The layup is one of the most basic shots in basketball, which is why it's important for you to teach it to your players. Understanding the essentials to a lay-up will help your players obtain maximum results on open shots and fast breaks. Pay attention to players' form and mechanics while shooting the layups.
Basic Layup Drill
For beginner players and for the warm-up before games, the basic layup drill is the ideal exercise. Divide your team into two groups and line them up outside the three-point line on either side of the lane facing the basket. Give the first two players in the right-hand line a ball. On the whistle, have the first player dribble the ball, run toward the basket at full speed and execute a layup. Make sure players jump off the correct leg -- the left leg -- and lay the ball up with the right hand. Once the first player jumps off the ground, the next player in line can start his layup. The first player in the left line rebounds the ball for the first layup and passes the ball to the next player in the shooting line. Have all players rotate through each line a few times, then have players shoot layups from the left line, using the right leg and left hand to execute the layup.
Full Court Drill
Passing the ball is essential to completing a fast-court play that ends up with a layup. This drill will help players focus on proper passing and being able to shoot a layup without dribbling the ball, with the ultimate goal to have one player finish with an easy layup. Have three players stand at the baseline, the middle player with a ball. Have players start running down the court. The middle player uses a chest pass to get the ball to the player on the right. That player then passes it back to the middle, then to the left, and so on. Players must pass the ball back and forth, but once they approach the farther basket, either the player on the left or right must have the ball and execute a layup without dribbling or traveling. Have the opposite player rebound the ball and have all players switch positions and run the drill back down the court to the starting point.
Protect Drill
Many times, players aren't going to have an open lane to the basket and must learn how to protect the ball on a layup. To help players learn this skill, perform the protect drill. Divide the team into three groups: one at the three-point line as shooters, another in the middle of the lane as slappers and a third on the baseline as defenders. Have the first shooter dribble and run to the basket and start a layup. As the shooter gathers the ball, the first player in the slapper line attempts to slap the ball away from the shooter. The shooter continues to the basket, where a defender is waiting to try to block the shooter's shot. Have each player rotate through each position in the drill several times.
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