Putting a Good (Proper) Foot Forward Putting a Good (Proper) Foot Forward
By Paul Niland, JV Boys’ Basketball Coach, Mission Valley (KS) High School
Courtesy of Basketball Sense at www.basketballsense.com

Introduction

The purpose of this article is to discuss methods of improving the way coaches teach the “easiest shot in basketball” — the lay-up. Particular emphasis will be placed on the proper footwork for this shot.

One could argue that the topic of teaching the lay-up should be limited to coaches at the el-ementary or middle school levels. However, I would challenge a coach with this opinion to take a hard look at the mechanics of high school and some college players as they go through the lay-up line in practice or pre-game.

Teaching Process

I had the opportunity to listen to Utah coach Rick Majerus speak at Don Meyer's Coaches' Academy. One of the main themes I took away from Coach Majerus' excellent presentation is the fact that you cannot teach too slowly. Likewise, it is futile to try to teach two skills concurrently. For example, if you are trying to teach a player to shoot a crossover lay-up, do not make him start by using a crossover dribble. The dribble and the shot are separate skills that need to be taught and mastered in isolation before they can be incorporated together.

In this article, I will discuss teaching the lay-up in three distinct phases:

1. proper footwork

2. proper pickup of the ball

3. proper release of the ball

In accordance with Coach Majerus' premise discussed above, drills will be used that focus on teaching each separate skill before they are incorporated together.

Footwork

The first thing that is essential in teaching the proper foot-work for the lay-up is taking the ball out of the player's hands. Regardless of how much a coach talks about proper footwork , if a player has a ball in his hands he will concentrate on his dribble or his shot before he ever thinks about his footwork.

Drill 1

If I am working with a large number of players, I will line them up on the baseline. We will first work on the footwork for a right hand lay-up. On my command, each player will step forward with his left foot. On the first few repetitions (3 to 5), I will pause for a two count so they become comfortable with the left foot forward. On my next command, each player will drive his right knee up as he jumps off his left foot.

Drill 1 Teaching Points

1. Emphasize that the players should step about 20 percent further than they would if they were merely walking. This will need to be explained in different ways depending on the age and size of the players.

2. Make sure that their left knees are bent when the players step out. The players should pause briefly to make sure that this is done properly.

3. As the players jump, make sure they drive their right knees up. This makes the players jump up rather than out. Constantly remind the players to "high jump, don't long jump."

4. The players should land on two feet. The landing point should be slightly in front of the takeoff point.

5. The same sequence should be used for left-handed lay-ups. Increase the repetitions for the weak side (at least a 2:1 weak to strong ratio is recommended). The feet will obviously alternate roles when we switch sides of the basket.

Drill 2

Notice that the first drill is done in isolation from both the basket and the basketball. By doing this you eliminate all distractions from the initial task of developing proper footwork. After players become comfortable with the first drill, you may repeat the basics of that drill. The players should start at a proper distance from the basket (the point where they would pick up the ball and begin the allowed one-and-a-half steps to shoot the lay-up). Again, no ball is used in this drill. Players will be lined up behind the player stepping to the basket. Rather than having these players stand, have them follow your commands of "step" and "jump" as they wait their turn to shoot the ball.

Drill 2 Teaching Points

1. Do not worry about the players’ shot mechanics at this point unless they mimic a fancy shot or do something that throws their bodies off balance. It is important to remind the players to aim their shooting hands at the top of the square on the backboard.

2. Make sure the players at the basket have the proper angle of approach to the basket. The players should be coming in at a 45-degree angle towards the basket.

Drill 3

After the players have demonstrated proficiency in Drills 1and 2 (with both the right-handed and left-handed lay-up), it is time to progress to letting the players shoot the ball. At this point I will simply add a ball to Drill 2. The only mention I will make of the shot is that the players should aim their shooting hands at the desired target (the top corner of the square). Notice that the players are not dribbling to shoot. They are merely taking one step with the ball and jumping off their inside feet as they drive their outside knees up toward the basket.

Drill 3 Teaching Points

1. I only critique footwork. Once they have a ball, kids want to score, so the advice of aiming at the top corner of the square normally suffices. I only intervene if the players are trying to be too fancy or not using the outside hand to shoot.

