, the dispossess, and the instant break that punishes it.

Gaelic football
U14
60 min
16–24 players
2 coaches
Effort 4/5
half pitch
u14
tackling
turnover
transition
defending

The PitchPlans coaching teamGAA Award 1 & 2 coaches

Kit: 30 cones, 8 balls, 20 bibs (2 colours)

Warm-up8 min

Tag the Carrier

Setup: A 30×30m square, half the group with a ball, half chasing, all jogging.

How it works: Carriers solo and protect the ball; chasers try to get two hands on the carrier's shoulders, a tag, no grabbing the ball yet. Swap roles on the whistle. In the last minute, chasers may attempt a legal near-hand flick at the ball as they catch up. It raises the heart rate and rehearses closing down and getting into a tackle position without fouling.

What to say

“Close the gap fast, then settle your feet before you tackle.”
“Approach from the side, not straight behind — get goal-side of the ball.”
“Hands ready, body low, no pulling or dragging.”

Easier

Tag only, no ball flicks; bigger square.

Harder

Carriers get a two-second head start; add a second ball.

Activity14 min

Near-Hand Channels

Setup: Channels 15×8m, an attacker with a ball at one end, a defender in the middle, three or four per channel.

How it works: The attacker carries to the far line; the defender jockeys then makes a near-hand tackle — flat hand, knock the ball loose, no slapping the arm. A clean dispossession is two points, holding the attacker up over five seconds is one, the attacker crossing is their point. Roles swap each go, and if the defender knocks it loose they must gather it to complete the turnover. Two minutes, then rotate channels.

What to say

“Jockey first, tackle second — take it as they slow or reach.”
“Near hand to the ball, flat and firm, tackle the ball not the arm.”
“Knock it loose, then win the loose ball — the tackle is not done until you have it.”

Easier

Wider channel; shepherd only, no tackle, for the first round.

Harder

STEPR: narrow to 5m; the defender must complete the turnover within four seconds.

Activity13 min

Turnover to Target

Setup: A 30×20m grid, 3v3 in bibs, a target gate on each end line, one ball.

How it works: A possession game — three passes strung together is a point — but the real score is the turnover: win the ball with a clean tackle and carry it through the opposite target gate inside five seconds for a double point. It links the tackle to an immediate, purposeful break rather than a slow reset. Reset on a score or a ball out. Rotate teams.

What to say

“The instant you win it, look up and go — first thought forward.”
“Nearest player pressures, the others cut the escape passes.”
“Support the tackler — be the option for the quick break.”

Easier

A four-second grace; single points, no double.

Harder

STEPR: the tackler must be the one to finish through the gate.

The rest of this session is free — along with 3 more this week.

PitchPlans coaching team

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