Tackle ( football move ) Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle . The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball , to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend . The word is used in some contact variations of football to describe the act of physically holding or wrestling a player to the ground . In others , it simply describes one or more methods of contesting for possession of the ball . It can therefore be used as both a defensive or attacking move . Name origin . In Middle Dutch , the verb " tacken " meant to grab or to handle . By the 14th century , this had come to be used for the equipment used for fishing , referring to the rod and reel , etc . , and also for that used in sailing , referring to rigging , equipment , or gear used on ships . By the 18th century , a similar use was applied to harnesses or equipment used with horses . Modern use in football comes from the earlier sport of rugby , where the word was used in the 19th century . Australian rules football . As there is no offside rule in Australian rules football , players can be tackled from any direction , and often blindsided . For this reason , the sport allows shepherding methods for teammates to be able to protect the ball carrier . The variety of different ways to contest possession in Australian rules has led to first time observers of the game regarding it as having " no rules " or as some Australians unfamiliar with the game colloquially term it " Rafferty ' s Rules " . Despite these stereotypes , however , there are actually quite strict rules governing tackling . In Australian rules football , the move commonly described as a " tackle " is similar to in rugby and involves wrapping , holding or wrestling a player who has possession of the ball to the ground . Tackling in Australian Rules is unique in that if tackled player does not dispose of the ball having had opportunity to do so ( called the holding the ball rule ) , or concedes a penalty in the tackle ( i . e . tries to throw the ball when he was only allowed to " handball " or kick it ) the tackler is rewarded with a " free kick " . This is only paid if the player tackling does not either deliberately or unintentionally hold the ball to their opponents body . A tackle must make contact below the shoulders and above the knees , and a player is able to be thrown to the ground , so long as the tackle is not reckless . There are also rules outlawing pushing in the back making tackling more difficult . Players wear little to no padding to cushion the impact of tackles , however mouthguards are essential for keeping teeth . As there is no offside rule in Australian rules , tackling is more often when chasing a player down rather than frequent on head on contact . Types of tackles in Australian rules . There are many types of tackles in Australian rules football : Other tackling methods . Although the term " tackle " is used in Australian Rules to exclusively describe wrapping , holding or wrestling a player in possession , there are also several other ways of contesting possession in Australian rules that other sports would describe as a " tackle " and that also involve a degree of contact . Other defensive actions are generally categorised as " one percenters " . Colliding with other players whilst trying to catch or mark the ball is part of the game , however tackling a player jumping in the air to catch a ball is strictly not allowed . Bumping a player who is jumping to catch the ball is not allowed unless the player is deemed to have intentions to contest for possession or have " eyes for the ball " . The defensive tactic of punching away ( commonly known as spoiling ) from a player is allowed . " Smothering " , which involves using the arms or body to get in the way of an opponent ' s kick as it leaves their boot , and is similar to a " charge down " in rugby football . Gaelic football . Gaelic football defines tackling as wresting the ball from an opponent ' s hands . Bumping is allowed on the player with the ball , but a player cannot be grabbed . American and Canadian football . In American football and Canadian football , to tackle is to physically interfere with the forward progress of a player in possession of the ball , such that his forward progress ceases and is not resumed , or such that he is caused to touch some part of his body to the ground other than his feet or hands , or such that he is forced to go out of bounds . In any such case , the ball becomes dead , the down is over , and play ceases until the beginning of the next play . A tackle is known as a quarterback sack when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage while attempting to throw a pass . A tackle for loss indicates a tackle that causes a loss of yardage for the opposing running back or wide receiver . When a player who does not have the ball is taken down it is generally referred to as a block . Tacklers are not required to wrap their arms around the ball carrier before bringing him to the ground ; in fact , the ball carrier is often " tackled " by the defender taking a running start and hitting the ball carrier to knock them to the ground . Tackles can also be made by grabbing the ball carrier ' s jersey and pulling him to the ground . As mentioned above , the referee can declare that a play is dead if the ballcarrier ' s forward progress has been stopped , even if no actual " tackle " has occurred . There are some restrictions