If you know Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, or if you’ve heard of him, you know that he’s a pretty innovative coach.
Carroll recently released a video demonstrating a safer way to tackle – the way his coaching staff teaches it. And the football coach credits rugby to the new, safer way of tackling.
“We have found that we can practice and drill our tackling without pads or a helmet,” said Carroll, according to Pro Football Talk. “This system of tackling was recently inspired by those who play rugby around the world. Rugby players have truly taken the head out of the game and truly exemplify shoulder tackling.”
In the video Carroll references his team as “a shoulder-tackling team,” and for those who have every played or watched rugby know that’s the way ruggers tackle. Ruggers tackle with their shoulder because, unlike football players, they don’t have any pads.
If football players starting using the rugby-style tackling technique, it could limit the number of concussions and neck injuries in football.
As far as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell sees it, he wants all 32-teams to be rugby-style tackling teams.
“Coach Carroll sent me the video and I thought it was terrific,” Goodell said. “It’s a great thing for our game to have the head coach of the Super Bowl champs teaching tackling techniques that protect the head and making it available to everyone. I hope players, coaches and parents at all levels of the game take the time to watch it.”
RWU fans! Do you think this rugby-style tackling is safer and should be implemented into the game of football?
To watch Pete Carroll’s instructional video CLICK HERE!
