The Complete Player-Layups

In our first installment on the topic of The Complete Player we will cover layups.  One of the most important facets of the game of basketball is being able to finish around the basket.  As a coach you need to start your players early on feeling comfortable making shots around the basket.  The one mistake made by many youth level coaches however is that they focus way to much on the basic layups and not enough time on the rest.

Basic Layups
Coaches need to start kids off with basic layups.  Teach them how to dribble to the basket on an angle and to jump off the leg closest to the basket while shooting the layup with the same hand as the side of the basket you are shooting on.  To get kids started you can use the following progressions.
  1. Take stationary shots from the spot on the floor where the layup will be shot.  Emphasize the use of the backboard.  Do not rush to the next step.  Make sure the player is comfortable with this step before you go to step 2.  This may take more than one practice.  Be patient!
  2. Have the player run to the spot that the layup is shot from.  Once there, have them jump stop on the spot and shoot the shot off of the backboard.  Again, be patient with this step!
  3. Have them drive to the basket and practice their layup form without the ball.  Emphasize the proper footwork and make sure that the steps are correct before you proceed to step 4.
  4. Have them run to the basket with a ball and shoot a layup with proper form and footwork.
  5. Have them dribble the ball and make a proper layup.
Backboard Angles and Spins
Once the kids have mastered basic layups using either hand, the next phase is to master angles off of the backboard and how to use spin to make the ball bounce correctly off the backboard..  It is very important that players feel comfortable shooting the ball around the basket and using the backboard to help them finish plays. Start with Mikan's and graduate to Irving's as shown in the below video.




Another good video is below.  It gives you tips on how to spin the ball off the glass to make your finishing even better.




Once your players have gotten the hang of finishing around the basket, the final touch in this section would be to practice these moves while driving to the basket.  Make sure that your players drive from all different angles and emphasize that they finish anyway possible as long as they don't slow down.  Emphasize that the layups should be done while playing fast and make sure they use both hands.

Floaters
The next step in a players development would be a move that is not quite a shot but also not quite a layup.  I like to include it with layups because to me it is a finish in the paint very similar to a layup.  The whole idea of a floater is to drive the ball into the paint and then shoot a shot with a high arc to it over the waiting defender.  The basics to a good floater are the following:
  1. Try to jump straight up and down on your floater to avoid charge.  Some coaches like for you to jump off two feet, some are fine with one foot or two.  I like to teach one footed floaters as they seem to be quicker.
  2. Try to slow down a bit to gain control of yourself and go from strong drive to soft shot.
  3. All floaters must have a high arc in order to get them over taller players and to give them a chance to go in if they bounce on the rim.
  4. Be soft on the follow thru.  Your follow thru should be almost none existent.  You want to minimize spin on the ball when it goes up on the rim.
Two good videos on floaters are here
 

and here.



In closing layups are such a huge part of the game.  If you know how to finish around the basket you will be be confident to get in there and mix things up.  Driving to the basket puts so much pressure on the defense and there are so many good things that can happen when you drive to the basket.  This is the reason why I have layups as the number one skill a good player needs to master to become great.

Here is a video on the master of the finish around the rim, Kyrie Irving.


Not to be outdone here is a video of the GOAT doing his thing. Notice his mastery of the spin off the backboard and what a weapon it was for him.

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