How to Do a Layup in Basketball (6-Step Guide)

“A layup is the action of a player dribbling towards the hoop, taking two steps, and then laying the basketball into the hoop off the backboard.” For a ... Home→Blog→Training→HowtoDoaLayupinBasketball(6-StepGuide) 0 HowtoDoaLayupinBasketball(6-StepGuide) Ifyouwanttowinbasketballgames,yourplayersmustbeabletofinishattherimconsistently.Whileknowing“howtodoalayup”willsoundeasytomostplayers,it’sactuallymuchmoredifficultthanmostpeoplerealize.Thinkaboutit:Playersattackthehoopatvaryingspeeds...Playersattackthehoopfrommanydifferentangles...Andwhentheydogettothehoop,there’susuallyaseconddefenderwaitingwhowillattempttoswattheirlayupintothe5throw.Despitethesechallenges,playersmustlearnhowtoscorelayupsinavarietyofsituationsiftheywanttoexperienceindividualandteamsuccess.Inthisarticle,I’llshowyouhow.I’llstartbyteachingyou(1)exactlywhatalayupis,(2)thesixstepsforhowtodoalayup,(3)theprocessforteachinglayupstoyoungkids,(4)thesevenlayupvariationsallplayersmustmaster,beforefinishingwith(5)someimportantlayuptips.Let’sgetstarted…WhatisaLayup?Here’sthegeneraldefinitionmostcoacheswoulduse:“Alayupistheactionofaplayerdribblingtowardsthehoop,takingtwosteps,andthenlayingthebasketballintothehoopoffthebackboard.”Foratraditionallayup—thisiscorrect.Withthatsaid…ThereareMANYvariationsofalayup(I’llshare7ofthemwithyoulaterinthisarticle)andnotwoin-gamelayupsareidentical.There’sanendlessnumberofsituationsaplayerwillfacewhentheyattackthehoopina5-on-5game.Thetwothingsalllayupsdohaveincommon:(1)Alllayupsareshotsclosetothebasket(2)AlllayupsareworthtwopointsHowtoDoaLayup(6-Steps)Now,let’stalkabouthowtodoalayupcorrectly.Learningcorrectfootworkandlayuptechniqueiscrucialforyoungplayers.Wedon’twantplayerstodeveloppoorhabitsthatwillbedifficulttobreakoutofastheygetolderandadvancetohigherlevelsofbasketball.Forthepurposesofthisbeginner’sguide,I’llassumeplayersareexecutingaregularright-handedlayup.Herewego:1.EyesUpTheveryfirstthingaplayermustdowhentheydecidetoattackthedefenseandfinishwithalayupisgettheireyesup.Thisisimportantfortwomainreasons:a.ToLockontotheTargetThetargettheyaimforwillbeeitherthehooporthebackboarddependingontheplayer’sangleandspeed.Knowingwhichtargettochooseastheballisreleasedfromtheshooter’shandissomethingplayerswillgetusedtoastheygainmoreexperience.b.ToReadtheDefenseEverytimeaplayerattacksthehoop,multipledefenderswillstepacrosstoprovidehelpandchallengethelayup.Playersneedtogettheireyesupandusetheirperipheralvisiontoreadthesedefenders.Thiswillhelptheplayerdecidewhichlayupvariationwillgivethemthebestchanceofscoring(orwhichteammateisnowopentoreceiveapass).2.OutsideFootStep(Long)Rememberingthatwe’reusingatraditional,unguardedlayupastheexampleforthisblogpost…Thefirststepaplayermakesastheypickupthebasketballshouldbewiththeir“outside”foot(closesttothesideline).Forright-handedlayups,thisistherightfoot.Forleft-handedlayups,thisistheleftfoot.Therearetwoimportantcoachingpointsyoushouldemphasizetoplayerswhenyou’reteachingthemthisstep:(1)LongStepWewantplayerstogaindistancewiththefirststep,andalongstepalsohelpswiththesecondpoint…(2)ControlledPlayersMUSTbeincontroloftheirbodyastheyperformtheirlayup.Toooftenweseeyoungplayerssprinttowardsthehoopoutofcontrolandthenlaunchtheballhardoffthebackboard.Encouragethemtoslowdowntoincreasetheirchancesofscoring.3.InsideFootStep(High)Thesecondstepofatraditionallayupshouldbewiththeinsidefoot(closesttothemiddleofthecourt).Forright-handedlayups,thisistheleftfoot.Forleft-handedlayups,thisistherightfoot.Thekeycoachingpointforthesecondstepisthefollowing:“HighJump”Alongwithensuringplayersslowdownandareincontroloftheirlayup,theemphasistojumphighwillgiveyoungplayerstheupwardmomentumtheyneedtocompletethelayup.Thisisdonebydrivingtheshooting-sidekneeupintotheairastheyjumpofftheiroppositefoot.