It's all about body

[Livlax]

Our team has alot of new freshers taking up D, but im struggling to think of any really good drills to help them practise good body/positioning

we've tried running lots of man on man where we try to get them to only play body but we still find alot of "hollywood" checks flying in, even worse in games

the only way i have found to get around this is by giving everyone stumpys, but once we are back in a game situation, the stick chasing returns.

any ideas?

[petegriffin]

I'm not sure how good it is but for our freshers we did that box drill with 4 corners, with short sticks passing round and 3 defencemen in the middle running a triangle defence, with no sticks.

Once they get the hang of the triangle zone let the attack do some driving and emphasize the idea of not getting beat to the middle and pushing down the side lines.

It's pretty tiring for the defence so I find it gets the positioning ideas nicely drilled it.

However, as you've said the moment they get given a d-pole in a 6 on 6 they still need shouting from the side lines to keep on the body and to stop giving up positioning for checks. can't do much harm though.

[kjk20]

Every time they get beat from throwing silly checks, give them a whack on a bare arm.

Negative reinforcement - it works on animals.

[laxwill11]

run some 1-on-1s or 2-on-2s but the defence arent allowed to use sticks. This demonstrates how important it is to focus on good body position.

[A.Croft]

its all about using the gauntlet without sticks only gloves! After they get the idea of body positioning and actually playing body, let them have their sticks back!

[Livlax]

some really good ideas, may use the gauntlet idea first session back as it seems a fun way to introduce it before working on the other drills.

the hitting them with sticks idea is class and may have to be used as a threat!

[kjk20]

Press ups work too, if you're squeamish.

[Mort rotu]

Press ups work too, if you're squeamish.

or worried about possible legal action....

[tripp]

to add on to using just gloves get some old shafts (stubbies) and cut them down to hip size length (this is where there hands should be on a normal stick) and have them use that. This teaches them positioning while having the idea of having a stick in their hand. They dont rely on their stick to play defence they rely on flootwork and field positioning.

[cheekylaxstuff]

For sale , veru short wooden shafts
Ideal for training as above

[Livlax]

i love you pud! any excuse!...as quick as i am to mock, i may be shortly phoning you about purchasing some lol

[cheekylaxstuff]

lol

got loads of pieces that will do the job

Even better whilst not trying to do myself out of business
Tie your gloves together with string and there you !!