Mikan Drill

Skill drill

Groove soft finishes with both hands right at the rim.

6 min 1 per hoop Half court
FootworkShootingU10U12U14U16

Technique guide

1 per hoop · 1 ball, hoops

Get everyone ready

Start under the rimStand right under the basket with the ball. 1

● Player / attackGold: ball

Illustrated steps · 5 seconds per step at 1×

Set up

Player starts under the basket with a ball. Use as many hoops as you have to keep lines short.

Look for: Opposite hand, opposite foot — right hand off the left foot, left hand off the right.

Playback options
Illustrated steps · 5 seconds per step at 1×
Coach’s notes & group organisation

Player starts under the basket with a ball. Use as many hoops as you have to keep lines short.

  1. Shoot a right-hand layup, taking off from your left foot with the right knee driving up.
  2. Rebound out of the net before it hits the floor.
  3. Immediately shoot a left-hand layup, taking off from your right foot.
  4. Keep alternating for 45–60 seconds — count makes.

Suggested reset

One player keeps the same ball under the basket, rebounding immediately and alternating right and left finishes for 45–60 seconds. At the end of the set, secure the ball and hand it to the next player; wait clear of the landing area. Use separate baskets to keep waiting short.

Coaching cues

  • Opposite hand, opposite foot — right hand off the left foot, left hand off the right.
  • Use the backboard every time.
  • Soft touch — no hard bank.
  • Stay on the balls of your feet, keep moving.

Adapt the challenge

Easier: Allow one dribble/gather between shots.

Harder: Reverse Mikan — finish on the other side of the rim each time.

Two-ball Mikan: Hold a second ball in the off hand the whole way through — it forces a proper one-hand finish.

What this drill teaches

Ambidextrous finishing at the rim. The alternating pattern builds the weak hand relentlessly without ever announcing it — most kids don't notice half their makes are left-handed.

In games: Finishing on whichever side the defence allows — a player forced left, or scrambling for a putback, scores instead of switching hands into a block or a miss.

What good looks like
  • Opposite hand, opposite foot without pausing to reset
  • Ball caught out of the net before it bounces
  • Soft touch off the glass, not hard banks

U10: allow a reset dribble between shots. U14+: continuous rhythm, count makes per 45 seconds.

Equipment

1 ball, hoops

Setup

Player starts under the basket with a ball. Use as many hoops as you have to keep lines short.

Steps

  1. 1Shoot a right-hand layup, taking off from your left foot with the right knee driving up.
  2. 2Rebound out of the net before it hits the floor.
  3. 3Immediately shoot a left-hand layup, taking off from your right foot.
  4. 4Keep alternating for 45–60 seconds — count makes.

Coaching points

  • Opposite hand, opposite foot — right hand off the left foot, left hand off the right.
  • Use the backboard every time.
  • Soft touch — no hard bank.
  • Stay on the balls of your feet, keep moving.

Why kids love it

It's a beat-your-own-score challenge. Kids compete against yesterday's number and love shouting their make count.

Variations

Easier

Allow one dribble/gather between shots.

Harder

Reverse Mikan — finish on the other side of the rim each time.

Two-ball Mikan

Hold a second ball in the off hand the whole way through — it forces a proper one-hand finish.

Related drills

Coaching notes that use this drill