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Whenever possible we try to “Keep It Simple, Stupid!” Our 1st step in teaching lay-ups tries to do this too. Good Luck to you and your players.

Teaching Lay-ups

Once a player has learned how to dribble a basketball, the next natural progression is to attempt to score. This is challenging for most youth (and high school) players. A player who can “score the basketball” will be a valuable member of any team. 

As a coach, there are so many valuable aspects of basketball other than scoring, but scoring is the most recognized and for a player, the most enjoyable. Players who can score have confidence, get more shots, and will likely practice more than a player who has difficulty scoring. 

Identify the Target

The Target: “The Top Corner of the Square”

Basketball IQ is a term used to determine a player’s understanding of basketball. Since lay-ups are the most fundamental shot in basketball and probably the most used shot, players should have a complete understanding of how to successfully make this shot. 

Players should understand the 1st time they shoot a ball what the aiming point is. If a player can understand the importance of identifying the correct aiming point when taking a lay-up, the player will be much more successful when attempting the shot. 

To gauge a player’s basketball IQ regarding lay-ups, ask one simple question, “What is the aiming point for taking a lay-up?” This is a little bit of a loaded question, because some players will know the correct spot, but will not be able to articulate it. Many also will have no idea of what the correct answer is.  

Below are the typical inaccurate responses (with explanations of why they are wrong):

“THE BACKBOARD”: This is the most common response. A coach can have some fun, hitting the backboard in a variety of places and missing many different ways. A coach could shoot the ball all over the backboard and miss. A coach can look at the player who said the target is the backboard and say “I hit the backboard, what is wrong? I am doing what you told me to do. I hit the my target, the backboard. Why won’t the ball go in?”  

It is true a player should ALWAYS use the backboard when taking a lay-up, however there is a very specific point that should be the target. 

“THE SQUARE”: This is a better response, and players are getting closer to the correct answer, but the answer is still flawed. A coach can have some more fun by hitting the square, yet still missing the spot. Shoot the ball all over “the square” and miss. A coach can look at the player who responded the target was “the square” and say “I hit the square, what is wrong. I am doing what you told me to do. Why isn’t it going in?”  

Most players who miss a lay-up will hit the square, but not the correct point. Often players who hit the bottom of the square will miss the shot. 

The correct answer is… 

“THE TOP CORNER OF THE SQUARE CLOSEST TO YOU”: This is the most accurate and exact answer. Once a coach has explained the target in detail at the 1st practice, EACH player should know the correct target the rest of the season and his playing career. This is perhaps the most important step in consistently making lay-ups

Once the players understand the target for shooting a lay-up, it is time to see if they can actually hit the target and make a lay-up. 

“Players want to be good, they just don’t know how.”

Most parents, players, and coaches rarely have a skill specific, age appropriate development plan on how to improve. We will sharing a simple teaching progression to help a player develop a practice routine that will improve his /her ability to score. 

Thanks for reading. Check back soon for more youth basketball tips.