(Rightkneeonright-handedlayups.Leftkneeonleft-handedlayups)4.ProtecttheBallIt’scrucialthataplayerprotectstheballwhileattemptingtheirlayup.Twothingstowatchoutfor:a.GettingStrippedSmartdefenderswilllooktostrip(steal)theballfromtheoffensiveplayerduringtheirtwosteps.Topreventthisfromhappening,theoffensiveplayerneedsto(1)havestronghandsand(2)keeptheballclosetotheirbody.b.GettingBlockedTalldefenderswillattempttoblocktheshotduringtheupwardshootingmotionorastheballleavestheoffensiveplayer’shands.Topreventthis,theoffensiveplayersmustusetheirnon-shootinghandstoprotecttheballandincreasethelikelihoodofgettingfouled.5.FollowThroughThefifthstepwhenlearninghowtodoalayup…Teachyourplayerstobringtheballupabovetheirhead,extendtheirarm,andthenflicktheirwristtoguidethebasketballintothehoop.Thetraditionaloverhandlayupisverysimilartoaregularjumpshotwhenitcomestothispartofthelayuptechnique.ImportantNote:Ifyou’recoachingveryyoungplayers,youmightfindtheypushthebasketballupfromtheirchestinsteadofbringingtheballabovetheirheadbeforeshooting…thisisduetoalackofstrength.Thisisn’tabigissuewhilethey’reyoung,butmakesurethey’regrowingoutofthishabitastheygetolderandstronger.6.Practice!Nowthatyourplayersunderstandcorrectlayuptechnique,it’stimetheystartdoingsomeseriouslayuppractice!Afewimportantthingsforcoachestothinkabout:a.DifferentAnglesandSpeedsRunlayupdrillsthatinvolveplayersattackingthehoopfromdifferentanglesandatdifferentspeeds.Left/rightsideFrontoftherimAlongthebaselineIt’simportantthatthey’recomfortableandconfidentdrivingtothehoopfromanywhereonthecourt.b.RightHandandLeftHandAllowplayerstomainlyusewiththeirdominanthandwhenthey’refirstlearninghowtoperformalayup…Butmakesuretheystartpracticingwithbothhandsoncetheyunderstandcorrecttechniqueanddevelopthestrengthtodoso.Thisisimportanttohelpthemprotecttheballandfinisharoundgooddefendersastheygetolderandplayagainsttoughercompetition.c.Competition!Almostimmediatelyyoushouldstartrunningdrillswhereplayersarerequiredtoattackthedefenseandfinishwithalayupagainstlivedefense.Addbothlayuptechniqueandlayupcompetitiondrillstoeverypractice.Forexample:Spend10minutesusingalayuptechniquedrillandthenspend10minutesplayinghalfcourt2-on-1.Yourplayersmightstruggleagainstcompetitionatfirst—theymightcommitatravellingviolation,jumpoffthewrongfoot,orrushtheirtwosteps—butthey’llbenefitfromthestruggleinthelongrun.TeachingLayupstoKids-TheProcessI’mguessingthatmostpeoplereadingthisarticleareyouthbasketballcoacheswantingtoknowthebestwaytoteachlayups.Ifso,you’reintherightplace.I’mgoingtoprovideyouwiththestep-by-stepinstructions.Thesestepsshouldbeusedtoteach“overhand”and“underhand”layupstoallplayerswhohavesigneduptolearnthegameofbasketball.Onefinalpieceofadvicebeforewegetstarted:Bepatient.Thesestepsmightseemsimpletoyou…buttoayoungkidwho’stryingtounderstandfootwork,ballpickup,wheretofocus,distance,etc…it’shard!Let’sgetstated…1.One-StepLayupThefirststepistostartplayersonthelowblock.Sincemostplayersareright-handed,Irecommendstartingontherightblocksincethiswillbemostcomfortableforthem.Giveeveryoneabasketball,lineeveryoneupbehindthelowblock,andthengetthemtoexecutethefollowing:a.Startwithfeettogetherb.Takeonestepwiththeirleftfoot(insidefoot)c.Jumpofftheleftfootandshootalayupoffthebackboard2.Two-StepLayupNext,let’saddasecondstep…Geteveryonetostartonestepbackfromthelowblock.Remindingthemthattheydon’tneedtodribblethebasketballyet,askthemtodothefollowing:a.Startwithfeettogetherb.Thefirststepiswiththeirrightfoot(outsidefoot)c.Thesecondstepiswiththeirleftfoot(insidefoot)d.JumpofftheleftfootandshootalayupoffthebackboardPlayersgrabtheirownreboundbeforejoiningtheendofthesameline.3.One-DribbleLayupNowlet’stakeanotherstepback…Forthethirdstepinthisprocess,weaskplayerstotakeonedribblebeforecompletingtheirtwostepsandfinishingwithalayup.Herearetheinstructions:a.Startwithfeettogetherb.Theinitialstepiswiththeirleftfoot.Asthisfoottouchestheground,theplayershouldtakeonedribblewiththeirrighthand.c.Astheplayercatchestheball,theytaketheirfirstlayupstepwiththeirrightfoot(outsidefoot)d.Thesecondlayupstepiswiththeirleftfoot(insidefoot)e.Jumpofftheleftfootandshootalayupoffthebackboard4.MultipleDribbleLayupThefinalstepwhenlearningtoshootoffthedribblerequiresplayerstoretreatbackbehindthethree-pointarc.Fromhere,playerswillbeforemultipledribblesbeforegatheringtheball,takingtheirtwosteps,andlayingtheballinofftheglass.Here’showitworks:a.Startbehindthethree-pointlinewithabasketball.b.Takemultipledribblestowardsthehoop(eyesup!)c.Atthelowblock,takethefirststepwiththerightfoot(outsidefoot)d.Thesecondlayupstepiswiththeirleftfoot(insidefoot)e.Jumpofftheleftfootandshootalayupoffthebackboard5.CatchandLayupAnotherthingplayersmustlearntodoisreceivethebasketballwhileonthemoveandthenfinishwithalayupwithoutdribbling.Playersareputinthissituationoftenduringgames…Theymightmakeanoff-ballcuttothehoop,receiveapassfromateammateonafastbreak,orpasstoaplayerinthepostthencutoffthem.Myrecommendationistosetupaquick“giveandgo”drill.Asfollows:a.Putoneplayeronthefree-throwlinewithoutabasketball.b.Lineeveryoneelseupbehindthethree-pointlinewithabasketball.c.Theplayerwiththeballpassestothemiddleofthefloor,sprintstowardsthehoop,andthenreceivestheballbackforano-dribblelayup.d.Changethe“passer”everyminuteortwo.Video:Tohelpyoubetterunderstandthewholeprocess,checkoutthisbrilliantvideofromFIBAthatshowsthefirstfourprogressions: SevenLayupVariationsAsIspokeaboutinthestep-by-stepsection,it’simportantforplayerstomastermorethanonetypeoflayup.Whenyou’replayingareal5-on-5game,therewillbehelpdefenderstryingtoblock/alteryourshotwhenyougettothehoop.Beingcomfortablewithavarietyoflayupswillallowplayerstofinisharoundanykindofdefensethat’sthrownatthem.Here’sthemust-knowlist:1.OverhandLayupThistraditionallayupisoftenthefirstoneweteachyoungplayers.It’ssimilartoaregularjumpshotinthataplayergetstheirhandundertheballand“shoots”itoffthebackboard.2.UnderhandLayup(FingerRoll)Alsoknownasthe“fingerroll”.Thisinvolvesplayersputtingtheirshootinghandundertheballwiththeirfingersfacingforward,andthenrollingtheballofftheirfingertipsastheyextendtheirarmtothehoop.3.FloaterThefloaterisagreatwayforsmallerplayerstoscoreinsideagainstbiggerdefenders.Itinvolvesaplayer“pushing”theballupoverthedefense.4.Off-FootLayupIfyoureallywanttocatchthedefensebysurprise,anoff-footlayupshouldbeinyourbagoftricks.Thisinvolvesjumpingoffthesamefootyou’reshootingwith.Forexample,jumpingofftherightfootforaright-handlayup.5.EuroStepLayupTheEuroStepinvolvestakingyourfirststepinonedirection,andthenchangingdirectionsforyoursecondstep.Thisisagreatwaytosteparounddefendersandchangetheangleasyoucompletealayup.6.ReverseLayupAreverselayupallowstheoffensiveplayertoattackthehoopandfinishontheoppositesideoftherim.Forplayersathighlevels,therimactsasprotectionfromshotblockers.7.PowerLayupApowerlayupinvolvesperforminga2-footjumpstopbeforeraisinguptoshoot.Thebenefitofthisvariationisitwillgivetheplayerastrongerbase,whichisessentialifyou’reanticipatingcontact.AdvancedLayupTipsBeforeyougo,hereareafewextralayuptipsthatwillhelpplayersbemoresuccessfulwhenattackingthehoop.SomeofthetipsI’vementionedalreadythroughoutthearticle(buttheyneedrepeating),andsomeofthemI’vesavedforthissection.Onward:a.SlowDown!Oneofthemainreasonsformissedlayupsattheyouthbasketballlevelisplayersaregoingwaytoofast.Ifyouweretospendjust2minutessittingonthesidelinesofanU10’sgame,andIguaranteeyou’llseea100mphfastbreakthatresultsintheshooterslammingtheballoffthebackboard.Encourageplayerstoslowdown,usealongfirststeptogaincontroloftheirbody,andthenjumphighoffthesecondsteptofinish.Controliskey.b.CreateSpacetoFinishOnceaplayergetspasttheirdefenderoffthedribble,teachthemtostepinfrontofthedefenderto“lockthembehind”.Thiscreatesspaceinfronttofinishwithafloaterortodrawthedefensebeforedroppingthebasketballofftoateammate.c.SwishorBackboard?Coacheswilloftengetplayersaskingwhethertheyshouldaimtoswishtheballorusethebackboardontheirlayups…Thisisanimpossiblequestiontoansweraseverysituationisdifferent.Thebestadviceyoucangiveplayersistopracticefinishingwithaswishandoffthebackboardfromallanglesandatallspeeds.Themorefinishesaplayeriscomfortablewith,themoreoptionsthey’llhavewhenconfrontedbyadefenderduringgames.d.KeeptheBallTightThisissomethingIspokeaboutinthe“protecttheball”sectionabove…Whengoingthroughthetwo-stepmotionofalayup,keepastronggripontheballandholditclosetoyourbody.Smartdefenderswillattempttostripthebasketballbeforeyougoupintotheshootingmotionofthelayup.e.Don’tBeScaredofContactGettingfouledonalayupwillgiveyouachanceatathree-pointplay(orfreethrows)andwillpushyouropponentonestepclosetofoultrouble.Butmanyyoungplayersarescaredofcontact.Toavoidcontactorgettingblocked,theyangleawayfromthedefensegivingthemselvesamuchmoredifficultshotattempt.Encourageplayerstoembracecontactandattackthedefender!f.PracticeAgainstRealDefendersLearninglayuptechniqueisimportant,butalltheindividuallayuppracticeintheworldisn’tgoingtomakeyouanelitefinisherattherim.Youmustpracticescoringagainstlivedefenders.Onceyou’recomfortablewithtechnique,it’stimetoadddefensetakeyourfinishingskillstothenextlevel.1-on-12-on-22-on-1etcThesewillallhelpbuildtheskillsyouneed.ConclusionLearninghowtodoalayupiscrucialforallyoungplayers.Becausetheylackstrengthtomakeoutsideshotsconsistently,90%ofpointsscoredinyouthbasketballarefromlayups.Startbyusingthefourprogressionsoutlinedinthisarticletoteachthemthebasics,andthenprogresstoteachingthemthesevenlayupvariationsandalsoaddingdefenders.Ifyoudothiswell,yourteamshouldhavenotroubleattackingthehoopandscoringagainstanydefense. Shares RelatedPosts HowtoThrowanOverheadPassinBasketball(3-StepGuide) 11TipsforBasketballTryouts(HowtoStandOutandGetSelected) BasketballScoreSheet(FreetoDownloadandPrint) 9BasketballCertificatesandAwardsforKids(FreetoDownloadandPrint) BasketballDiagrammingSoftware FastDraw CoachMac’sFavoritePosts HowtoCreateaYouthBasketballPracticePlan Parents:PleaseStopRuiningYouthSports HowtoBeata2-3Zone–17Strategies ZoneDefenseisTerribleforYouthBasketball 21LifeLessonsKidsLearnThroughYouthSports HowtoWinEveryYouthBasketballGame(8TerribleTactics) 1-3-1ZoneDefense–CompleteCoachingGuide 20BasketballShootingDrills