Lay-up Drill with Multiple Attack Angles

Notice: This article was written by Steve Jordan, Coach's Notebook. Email the author at sjordan@alaskalife.net.

Setup: Half court, two lines at corners. Point out the five starting points on the floor (indicated here by the yellow circles). The lines are always separated by one open starting point. You may use 1, 2 or 3 balls. One line shoots and one line rebounds. The shooting line passes to the rebounding line. When the player from the rebounding line receives the ball, he acts as a post and feeds the ball back to the shooter. The shooters should vary opening cuts and shot types. After feeding the shooter, the post goes for the rebound and returns the ball to the shooting line. When complete, each player joins the other line.

Benefits: Players use several attack angles at the basket. Players gain experience using a post player, give and go simulations, ball handling and passing. All elements are basic and fundamental. Make the drill game-like in that the players make L and V cuts to get the ball or to the post position. Post players should chin and protect the ball. Players should use good crisp passes. Emphasis is on performing simple skills perfectly and on following directions. Proper execution is much more important than speed or changing the drill.

Pitfalls: Players making lazy passes and taking a slow approach to the basket. Post players being careless with the ball. An option is to put a defensive player on the post (a good role for a coach who is otherwise not involved in the drill. Insist that lay-ups be initiated from the proper foot, for example and that V and L cuts are sharp, not rounded.

Here are some links to other layup drills on this site:

Lay up Drills I
Lay up Drills II
Lay up Drills III
Lay up Drills IV
Lay up Drills V

Introduction:

The yellow spots are imaginary. Their purpose is to indicate starting points for the drill. The key is to remember that there is always one open starting point between the lines as the players rotate around the court.

1. First player in left line passes to first player in right line, then cuts to the basket.
2. First player in the right lines received the pass and comes to a jump stop at the free throw line, then passes the ball back to the cutting player.
3. The first left line player shoots the ball and then goes to the end of the right line.
4. The right line player rebounds the ball and passes to the left line, then joins the left line.
5. The second players in line line do the same exercise.
6. When all players have shot three times (or the team has made x number lay ups in a row, or you can measure the number of lay ups made in a specified time), then each line moves to the next starting point.

Editor's note: The green line showing the right line player moving to the left line from the free throw after passing is erroneous. He should rebound the ball first, then go to the end of the left line.

1. Both lines have moved counter clock-wise to the next starting point.
2. First player in bottom (near half court) line passes to first player in right line, then cuts to the basket.
3. First player in the right line receives the pass and then passes the ball back to the cutting player.
4. You may elect for the right line player to assume a post position, or break up from the baseline and meet the pass.
5. The first bottom line player shoots the ball and then goes to the end of the right line.
6. The right line player rebounds the ball and passes to the bottom line, then joins the bottom line.
7. The second players in line do the same exercise.
   
   

1. Both lines have moved counter clock-wise to the next starting point.
2. First player in the right line passes to first player in left line, then cuts to the basket.
3. First player in the left line receives the pass and then passes the ball back to the cutting player.
4. You may elect for the left line player to assume a post position, or break up from the baseline and meet the pass.
5. The first right line player shoots the ball and then goes to the end of theleft t line.
6. The right line player rebounds the ball and passes to the left line, then joins the left line.
7. The second players in line do the same exercise.

Editor's note: The green line showing the left line player moving to the right line from the free throw after passing is erroneous. He should rebound the ball first, then go to the end of the left line.

1. Both lines have moved counter clock-wise to the next starting point.
2. First player in top (near the baseline) line passes to first player in left line, then cuts to the basket.
3. First player in the left line receives the pass and then passes the ball back to the cutting player.
4. You may elect for the left line player to assume a post position, or break up from the baseline and meet the pass.
5. The first bottom line player shoots the ball and then goes to the end of the left line.
6. The leftt line player rebounds the ball and passes to the bottom line, then joins the bottom line.
7. The second players in line do the same exercise.

Editor's note: The green line showing the left line player moving to the right line from the free throw after passing is erroneous. He should rebound the ball first, then go to the end of the left line.

1. First player in left line passes to first player in right line, then cuts to the basket.
2. First player in the right lines received the pass and comes to a jump stop at the free throw line, then passes the ball back to the cutting player.
3. The first left line player shoots the ball and then goes to the end of the right line.
4. The right line player rebounds the ball and passes to the left line, then joins the left line.
5. The second players in line line do the same exercise.

Editor's note: The green line showing the right line player moving to the left line from the free throw after passing is erroneous. He should rebound the ball first, then go to the end of the left line.

1. First player in left line passes to first player in right line, then cuts to the basket.
2. First player in the right lines received the pass and comes to a jump stop at the free throw line, then passes the ball back to the cutting player.
3. The first left line player shoots the ball and then goes to the end of the right line.
4. The right line player rebounds the ball and passes to the left line, then joins the left line.
5. The second players in line line do the same exercise.
6. When all players have shot three times (or the team has made x number lay ups in a row, or you can measure the number of lay ups made in a specified time), then each line moves to the next starting point.

Editor's note: The green line showing the right line player moving to the left line from the free throw after passing is erroneous. He should rebound the ball first, then go to the end of the left line.