How to Teach a Basketball Layup

The layup shot in basketball is among the first a new player should learn, and the player should practice this shot constantly. The layup forms the foundation for a number of other basketball shots and allows a step during its execution. You can teach the layup by breaking down the movements.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Basketball
• Basketball hoop
• Low bench

1. Ask the player if he uses his right hand or left hand the most. Teach the layup using the dominant hand first.
2. Walk through a layup in the slowest motion possible when you teach the shot.
3. Dribble the basketball while walking toward the basket. When you are near the basket, move slightly to one side—it's easier to shoot a right-handed layup if your player is right-handed, so start there. You are now at an angle to the hoop.
4. Take a half-step with your right foot. This is the outside foot, so if you are shooting from the left side of the basket it's your left foot that takes the half-step.
5. Push off with the inside foot to get altitude, then teach the player to bank the shot off the backboard by aiming at the square above the basket. The player must use the dominant hand to make the shot.
6. Teach the layup to younger basketball players by putting a low bench under the basket. This gives them a chance to get the feel of pushing off on the right foot and getting the half-step.

Tips & Warnings

• No matter the age level, teach the layup for the non-dominant hand as quickly as possible. Then have the player practice both. Depending on the position of the defense, the player needs to switch the shooting hand in order to maximize the accuracy of the shot.
• Improve the layup by putting defense players in front of the shooting so they get used to someone being there.
• Encourage players to get up as high as possible when pushing off.
• Teach the player to "go up strong" at the same time as teaching the layup. This means the player muscles upward when shooting and the defense can only put arms straight up, otherwise they foul. However, sometimes drawing the foul isn't a bad thing either.
• Remember, younger players don't have the arm muscle to bring the ball up underhanded then aim for the basket. They may push it up at first.