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defense•team-drillsBeginner15 min

Closeout Star

A conditioning-heavy closeout drill that fans out from the rim to three perimeter spots - both wings and the top of the key. Players sprint out, break down into a balanced closeout, and retreat to the basket before attacking the next cone, building the footwork and the legs to contest shot after shot.

Instructions

  1. 1Set three cones on the perimeter: one on each wing and one at the top of the key
  2. 2Line the group up along the baseline with the first player starting under the rim
  3. 3Sprint from the basket out to the first wing, closing the distance at full speed
  4. 4Break down into short choppy steps as you arrive and close out with a high hand and a low base
  5. 5Drop step and retreat to the rim, staying low with your eyes up
  6. 6Push back out to the top of the key, then to the far wing, covering all three spots
  7. 7Release the next player once the one ahead reaches their second cone to keep the drill flowing

Pro Tips

  • Cover the first two-thirds of the distance at a sprint, then chop your feet - arriving under control is what lets you contest and still slide
  • Keep the high hand on the shooter's side and the low hand ready to take away the drive
  • Never leave your feet on the closeout; a contested shot beats a blow-by every time
  • Stay low through the retreat - standing straight up on the way back is the most common flaw
  • Count closeouts instead of minutes; three cones is one lap, and five laps is a solid set
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