|
|
How to coach and teach youngsters to shoot the basketball lay-up shot
After watching game after game, at every
level, we have come to the conclusion that the lay-up is the
most neglected skill in basketball. Many modern players seem to
have concluded that the only good lay-up is the jackknife
half-gainer shot. This conclusion is wrong. The most beautiful
lay-up is an orthodox one with a strong high jump and a kiss off
the glass.
The lay-up is a tough shot to make because
every time it is used, the shooter is approaching the basket at
a different angle and varying speeds. Besides that, there
usually is a six foot six or a seven foot opponent waiting to
jam it down your throat or swat it fifty feet up in the stands.
In most instances, despite moving at a high
rate of speed, the player must release the ball gently against
the glass. Therefore, the first requirement for shooting good
lay-ups is to eliminate all unnecessary movements. The layup
should be a high jump rather than a broad jump; therefore, the
body movement must be transferred upward, instead of forward. In
order to achieve this, stretch out the last stride as the
takeoff foot is planted and with the next step a shorter one,
lift the jumping leg hard with the knee coming high as you can
lift it.
The ball must be protected from the
opponent while shooting a lay-up. You accomplish this by
shooting the ball with the right hand on the right side of the
goal and with the left hand on the left side of the goal;
however, there are exceptions to this rule. The baseline drive
with the right hand makes it a necessity to come up on the far
side of the basket with a right hand lay-up, or to shoot a
left-handed lay-up on the right side.
Aim the ball at a target. It is impossible
to pick an exact target because of different approaching speeds
and varying angles of approach; however, a general rule of thumb
is a spot ten to twelve inches above and a bit right (if from
right side, opposite if from left) of the rim. It is most
important to look up at the target while concentrating on the
shot. This makes it possible for the shooter to judge the best
point of impact between the ball and the backboard. Whenever
possible, in shooting lay-ups, shoot the ball off the board. We
have never kept records on this, but it seems that shooting
against the board seems to allow for more error in judgment than
does the finger-roll laid over the lip of the rim, which must be
flawless.
Here are things to look for in teaching the lay-up:
· Grasp
the ball firmly in both hands as right foot hits the floor.
· Keep
the ball between your body and the defender.
·
Whenever possible, use the board on every shot.
·
Eliminate all unnecessary motion.
·
Lengthen the last stride and plant the take-off foot firmly.
· The
last step is a short step which allows the shooter to convert
his forward motion to a vertical jumping thrust.
· Raise
the jump foot hard and high.
· Carry
the ball in both hands as high as possible with right hand
behind the ball, wrist cocked and facing the basket and the left
hand in front.
·
Transfer the body momentum upward, not forward.
· At the
top of the high jump, both arms should be above the head with
eyes fixed on the target, allow the left hand to fall away as
the right arm, wrist, and fingers extends the ball against the
sighting point. Do not make it a “vomit” shot (throw-it-up).
Some of the most elementary basketball lay-up
shooting drills
Although these are seemingly the most primary
drills, they should be part of every collegiate coach's
important tools in teaching the game. Last week, I watched the
University of Evansville Purple Aces pull off an upset of Drake
University, last year's Missouri Valley Conference Champs. The
Purple Aces play was outstanding, except for one thing: they
missed eight lay-ups at the end of some pretty astonishing
plays. Here are some drills for 7 to 10 year-olds that could
help the Aces and many other Division 1 schools.
|
Diagram 1 - Lay-up High jump without ball.
Purpose of this drill is used to teach players to shoot
the lay-up with either hand and off
the correct foot and elevating up instead of a broad
jump.
Course of action:
- Players alternate from one side of the basket to
the other.
- Players are at 45 degree positions with the
basket and far enough away from the basket to take
one step for imaginary lay-up.
- Explain to players to then bring the other knee
up high and rising high as possible.
The coach should ask if they feel themselves rising
up in height. Also, you might ask them to try touch
their nose with the knee.
|
Diagram 2 - Lay-up High jump with the ball.
Purpose of this drill is used to teach players to shoot
the lay-up with either hand and off
the correct foot and elevating up instead of a broad
jump.
Course of action:
- This drill is performed much in the same manor
as that described in Diagram 1, except it is done
with a ball, but the shot is not released.
- Players, with a ball, alternate from one side of
the basket to the other.
- Players are at 45 degree positions with the
basket and far enough away from the basket to take
one step for imaginary lay-up.
- Explain to players to then bring the other knee
up high as possible.
- Explain the importance of keeping the eyes
focused on a target on the backboard, above the
basket.
- In this drill, the lay-up is not released.
The coach should ask if they feel themselves rising
up in height. Also, you might ask them to try touch
their nose with the knee.
|
|
|
Diagram 3 - Lay-up High jump with the ball, banking
the ball into the basket.
