Closeout and box-out Basketball Drill

Emphasis:

• The defense should closeout with a high hand and stay low on the closeout
• The offensive player should be in a ready to shoot position with hands ready to receive the pass (shooter should work on his quick release)
• As soon as the shot goes up, the defensive player needs to find the offensive player and box out
• After the boxout, the defensive player should immediately attack the rebound and try to catch the ball at its highest point (chin the basketball after the rebound)
• The offensive player should try as hard as he can to try and get the rebound
• If the offensive player gets the rebound, the defensive player should do 5-10 pushups
• This one-on-one drill can become a competitive basketball game by rewarding the defense for properly boxing out and then grabbing the rebound
• Playing one-on-one is super important for player development
• The first player to 5 boxouts and rebounds wins!
• This will force players to closeout hard to distract the shooter from making shots
• Players should alternate from defense to offense after each possession

Instruction:

• The offensive player stands at the top of the key or free throw line while the defensive player stands underneath the basket with the basketball
• The defensive player passes the basketball to the offensive player
• The offensive player shoots the basketball as soon as he/she receives it and then follows his/her shot
• The defensive player immediately sprints to the offensive player using a good close-out technique
• The defensive player must turn and box-out the shooter, and then get the rebound
• Advanced Players: Add a shot fake and two dribbles to the drill. The defensive player needs to closeout and then beat the player to a spot, boxout and then grab the rebound