Drills play
Drill: Star Closeout
- Court
- Half court
- Length
- 8 steps
About this play
Five cones around the arc and one defender who closes out to each one in turn, which is why I use it as a warm-up: it is five full closeouts and five box-outs in under a minute with no passer needed. Setup: cones at both corners, both wings, and the top; defenders in a line under the rim; the coach stands at the top with a ball to call the shot. The defender sprints and chops to the first cone, yells shot with hands high, boxes the cone out, push-steps back under the rim, and goes to the next cone until all five are done; the next defender starts when the one ahead reaches the second cone. Run it two trips per player. Common mistakes: straight legs at the cone, crossing feet on the push-step back, and drifting toward the ball instead of the shooter's inside shoulder. Progression: a live receiver at one cone who gets two dribbles. Suits every level, youth especially. I got this one from Breakthrough Basketball's star closeout drill page and its video; look it up for the warm-up pacing.
