Power Layup

Skill drill

Finish strong at the rim off two feet through contact.

6 min any Half court
ShootingFootworkU10U12U14U16

Technique guide

Any group size · 1 ball, 1 hoop

Get everyone ready

Gather on two feetPick up the ball and jump-stop off both feet under control. 1

● Player / attackGold: ball

Illustrated steps · 5 seconds per step at 1×

Set up

Player starts at the short corner or block with a ball.

Look for: Two-foot jump stop for balance.

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

Player starts at the short corner or block with a ball.

  1. Take one dribble toward the rim.
  2. Jump-stop off two feet, ball protected high.
  3. Go straight up (not forward) and finish off the glass.
  4. Land balanced, ready to rebound.

Suggested reset

At a two-player basket station, the shooter retrieves their attempt and returns the same ball to the next shooter, then waits clear of the finishing lane. For a prescribed shooting set, finish the set before swapping. With more players, split across baskets or rotate short sets; keep spare balls off the active shooting line.

Coaching cues

  • Two-foot jump stop for balance.
  • Ball high and protected — 'chin it'.
  • Go up strong, use the backboard.

Adapt the challenge

Harder: Coach gives light contact with a pad.

Easier: Take no dribble at all — step, jump-stop, and finish off the glass.

Both Blocks: Do five from each block so the weak side gets the same reps.

What this drill teaches

Finishing through contact instead of away from it. The two-foot jump stop builds a balanced base and the chinned ball takes away the strip, so small players learn their answer to bigger bodies at the rim: strength and glass, not hope.

In games: Fixes the wild, drifting layup that gets swatted or bumped off line — the missed bunny plus the whistle-less bump is the most common lost points in youth ball.

What good looks like
  • Two feet landing together before the finish
  • Ball chinned high, elbows out, not swung low
  • Going straight up off the glass, not floating forward

U10: no dribble — step, stop, finish — and expect travel wobbles. U14–U16: expect strong finishes through pad contact, equal reps on the weak side.

Equipment

1 ball, 1 hoop

Setup

Player starts at the short corner or block with a ball.

Steps

  1. 1Take one dribble toward the rim.
  2. 2Jump-stop off two feet, ball protected high.
  3. 3Go straight up (not forward) and finish off the glass.
  4. 4Land balanced, ready to rebound.

Coaching points

  • Two-foot jump stop for balance.
  • Ball high and protected — 'chin it'.
  • Go up strong, use the backboard.

Why kids love it

Little players get fouled a lot inside; a two-foot power finish helps them score through bumps.

Variations

Harder

Coach gives light contact with a pad.

Easier

Take no dribble at all — step, jump-stop, and finish off the glass.

Both Blocks

Do five from each block so the weak side gets the same reps.

Related drills

Coaching notes that use this drill