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The purpose of the current study was to determine whether a specific coached footwork technique would have any performance benefit compared to a player using their own, intrinsically selected technique. To determine this, 14 elite male basketball players completed planned and un-planned defensive "close-out" movements in a reactive agility test. Experienced and inexperienced players were compared to determine the effect of extended practice with a 'coach' technique compared to their 'own' intrinsic movement patterns. Players were also examined in scrimmage play to determine any transfer from extended practice of the coach technique to game-like situations. Results were recorded in milliseconds, with means log transformed and compared using the effect size statistic for magnitudes of difference. During planned and un-planned trials there were small differences in reaction time between the own and coach techniques for both conditions, in favour of the own technique (planned: 4.0% ± 3.9, ES; 0.41, ±0.40; un-planned: 11.4% ± 5.0, ES; 0.53, ±0.24). Planned movements were significantly faster than unplanned movements over 1.5 metres (6.5%) and 4.94 metres (3.5%). There were no substantial differences between experienced and inexperienced players, with no transfer effect of the coach technique to game-like situations. Coaching players to use footwork other than intrinsic movements does not appear to improve reaction time, or defensive close-out ability in basketball. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]