A radio frequency coil for magnetic resonance imaging includes an active coil member (70, 70.sub.1, 170, 270) that defines an imaging volume. The active coil member has a first open end (74) with a first cross-sectional dimension (dactive). A shield coil member (72, 72.sub.1, 72.sub.2, 72.sub.3, 72.sub.4, 72.sub.5, 172, 172.sub.2, 272) substantially surrounds the active coil member. The shield coil member has a constricted open end (88) arranged proximate to the first open end of the active coil member with a constricted cross-sectional dimension (dconst) that is less than the cross-sectional dimension (dShieid) of the shield coil member. In some embodiments, the radio frequency coil further includes an outer shield coil member (100) that is substantially larger than the shield coil member (72, 72.sub.1, 72.sub.2, 72.sub.3, 72.sub.4, 72.sub.5, 172, 172.sub.2, 272), and surrounds both the active coil member and the shield coil member.