How to… Slide Tackle.
These are the five steps that Roberts told me are key to slide tackling:
Positioning. You need to position yourself well, to get the most success from slide tackling an opponent because the better you position yourself, the better your slide tackle will be. Also, a better positioning will help avoid fouling the opponent. It’s most effective to come towards the opponent at an angle as he is dribbling the ball towards the goal that you’re defending.
Anticipating. If you don’t anticipate which way you opponent’s going then you will completely miss him and the ball all together. The best way to see which way he’s going is to look at the direction that his hips are facing. You also need to pay attention to which way he’s looking and dribbling.
The Slide. To slide correctly, you will need to not be afraid of a getting a few strawberries (a burn from sliding on the ground). When you slide, you will need to be on your side with your lead leg sticking straight out and your other leg bent in. You also need to make sure that your cleats aren’t facing up because if they are, then you’ll get a foul called on you. If you slide on your back, then you will more than likely not slide or touch the ball.
Hitting the Ball. Once you slide, you need to be sure to make contact with the ball before touching the other player because if you hit the other player first, then a foul will be called on you and the opposing team gets to keep the ball. There is also a chance that you could get a card if you trip them instead of stealing the ball. If you complete the slide tackle well, then you might also be able to catch your opponent off guard and they might lose their balance.
Getting Up. After succeeding in slide tackling the ball away from the other opponent, you need to get up as fast as you can before you lose the chance of getting the ball. The purpose is to get the ball and if you aren’t quick enough while getting up, then you might not get the ball. After you get up and have the ball, you’ve completed a successful slide tackle.
By: Stephen Gearhart
SHS News Bureau
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