It seems counterintuitive: removing helmets to help build a safer game. But that’s exactly what New York Giants safeties coach Dave Merritt is trying to do to help players focus on fundamentals and remove their heads from the tackling equation.

According to a report on NJ.com, Merritt recently had his safeties take off their helmets during a bags drill. He received inspiration for the modified drill from a different 11-player sport: rugby.

“I started philosophizing about rugby players and how they tackle and how they keep their head out of it,” said Merritt, himself a former NFL player. “That's one of the things I'm going to start implementing, when we hit the big bag, no helmets on and teach them to get their head out of the way."

This style of tackling is the foundation of USA Football’s Shoulder Tackling system, which can be learned through a free online course at USAFootball.com and make up the tackling instruction in USA Football’s Heads Up Football.

Rugby-style tackling teaching systems went by a wide variety of names but share many principles. This led to USA Football and the  Seattle Seahawks coming together with USA Rugby, the AFCA and the NFL to create a system that applies to all levels of football, from youth to professional.

“This is where the game is going, and we want to make sure we're working as best we can to solidify this game for the future,” Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said.

The groups created a consensus on how tackling should be taught and understood across all levels of football.

"We've all come together to ensure that there's going to be consistent technique and terminology through the shoulder tackling system,” said Scott Hallenbeck, USA Football CEO and executive director. “It’s important we also recognize the feedback we’ve received from high school coaches in our continued effort to listen, learn and apply new ways to help coaches.”

As shoulder tackling continues to spread in the youth and high school ranks, its popularity is also on the rise in the NFL, as coaches like Merritt continue to see its merit.

"That comes back to me and my teaching," Merritt said. "You just stop and think about teaching the kid how to move his head from making contact face-first to just slightly taking it to the side. You have to teach him, you have to put them through those drills.”

Learn more about the USA Football Shoulder Tackling course in the video below: