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Validating Tackle Mechanics in American Football: Improving Safety and Performance

  • Concussion Biomechanics in Football
  • Published:
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Abstract

Research has helped to understand the risks of injuries of tackling in American football and rugby; however, approaches to teaching and analysis are not well-documented. Shoulder-led tackling has been proposed as a safer approach to tackling even though data on the effectiveness for safety and defensive performance is limited. Additionally, some have argued that safety and effectiveness are incompatible. The purpose of the study was to validate a specific sequence of tackling actions as a tool for teaching safer and more effective tackling skills. Results suggested tackle scores help predict presence of head contact, and that higher tackle scores were associated with reductions in Yards After Contact (YAC). Eight hundred and thirty-two (832) American high school football tackles were rated using a 12-element rating system. Estimated Structural Equation Modeling (ESEM) was employed to identify the factor structure of the elements with three factors identified: Track, Engage, and Finish. ANOVA, along with logistic and linear equation models were run to determine relationships between tackle scores and outcomes. Tackle scores predicted head-contact category (binary logistic regression accuracy = .76). Yards after contact (YAC) were significantly reduced [Finish factor: MANOVA F(3, 828) = 105.825, p < .001]. Construct and predictive validity were demonstrated and show that these tackle elements provide valid foci for teaching better tackling as well as analyzing both teaching effectiveness and performance.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Ryan Gellner, M.S. for his helpful comments on biomechanics. For assistance with graphics and images we acknowledge Michael Maerlender and Scott Lawson for their assistance and insights. Thank you to Atavus for access to their Tacklytics™ database. Photographs were used by permission of the subjects.

Conflict of interest

The first author (AM) is a consultant to Atavus but received no compensation for the preparation of this manuscript and has no other conflicts of interest. The third and fourth authors (RN, AH) were employees of Atavus at the time of manuscript preparation. The second author (CM) has no relationship with Atavus and no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, East Stadium, UNL, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA

    Arthur Maerlender

  2. People Data Clarity, LLC, Springfield, MO, USA

    Caitlin J. Masterson

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Central Arkansas, Conway, USA

    Caitlin J. Masterson

  4. Atavus Football Performance Company, Seattle, WA, USA

    Rex Norris & Adam Hinthorne

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  1. Arthur Maerlender
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  2. Caitlin J. Masterson
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Correspondence to Arthur Maerlender.

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Associate Editor Stefan M Duma oversaw the review of this article.

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Maerlender, A., Masterson, C.J., Norris, R. et al. Validating Tackle Mechanics in American Football: Improving Safety and Performance. Ann Biomed Eng 48, 2691–2700 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-020-02625-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-020-02625-7

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