on tackles and blocks . At no time may a defensive player tackle an offensive player by grabbing the facemask of a football helmet ; doing so incurs a 15 - yard penalty and the victimized team is awarded a new set of downs . Although spear tackles are allowed in gridiron football , a player may not use his helmet to tackle an opponent as the technique can cause serious injury to both players ( more often the tackler , due to the force of reaction on the tackler , which is apt to be beyond the limit that the neck can handle ) and also warrants a 15 - yard penalty as well as a fresh set of downs if committed by the defending team ; this is known as " spearing the player . " A similar penalty is assessed to any player attempting to make contact with his helmet against another opponent ' s helmet , which is known as a helmet - to - helmet collision . Grabbing a ball carrier by the pads behind his neck and pulling him down is known as a " horse collar , " a method which has been made illegal at all levels of American football . It is also illegal to tackle a player who has thrown a forward pass ( generally a quarterback ) after he has released the ball ; doing so is called " roughing the passer " and incurs a 15 - yard penalty and a fresh set of downs for the team with the ball . However , in the NFL a player can continue forward for one step , which means that often a player who is committed to attacking the quarterback will still make a tackle . Place kickers and punters are afforded an even greater protection from being tackled . Once the play is ruled complete no contact is permitted ; a player who makes contact with an opponent after the play is charged with " unnecessary roughness " and his team is assessed a 15 - yard penalty . Blocks that occur in the back of the legs and below the knees , initiated below the waist , or clotheslines are also generally prohibited and players who use them are subject to much more severe penalties than other illegal tackles . However a player who plays on the line " can " block below the knees ( cut block ) as long the block is within five yards of the line and the player they block is in front of them and not engaged by another blocker ( chop block ) . Tackle is also the name of player positions of interior linemen on both the offensive and defensive teams . Usually there is a left and right tackle on each team , though sometimes on defense there is only a single " nose tackle . " International rules football . International rules football is a hybrid game between Australian rules football and Gaelic football . Tackling in International Rules is subject to similar rules as Australian rules football , but with some subtle differences . Tackling is only allowed as low as the waist , whereas it is allowed down to the knees in Aussie Rules . One handed tackling has been banned in IR since the 2008 International Rules Series . Rugby football . Rugby league . In rugby league the ball - carrier only may be tackled by any number of defenders from any direction . The initial contact in the tackle must be made below the ball carrier ' s neck or it will be deemed a high tackle and penalised . A tackle in rugby league is completed when any of the following occurs : Once the tackle is completed the ball - carrier must be allowed to get to his feet to ' play - the - ball ' . Spear tackle s are illegal in rugby league , with most tackles in which the defender is lifted ' above the horizontal ' bringing about penalties in the modern game . A 2012 New Zealand study found that over 659 tackles are made per game in professional rugby league . Of all the rugby league positions , second - row forward averages the most tackles . Rugby union . In rugby union , a player must be brought to ground for a tackle to be completed . The tackled player must release the ball , but the ball is not dead and a " ruck " forms to contest possession of it . If the ball carrier is not brought to the ground a " maul " will usually form . Association football . In association football , a player " tackles " an opponent by taking control of the ball from them . This is achieved by using either leg to wrest possession from the opponent , or sliding in on the grass to knock the ball away . The target of the tackle must always be the ball , otherwise it may be deemed as illegal by the referee , especially if the player makes contact with his opponent before the ball , or makes unfair contact with the player after playing the ball . If the tackle comes from the front or the side and succeeds in touching the ball first a player may still be penalised if the tackle endangers an opponent . Tackling with both legs is illegal . Although tackles from behind were formerly illegal , tackles can now be legally made from any direction , so long as contact with the ball is made and the tackle is not excessively dangerous . This explicitly includes " scissoring " ( tackling with legs apart , so as to trap the opponent ' s leg or legs in between ) , which is likely to be punished with a straight ejection ( red card ) , as it poses a high risk of severe knee injury to the player being tackled . If a tackle is deemed legal , then play continues . Tackling with studs up is considered dangerous , although it is not always punished . Other uses . Other non - football games that feature tackling or similar concepts include British bulldogs and hurling , while hockey and shinty feature similar bumping or shoulder barging moves .