Teach differently

To best demonstrate to their team that players need to have an open mind, and try new techniques, coaches should be acting in the same manner. As coaches, one of many responsibilities is to truly practice what we preach - we also need to seek to grow in the game.

Watch the following clip (thanks to Coach Pat) that shows a different way of teaching the shell drill. You will note the emphasis is on the hands, but the subtle focus is that the feet end up doing the work - fantastic. In order to emphasize the hand and arm positioning, some coaches have suggested using a skipping rope stretched behind the heads of defensive players. Others have offered that players put their thumbs in their arm pits and point their elbows at the ball and their player. This clip uses towels. The end result is that defenders have their hands up, thumbs in, palms out, and are pointing at the ball and their check.

http://www.youtube.com/user/CoachPat30#p/u/10/PUnY_EkLZ9o