The poke tackle is a quick stab with the toe of your nearest foot to knock the ball away from a dribbler, usually from their side, just after they touch it. It is a dispossession tackle: the aim is to take the ball off them, not to keep it, so you poke, stay on your feet and get back into your stride. We read the quick reach and how well you recover your balance and stay low; the toe contact on the ball isn't visible to the camera.
Set up
Get goal-side and close the gap to about an arm's length. Slow down as you arrive so you are balanced, not still running at them.
Close fast, arrive slow.
Work to the dribbler's side, or just behind their shoulder if you are chasing. The poke is a tackle from the side, not a lunge from straight in front.
Alongside, not head-on.
Stay low with your knees bent. Keep the arm nearest the dribbler down at your side.
Low, near arm down.
Keep your eyes on the ball, not their feet or hips. Wait for the moment just after they touch it, when the ball is just in front of them, or for a loose or heavy touch.
Watch the ball, wait for the touch.
Poke
Stretch the foot nearest the ball forward and stab the ball with your toe, near its centre. Let your hip drive the reach so the ball stays in front of you.
Short, sharp stab.
Poke it away from them. This is a tackle to dispossess, so you don't need to keep the ball yourself; if it runs loose, chase it or let a teammate pick it up.
Land the poking foot and get straight back into a normal running stride. Don't go to ground.
Poke, then run.
If you miss, stay in the duel. Turn and recover goal-side instead of stopping to watch.
Missed? Keep chasing.
Play it safe and fair
Play the ball, not the leg. Under Law 12 a careless tackle gives a direct free kick, a reckless one is a yellow card, and one with excessive force is a red card.
Toe on the ball, nothing else.
Keep the poke short and low. Lunging at an opponent with one or both legs in a way that endangers their safety is serious foul play, even if you get the ball.
Reach, don't lunge.
Keep your near arm down. Pulling or holding the dribbler to get to the ball is a foul.
Feel it
A good poke feels like a short stab and straight back into your stride: low, alongside the dribbler, eyes on the ball, one foot reaching while the other leg holds you up. If you end up on the floor or past the ball, you went too early or too far.
Fix-its
- You poke from straight in front and they go round you Get alongside first. Poke from the side, or from just behind their shoulder, with the foot nearest the ball.
- You poke too early, while the ball is still on their foot Wait until just after their touch, when the ball is just in front of them, or for a heavy touch.
- You overreach and end up on the ground Arrive within about an arm's length and stay low, so a short stretch reaches the ball. Then regain your running stride.
- You watch their feet or body and get fooled Keep your eyes on the ball until you poke.
- You catch their foot or shin Stab the toe at the middle of the ball, keep it low, and don't go through the player. If you can't reach the ball cleanly, keep containing.
Drill
- Side-by-side walk-through: a partner dribbles slowly in a straight line while you move alongside. Time the poke just after their touch, then regain your stride. Swap roles after several goes and use both feet.
- Channel poke (Soccer Coach Weekly): the attacker dribbles from one touchline towards the other at half pace while the defender closes from the side or behind and pokes the ball away. Swap roles after several attempts, use both feet, and build up to full pace.
- Leave It (US Youth Soccer): everyone dribbles a ball in a grid. On the coach's call, everyone leaves their ball and takes another; then remove two balls so players without one must win a ball. Use only the poke from the side.
- 1v1 battles (England Football): the defender passes to the attacker, who tries to beat them to the end line. Close to arm's length, slow down, then poke when the ball is just in front of them. Stay in the duel if they get past.
- Safety: pair players by size and ability, start at walking pace, and only add speed once the poke stays short and you stay on your feet. Stop if you feel pain.
Sources
- US Youth Soccer — Skills School Manual (2017), tackling: Poke, p. 48
- Soccer Coach Weekly — Smart Sessions core skills: Three tackles
- Coaches Insider — Alan Yost (Capital University): Defensive toe-poke drill (2022)
- FIFA Training Centre — Irene Paredes: Timing the tackle (2024)
- England Football Learning — Session programme: press and cover to defend (2025)
- IFAB — Laws of the Game, Law 12: Fouls and Misconduct (latest edition)
Last checked 2026-10-26.