this study aims to examine the application of tactical approaches in developing understanding of junior high school football student learning. The method used in this study is a quasi-experimental design with pre-test post-test control group design. Involves two groups, namely one experimental group with a tactical approach intervention and one group with a technical (traditional) approach. The instrument used in this study is a multiple choice cognition instrument at the level of difficulty C1 to C3 which is used to measure students' understanding in learning to play football. The study was conducted on junior high school students in the city of Bandung. All data obtained was analysed using the independent sample t test technique with the aim to see the effect of the tactical approach in developing students' understanding of football learning. The results of the analysis show that there are significant differences between the average understanding of football learning using the tactical approach and the technical approach. This is evidenced by the results of pvalue of 0.002 (0.002 <0.05). Thus it can be concluded that the tactical approach can influence the development of student understanding in football learning.