2. Praise what you want to occur. You should be looking for a good step with the inside foot, good knee drive with the outside leg, and a balanced landing on two feet. Do not worry about whether the ball goes in or not.

Pickup

After the players begin to perform the footwork covered above without thinking about it, it is time to concentrate on proper pickup of the ball. A common error is for players to bring the ball across their bodies to their pickup hands. This exposes the ball to defenders. For example, if you are driving from the right wing to lay the ball in on the right side and you bring the ball across your midsection to your left hand, the ball is momentarily exposed to defenders coming from the lane area (or the defender you dribble past). That moment is all a quick defender needs to strip you of the ball.

Drill 1

Begin with the players working way from the basket, as discussed earlier. As in Drill 1 in the footwork stage, have players go through the footwork on your command (“step…jump”). However, this time the players will have a basketball. When the coach says “step,” each player will step with his inside foot (again, use a 3 to 4second pause here, and the ball should be held with two hands, tight to the ribcage, just above the outside hip).

Drill 1 Teaching Points

1. When each player steps forward with his left foot, the natural tendency is for the player to swing the ball across his body to the inside hip. Instruct the player not to let the inside hand (or any part of the ball) cross his navel. Pausing with the inside foot forward allows the player to feel where the ball should beat this point in the shot. This is helpful because in full speed you are only in this position momentarily.

2. On the coach's command of “jump,” each player will drive his right knee up and the ball will be pulled vertically along the outside of the player's head. Two hands are still on the ball.

3. Again, the only element you are critiquing is keeping the ball on the outside half of the shooter's body and keeping two hands on the ball until it's at head level.

Drill 2

At this point we are still not working at the basket. Each player will take one dribble with the outside hand, keep the ball on the outside half of the body (the ball does not cross his navel), and bring his inside hand to the ball.

Release

Now the only other element of the shot is the release. Once each player has successfully picked the ball up and brought it to the head level with two hands securing the ball, he will turn his outside hand inward as his inside hand comes off the ball.

Drill 1

Each player will start with the ball at head level and the ball directly above his outside shoulder. He will step, jump, and release until the coach is satisfied with the mechanics of the release(this will vary greatly with the age and ability level of each player). At this point, have the players start with the ball in the triple threat position and step, jump, and release. The players are now ready to put the ball on the floor. Have the players start with one dribble and then move on to two dribbles.

Drill 1 Teaching Points

The players’ horizontal speed will be translated to the ball upon release of the ball (just as if you drop an apple core out of a moving car, it has the equivalent horizontal speed as the car. I am not a physicist so I won't push this analogy any further). Therefore, the players only need to get the ball up with their release and the players' momentum will carry the ball forward. It is important to note that players driving hard to the basket will need little to no horizontal force on the ball. Each player's index finger should be pointed at the top of the square on the backboard with his eyes focused on the target. His eyes should remain fixed on the target until the ball hits it.

Putting it All Together

As in Footwork Drill 3,players will start one-and-a-half strides from the basket and step, jump, and release. All components of the shot will be critiqued. When the players demonstrate mastery without having to dribble, move them back to a distance where they will need one dribble to get to the basket. Then move to two dribbles.

Drill 1

The shooter is one-and-a-half strides from the basket, the rebounder should be beside the basket, and the next shooter behind the first shooter. The shooter performs a lay-up without a dribble. The rebounder tosses to the next shooter and goes to the end of the shooting line. The shooter will become the next rebounder. Players move in a circle as they go from shooter to rebounder to the end of the line. This drill is extended to one and two dribbles. This drill can also be done with crossover lay-ups.

Drill 2

The coach can stand beside the basket and serve as a de-fender. He will try to strip any ball that crosses the center of the shooter’s body. You can also use an air dummy with older players to simulate contact for the shooter as he takes the ball up.

Drill 3

This drill is very similar to the previous drill. However, there are now two players on defense. One will try to strip the ball as it is picked up and the other will pop the shooter with an air dummy as he goes up for the shot.

Conclusion

As a high school coach, I consistently see junior high players coming to our program without proper fundamentals. Some of these kids are coming to us without the ability to shoot a lay-up correctly with either hand. Regardless of whether you are a high school or junior high coach in this situation, your kids who lack these skills will benefit from these drills. Simply start where the players need instruction(footwork, pickup, or release) and work from there.