Closeout and Contest
Defense
Legend
- player
- defender
- ball
- movement path
How it works
Practice the correct technique for closing out on a shooter, high hands, under control, no flying by.
What you need
- basketball
- hoop
Your focus
Closeout defense is one of the most frequently failed defensive skills at youth levels. Players who run past the shooter give up easy drives. Proper closeout technique , chopping feet while approaching and getting a hand up , is the difference between a contested and an open shot.
Defender starts under the basket. Offensive player catches at the wing.
Defender sprints to closeout, chopping steps at the last 3 feet, finishing with one hand up contesting the shot.
Offensive player shot-fakes, defender must NOT leave their feet if the shot fake is seen. Stay down.
Run 10 reps per defender. Grade on technique: feet chopped, hand contested, no biting the fake.
Goal
Success is closing out under control and getting a hand up without flying past the shooter, contested but not fouled. That's the benchmark.
Helpful cues
- Sprint, chop, contest, that's the 3-step closeout
- Chop your feet, never run into a shooter at full speed
- Hand up means a contest, hand out means a foul
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Slow the closeout to jogging pace to establish technique.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Offensive player can drive off the catch if defender over-commits.No account needed
Build a practice plan
Add drills, keep the plan in this browser, then share a link with your staff or parents.This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.
This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.After every practice, UpLVL automatically surfaces the drills each player needs to work on most. See it for yourself.