HOW DID YOUR TACKLING IMPACT THE OUTCOME OF THE GAME?
TACKLING. ELEVATED.
We show you what happened, why it happened, and what to change, then prove how it improved. Trusted by 55,000+ coaches at all levels.
Built for every level of the game
One tackle system. Three ways in.
For football programs
Tackle Consulting
Objective tackle analysis for head coaches and defensive staffs. Every tackle on your film graded against one standard, with week-over-week tracking.
- Game-film grading of every tackle
- Root-cause analysis of every miss
- Team, position, and player fixes
For coaches
Online Tackling Certification
Teach the Near Foot, Near Shoulder system used by NFL and FBS programs. Drill library, tackle plans, and training courses for your staff.
- Coach certification courses
- Extensive drill library
- Ready-to-run tackle plans
From $35/year
Get certified →
For associations & leagues
The Tackling Standard
One tackling standard for every coach in your association, with compliance reporting that shows who is trained and where.
- A single standard statewide
- Compliance reporting
- Partnership with Atavus
TRUSTED BY THE BEST
You know how many tackles you missed.
Do you know what they cost you?
Almost every staff counts missed tackles. Very few can explain why they happened or what they cost in yards, field position, and points. That gas is what we close.
THE OLD QUESTION
How did we tackle?
THE RIGHT QUESTION
How did our tackling change the game?
The Tackle Performance Assessment
What happened. Why. What to change this week.
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01
How did we tackle?
Our analysts grade every tackle on your game film against one consistent standard, rolling it up into Overall, Performance, and Safety ratings.
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02
Why did we miss?
Every miss is traced to its root cause — Leverage, Strike Timing, Near Shoulder, Pad Level — by team, position group, and player.
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03
What do we coach this week?
You get specific fixes your staff can install in practice right away, then we track improvement week over week.
Performance Diagnosis
Tackle ratings
Key performance indicators
Primary performance issue
Defenders rise out of their stance before contact, arriving high and late instead of driving through the frame. Root cause behind explosive plays and YAC.
Rising out of pad level before contact — 38% of all strike issues.
Arriving high on contact instead of driving through the frame.
Angles strong overall (89% made); occasional over-pursuit in space.
Quickest improvement opportunity
Pad-level correction with film-based leverage cues in practice for the next two weeks. Measure pad-level issues per game.
DL/LB strike mechanics — together 58% of strike issues — through a targeted pad-level and strike drill program.
Position-specific completion mechanics toward the 65%+ effectiveness goal by Week 10.
Sample data for illustrative purposes only. Not real client program data.
See exactly what your staff would receive — built on sample program data.
The Atavus Tackle System
The tackle starts before contact.
Near Shoulder, Near Foot. Atavus teaches the tackle as a two-step process — Pre-Contact and Contact — so players arrive in position to finish safely and consistently. Tap the markers to break down the rep.
Near Shoulder
The near shoulder strikes the near hip of the ball carrier, with the head placed behind the ball and out of the contact zone.
BUILT FOR YOUR LEVEL
Proof and plans for programs like yours
FBS
FCS
D2/D3/NAIA/JC
HIGH SCHOOL
Proof and plans for programs like yours
Programs tying tackling to results.
Tulane University
Mid-season partnership: one week to implement, weekly film review and insights, custom tackle plans.
Get the case study
Berry College
Season-long tackle consulting partnership starting in August, with weekly film review and custom tackle plans.
Get the case study
Highland Park
Mid-season partnership with weekly film review, insights, and custom tackle plans for the defensive staff.
Get the case study
New partner: Memphis Football adds Atavus to advance tackling development and player evaluation.
Read the announcement →
TRUSTED BY COACHES, PLAYERS, AND ORGANIZATIONs WORLD WIDE
55,000+
COACHES
Using the Atavus Tackle System and seeing instant improvement in safety and performance
100,000+
TACKLES ANALYZED
Data-Driven system that proves the Atavus Technique delivers results
50
U.S. STATES
Coaches and associations in every state are using the Atavus Tackle System
17+
COUNTRIES
Coaches and international organizations are adopting the Atavus Tackle System
FOR COACHES - TACKLING CERTIFICATION
COACHING THE TECHNIQUE YOURSELF?
TEACH THE TACKLE THAT CHANGES THE OUTCOME OF THE GAME
The same Near Foot, Near Shoulder tackle system used by NFL & FBS programs proven to work.
Built for high school coaches with an extensive drill library, tackle plans, & training courses.
The Tackling Standard for State Associations & LEagues
FIND YOUR ASSOCIATION
DON’T SEE YOUR ASSOCIATION?
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"Tackling is arguably the most fundamental element of defensive football, so finding ways to accurately teach and assess tackling (and corresponding efficiency) is vital to becoming an elite-level defense. We feel that partnering with Atavus provides us an edge in building a technically sound tackling team by providing concrete data points and real-time feedback"
Brad White | Defensive Coordinator | University of Florida
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"Atavus is working hard to develop ways that allow coaches to teach their players the appropriate way to tackle. At all levels, players and coaches need to be educated on the proper ways to tackle, and the dangers of improper tackling."
Bobby Wagner | Linebacker | NFL
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"Atavus has played a huge role in improving our defense over the past two seasons... Atavus helped to take our tackling efficiency and safety to new levels and helped us to win the 2023 WIsconsin Division 1 State Championship.
Keith Klestinski | Former Head Coach | Marquette University High School (WI)
Founded in 2011, Atavus built a tackle system that was designed to build confidence in athletes, empower coaches, and develop a safer and more effective way to tackle. Since then, we have analyzed over 100,000 tackles and helped over 55,000 coaches at all levels of the game across the world elevate their tackling performance and safety.
Our system’s foundation is predicated on Near Shoulder, Near Foot technique in order to dominate contact and increase player safety. We believe tackling is a two-step process, and the tackle starts before contact is made. We focus on both Pre-Contact and Contact elements of the tackle.
But the Atavus Tackle System is more than just a technique. It is truly a system that not only teaches coaches proper technique, but gives them the tools and resources to implement the technique and analyze player performance to drive real results.
Learn more about our story, mission, and how we continue to help coaches take their programs to the next level.
TACKLING. ELEVATED.
CUSTOMER SUPPORT
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