Euro-Step Finish
Finish around a defender by changing direction with a two-step euro move.
What this drill teaches
Finishing by changing direction, not through contact. The two-step euro — one step at the defender, the second away — teaches long, controlled footwork after the gather, so smaller players can slide past help rather than jumping into it.
In games: Cuts game-day charges and blocked layups — the player who used to crash into the help defender in the lane now steps around them and finishes.
- Clear gather, then two long controlled steps — no shuffle
- Ball swung away from the defender's hands mid-move
- Finish on the far side, off balance neither travelling nor falling
U12: walk the footwork with no ball — travels are normal early. U14–U16: expect it at speed against a pad, plus a jump-stop counter when the defender stays.
Equipment
1 ball, 1 hoop, cone
Setup
A cone or coach stands as the help defender in the lane.
Steps
- 1Attack the cone off the dribble.
- 2Pick the ball up and step one way past the defender.
- 3Step back the other way with the second step to avoid contact.
- 4Finish the layup on the far side.
Coaching points
- Gather, then step — right, then left (or reverse).
- Keep the ball away from the defender.
- Long, controlled steps — no travel.
Why kids love it
A crafty finish that lets smaller players score through traffic without getting blocked.
Variations
Walk the two-step footwork with no dribble first.
Swap the cone for a coach holding a pad who steps into the drive.
Call 'stay' when the defender doesn't bite and make the player finish off a two-foot jump stop instead.