One of the hardest things to do from a defensive perspective is closeout to the ball. A defender must sprint from a “help” position, closeout to the ball, try and take away a catch and shoot jumpshot, and contain the drive all at the same time. From an offensive perspective this is why ball reversal is so effective. If your players can attack defenders who are constantly in closeout situations it is to your advantage. Playing versus a closeout turns a turtle into a hare. It’s easy to talk about effective closeouts but hard to perform. Yet the good defensive teams do this consistently and do it well. Effective closeouts allow a team to contain penetration and prevent uncontested shots.
There are several key points we want to get across to our players. The first is that we always want to be aware of personnel. What we mean by this is that closing out to Steve Kerr is different than closing out to Dwayne Wade. One you must run off the line and force him to dribble the basketball. The other you probably would rather force into a jumpshot as opposed to giving up a drive and thunderous dunk from the dots (dotted lines in the lane). The worst thing we can do is fly at a “driver” and give up a “blow-by” to a player we should be playing for the drive.
Lets assume we are talking about the average player who you must play for the shot and the drive. I teach the “2/3rds 1/3rds” rule which I got from Ben Betts at the University of Oklahoma. I want my players to sprint or run 2/3rds of the way to their target. The last 1/3rd I want them beginning to breakdown their run with short, choppy steps so that they are in a stance once they get to the ball. If you sprint to the ball you will never be able to play the drive. As we closeout to the ball we want to make sure we ALWAYS close out with our top foot up taking away the middle of the floor. I want my hands high but my the rest of my body low. I want my weight back so that I am not off balanced when trying to contain the dribble.
Several of the drills we use to teach these concepts are listed below. Most of these take place during our preseason and training camp practices.
CLOSEOUT DRILL #1
1 starts on the left block, sprints to the right elbow and closes out in a “no middle stance”(forcing an offensive player away from the middle). Then defensive slides down the lane to right block and sprints to L elbow to closeout again in a “no middle stance.” Then defensive slides to back to the left block. This equals 1 trip. Go 3 times.
CLOSEOUT DRILL #2
1 starts in the left corner with his back to basket holding a medicine ball. He defensive slides in a good stance (getting low) to the first cone just outside the left elbow. When he gets there he drops the medicine ball and then slides to the cone directly under the rim. There he picks up another medicine ball and defensive slides to a cone outside the right elbow. When he gets there he drops that medicine ball and defensive slides to cone in right corner. This equals one trip. Go 3 times. Two coaches pick up the balls when 1 drops them and takes them back to the baseline for the next cycle. Stay in a stance, sit down. Don’t let your feet come together. We want to emphasize short, quick, slides low in a stance.
CLOSEOUT DRILL #3
A, B, C, and D start halfway between their man and their cone outside of the paint, facing halfcourt. On the coach’s command, they “footfire” (quick foot shuffle while staying in the same spot). On his 2nd command, they sprint to the paint to touch their cone and then sprint to closeout to their man with proper technique, (“no middle stance” with their inside hand up). The offense takes 1 dribble (half speed) and forces the defense to slide with them. NO SHOTS. Go 2 times in a row, then switch up.
CLOSEOUT DRILL #4
Players start on the baseline holding medicine balls, backs to halfcourt. Players start out sliding in same direction. Zig zag to halfcourt (3 slides, change direction), drop the medicine ball, sprint back to baseline and closeout on the coach with inside foot up, hand up, choppy steps. Coach will put the ball down one direction and players will slide twice in that direction, then they are done. Next set of players will be at halfcourt. They pickup the med balls when the group in front of them drops them and walk to the baseline for their turn.
