Defensive Speed Closeout Gauntlet
Speed & Acceleration
Legend
- player
- defender
- ball
- movement path
How it works
Develop elite closing speed by repeatedly sprinting from the paint to contest a perimeter shooter before they catch and shoot.
What you need
- basketball
- hoop
- stopwatch
Your focus
The ability to close out on a perimeter shooter at maximum speed , without losing control , is a differentiating defensive skill. Defenders who close slowly give up open threes; defenders who close too fast get blown by. Maximum controlled closing speed is trained, not innate. This drill quantifies and accelerates that speed.
Defender starts at the paint. Shooter catches pass at the three-point line 1.5 seconds after the drill starts.
Defender must close out and contest the shot before the ball leaves the shooter's hands.
Track how often the defender arrives in time. Goal: contest 8 out of 10 attempts.
Expand the starting position until the defender can no longer contest in time, that's their current limit.
Goal
It's clicking when you arrive at the perimeter before the catch and have your hand up, not arriving as the ball is caught, but already contesting it.
Helpful cues
- Sprint to the spot, not the player, cut the angle
- Chop your feet at the last 3 feet, arriving in control is the goal
- One hand up is enough, you're contesting, not fouling
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Give defender 2 seconds before shooter catches the ball.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Shooter catches before defender starts, must close out a live catch.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.