Full Court 1v1 with Closeout – Build On-Ball Pressure and Scoring Under Duress
Goal:
The Full Court 1v1 with Close Out Drill helps players improve their on-ball defense and closing out skills. It focuses on making defenders better at guarding the ball while preventing quick scoring opportunities. The drill is designed to train defenders to efficiently close out on shooters and disrupt driving lanes.
Setup:
Offensive Player: Starts on the baseline with the ball.
Defensive Player: Starts on the baseline, guarding the offensive player.
Coach: Positioned on the sideline to receive passes from the offensive player.
Step-by-Step Execution:
1. Offensive Player Starts the Break:
The offensive player begins by attempting to beat the defender down the court. The objective is for the defender to turn the ball handler as many times as possible to slow down their progress.
2. Passing to the Coach:
Once the ball crosses half court, the offensive player passes the ball to the coach on the sideline.
3. Sprints:
After passing, the offensive player sprints to touch half court.
The defender sprints to touch the baseline.
4. The Close Out:
The coach passes the ball back to the offensive player.
The defender now performs a close out on the offensive player, who has just received the ball from the coach.
5. 1v1 Play:
Offensive Player and Defender engage in a 1v1 battle, with the offensive player attempting to score and the defender trying to prevent it.
Coaching Tips:
Close Out Technique: The defender must close out with an understanding of who they are guarding. For example, good shooters require a closer, more aggressive closeout, while driving players should be given more space to prevent easy drives.
Proper Stance and Angle: Ensure that players close out in a stance that matches what is taught in your zone defense. The angle of the closeout is crucial to cutting off shooting lanes and forcing the offensive player into difficult situations.
Offensive Player’s Aggression: Encourage offensive players to immediately attack upon catching the ball. This forces defenders to stay on their toes and prevents them from holding or waiting, which can lead to turnovers.
Defender's Focus: Remind defenders that their priority is to turn the ball handler and get them off their preferred path. The defender should use good positioning to guide the offensive player towards help or out of scoring range.
Full Breakdown:
The Full Court 1v1 with Close Out Drill is a simple yet highly effective exercise for improving ball handling defense and closing out on shooters. This drill emphasizes several key defensive skills, including positioning, footwork, and anticipation. The idea behind this drill is that the defender not only works to stop the offensive player from advancing but also learns to execute an effective closeout based on the offensive player's tendencies. By using a coach as the passer, the drill simulates real-game situations where players are forced to react to different types of offensive movement.
