Basketball Drills - Defense Close-Out Drills
From the Coach’s Clipboard Basketball Playbook, @ http://www.coachesclipboard.netIt is important that defenders know how to make a proper defensive close-out on the ball receiver. When the offensive player receives the pass, the defender should rush at the ball-handler in a low stance. The last several steps should be quick, choppy steps to stop your momentum (so the defender doesn't dribble around you). In order to force the offensive player toward the baseline, split the defender's inside shoulder with your chest and position your baseline foot back, and have that hand low. The opposite hand should be up to challenge the outside shot. As you approach the ball-handler, snap your shoulders and head back to help slow yourself down. See video clip.
Close-Out Drill
See the diagram below. Depending on the number of players on your team, make three or four lines along the baseline, and a same number of lines just above the free-throw line extended. Each player along the baseline has a ball and makes a good sharp pass out to the perimeter player. He then closes-out on the ball handler, yelling "Ball! Ball! Ball!". Use correct technique as described above.Then the receivers will similarly pass back to the next group stepping inbounds and make a close-out.
You can also incorporate passing techniques (chest pass, bounce pass, etc) into this drill, and also make sure receivers are catching the ball with a jump-stop in triple threat position.
Close-Out and Help-side Drill
This 2-on-2 drill features a defender in helpside, sprinting out of helpside and closing out on his/her man on the wing, on the skip pass. We teach the defender to close-out on the top, or inside, shoulder of the offensive player, with the outside foot back, in order to force baseline. In addition, our wing players must learn to play correct helpside defense (in the paint) when ball is two passes away on the opposite wing. See the diagrams below. Use two offensive and two defensive wing players. The ball is skipped passed back and forth while the defenders work on correct help-side positioning and closing-out. Rotate offense to defense after several passes back and forth.