Purpose of this drill is used to teach players to shoot
the lay-up with either hand and off
the correct foot and elevating up instead of a broad
jump.
Course of action:
- This drill is performed much in the same manor
as that described in Diagram 2, except in this
drill, the shot is released at a target above the
rim of the basket.
- Players, with a ball, alternate from one side of
the basket to the other.
- Players are at 45 degree positions with the
basket and far enough away from the basket to take
one step for a lay-up.
- Explain to players to then bring the other knee
up high as possible.
- Explain the importance of keeping the eyes
focused on a target on the backboard, above the
basket.
- In this drill, the lay-up is released.
- Stress the old adage, "Never up! Never in!"
The coach should ask if they feel themselves rising
up in height. Also, you might ask them to try touch
their nose with the knee.
Did you keep your eyes on the target?
|
Diagram 4 - Lay-up High jump with the ball, cutting
to the basket, catching the ball and banking the ball
into the basket.
This drill is designed to get players used to catching
the ball while on the move, going up high on the proper
foot and banking it off the glass and into the basket.
Players alternate different sides of the basket and from
different angles approaching the basket.
Preach looking the ball into the hands, shooting off the
correct foot, high jumping not broad jumping, keeping
eyes on target, and never up! Never in!
|
|
|
Diagram 5 - Lay-up from a dribble-drive.
Youngsters should be encouraged to "be quick, but don't
hurry" in this drill. Stress the importance of scoring
at the end of each drive. Invariably the player that
relaxes will make the most shots.
Stress all the correct form, such as looking the ball
into your hands, dribble with the outside hand, go up
high on the correct foot, keep eyes on target, lay-up
the ball against the glass above the basket, rebound the
ball and overhand pass to teammate.
Teammate executes in the same manner, rotating sides of
the court.
|
Diagram 6 - Fake and dribble drive lay-up.
Course of action:
- Place a youngster, with a ball, at each of the
designated positions on the court. They rotate
clockwise after performing their dribble drive.
- Place a chair, or cone, in front of each player.
- Have each player fake alternately right, then
left, with a head and shoulder fake and foot fake
before driving for the basket and a lay-up.
Stress good and realistic fakes, dribbling with the
correct hand, going high for the lay-up off the correct
foot, etc. Emphasizing, never up! Never in!
|
|
|
Diagram 7 - Competitive dribble drive lay-up
emphasizing firm ball control drill.
Many players lose control of the ball if bumped only
slightly on the shot. Referees often don't see it and it
costs many points. This drill is meant to help instill
the habit of firm ball handling on lay-ups.
Course of action:
- Line up players facing the basket. This could be
from all angles and changed frequently.
- Another line of players stands near the goal.
- Players break for the basket, one at a time,
receiving a pass from the coach (or a third line).
- After the player receives the pass, he dribble
drives and as he starts his lay-up, one of the
players closest to the basket should push, bump, or
hack him.
|
Diagram 8 - Drill to detect open man from a lay-up
dribble drive.
Some players dribble drive out of control, much like
runaway trains. This is good, only if they can spot
teammates who are in a better scoring position.
Course of Action:
- Place two offensive players near the basket, one
on each side of the goal.
- Place two acting defense players, X1 and X2, on
the inside, nearer the basket.
- Teach X1 and X2 certain hand signals, such as
one or two fingers that indicates which one quickly
moves out to a good defensive position, the other
leaving his man open. Occasionally have both of them
move into good defensive position.
- In the first instance the dribbler dishes off to
the open teammate who takes the lay-up.
- In the later case, the dribbler takes the layup,
himself.
|
|
|
Diagram 9 - Drill to teach players to cut defensive
players out completely if they can get one-half step
advantage.
Course of action:
- Line players up as illustrated with the first
one the designated defensive player, X1.
- On the signal, "Go!" the offensive player breaks
across and toward the basket through the free throw
area.
- The coach will pass to the offensive player
after he takes one or two strides.
- The offensive player then swings in and cuts out
the defensive player. He goes in for a left hand
lay-up on the far side of the basket.
- Practice this from both sides of the floor.
|
Diagram 10 - Competitive lay-up drill.
Youngsters are encouraged to "make haste, slowly!" while
performing this drill. Invariably, the line that relaxes
most always will win the game.
Course of action:
- Divide squad into two teams, one at each end of
the floor, in line and facing the basket.
- Put the starting player in each line exactly the
same distance from the basket he is facing.
- On a signal, the first player in line dribble
drives for the basket and a lay-up.
- After he scores, and he should get it in the
basket before quitting. After succeeding, he passes
back to the second player in line.
- The second player man not leave the starting
line until the ball touches his hands.
- This continues until one line has scored twenty
points with each goal counting two points.
- Both lines should shout out their scores of the
moment. For example, if the first youngster scores
all members of his line should shout, "two!"
- Change the angle of approach quite frequently.
|
|
|
|
|
|