What Counts As A Tackle In Soccer Betting?
Written by
Joe - Poker PlayerLast updated:
January 22, 2024
The soccer betting market is growing every day with a ton of new betting options offered by sportsbooks. One of the most popular peripheral soccer betting markets is prop or proposition bets. With prop bets, bettors have countless options to wager on because the outcome of the game is irrelevant. Props are essentially side wagers that have nothing to do with the outcome of the game itself. One of the most popular prop betting markets is player props. In this kind of betting, sportsbooks focus on things like shots, fouls, passes, tackles, and many other things related to how a player performs throughout a game.
In this article, we will focus on the soccer player tackle market. We will cover the different betting options available in this market, key principles to bet on player tackles, the top online sportsbooks that offer tackle betting options, and answer your common questions about tackle in soccer betting.
Quick Recap: How Does A Player Prop Bet Work?
Before we go into the details of tackle betting, let’s quickly review how a player prop bet works. Player props involve betting on a player’s performance in a given match. It can range from how many touchdowns an NFL quarterback throws in a game to how many tackles a soccer player makes during the first halftime. More often than not, the player prop betting market incorporates a total with an “Over” and “Under.”
Let’s look at an example to better understand the concept:
Arsenal’s best player, Martin Ødegaard, is set to have a total of 3.5 tackles in a match against Man City at Betonline sportsbook. As you know, every prop bet comes with specific odds. Here are the odds for Martin Ødegaard tackles:
Over 3.5: -105
Under 3.5: -115
In this case, if you think Martin will make more than 3 tackles during the game, you bet $50 on the over option. If he does, you will win $48 plus your initial stake. Meanwhile, if you think he cannot make 3 or more tackles, you bet on the under option. For instance, you bet $100, and if he makes less than 3 tackles, you win $87 plus your initial stake.
What Is A Tackle In Soccer Betting?
Although tackle has a universal definition, each sportsbook defines team and player tackle on its general soccer rules page. Some sportsbooks follow the same universal definition, while others may slightly alter it.
When a player connects with the ball in a ground challenge and successfully takes the ball away from the player in possession, it is known as a Tackle.
There are some key takeaways from the definition. First, “ground” is the key term as players can make tackles only on the ground. In other words, if a defender beats the striker in the air from a corner, it is not a tackle. Second, if the attacking player is not in complete possession of the ball, it won’t count as a tackle, either. For instance, when an attacking player is on the verge of receiving a pass but a defender steps in at the last moment to poke the ball free, this would qualify as an interception rather than a tackle. Last but not least, a player must “clearly be in possession” of the ball to be tackled. Otherwise, it will not be considered as a tackle.
Types Of Tackles In Soccer
There are different types of tackles in the sport of soccer. However, the definition provided above is the one that is used for soccer betting unless otherwise stated by the sportsbook general soccer rules. The most common tackles in soccer are Block Tackle, Side Block Tackle, Sliding Tackle, Poke tackle, Split-leg tackle, Shoulder tackle, Pull tackle, and Interposing. No matter the name or type, as long as the abovementioned conditions are met, it will be counted as a tackle.
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How To Bet On Tackles In 4 Simple Steps
Betting on soccer tackles is pretty much the same as betting on other props betting options. Typically, you will find player tackles and team tackles to wager on at the top online sportsbooks. Odds are mainly listed in the American version but you may find decimal odds format as well at some sportsbooks. Let’s place a soccer tackle bet at one of the best US online sportsbooks, Betonline, in the following four simple steps:
Step 1: Create an account and verify it
Go to Betonline.ag and click the green “Join Now” button. Fill in your name and email address. Then, head to your inbox and click on the activation link sent to you. Once you verify your account, you are good to go.
Step 2: Claim a bonus and make a deposit
Once you verify your account, you can make a deposit and start wagering on your favorite soccer player. Navigate to the cashier page, make a minimum deposit of $20 to $25, claim a 50% sportsbook welcome bonus, and navigate to the “Sports” section.
Step 3: Understand the odds and payouts
As shown in the picture, odds are listed in American format but you have the option to change it to Decimal format. Regardless of the format, the concept is the same. For example, Ud Las Palmas will play against Getafe on Dec 01, 2023. Player tackles prop bets are listed in the Betonline sportsbook, as shown in the snapshot.
Alberto Moleiro, Las Palmas 20-year-old winger, is set to have 2 to 5 tackles during the game. +170 odds for +2 tackles means that Alberto is expected to make at least 2 tackles during the game. If you bet this option, and he makes 2 or more tackles, you will win $170 for every $100 you wager. The same is true for the other betting options. The longer the odds, the bigger the payout, but the less likely the outcome to happen.
Step 4: Add more legs for bigger payouts
You can make your tackle betting even more fun and rewarding by making it a Parlay ticket. As shown in the picture, you can choose two or more players tackle odds and bet on all of them with a single stake. For example, here, we bet on Alberto Moleiro from Ud Las Palmas with +170 odds and Damián Suárez from Getafe with -164 odds. The 2-legged parlay will have +300 odds. In other words, our $10 stake will return $40( $30 payout plus $10 initial stake).
Parlay tickets have bigger payouts, so do involve higher risk. So, make sure to place player tackle parlays only if you are pretty confident in your players’ tackling skills! Single bets are way safer options for beginner tackle bettors.
Wrap-Up: Is Soccer Tackles Betting Worth It?
Soccer tackle betting can be worth it as tackles happen frequently in soccer matches, providing plenty of relevant betting moments. So, if you are among those very familiar with certain players/teams, assessing tackle odds can be much easier; hence, your winning chances will be higher. In addition, with some bookmakers, tackle betting markets tend to have better odds than more mainstream bets, which provides more value.
If you want to spice up your soccer betting routine and try tackle betting, you better be aware of the uncertainty involved. For instance, you should be aware that while tackles often occur, accurately predicting tackle totals is challenging as changes in match flow, referee strictness on fouls, formations, and red cards can alter tackle rates on short notice during soccer matches. Overall, soccer tackle betting is worth your while as long as you make sound decisions and gamble responsibly.
Tackle In Soccer Betting FAQs
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Where Can You Bet On Tackles?
While not so many online sportsbooks offer soccer tackles prop betting, top US online sportsbooks like Betonline, DraftKings, FanDuel, and Sportsbetting.ag offer this market.
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Who Are The Top Three Tacklers In The English Premier League In The 2022/23 Season?
Joao Palhinha from Fulham with 147, Moises Caicedo from Brighton with 100, and Idrissa Gueye from Everton with 97 total tackles are the top three tacklers.
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Who Leads MLS In Tackles In 2023?
Dénis Bouanga from LA Football Club with 22, Luciano Acosta from FC Cincinnati with 19, and Giorgos Giakoumakis from Atlanta United with 16 tackles are the MLS best tacklers in 2023.
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What Is The Average Number Of Tackles Per Soccer Game?
It depends on the league, team, country, and other factors. For example, the average number of tackles per game for the UK Men's National Team is 1.88.
