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Coaching Youth Basketball: Tip, Drills, & Ideas

The Mikan drill is one of the best drills for developing players and post players. The true Mikan drill teaches players the proper footwork for taking right and left hand lay-ups. The ability to use correct footwork when taking a lay-up with both hands is well beyond the ability of 1st graders.

The Mini-Mikan Drills is ideal for the majority of players in grades 1 – 5.

The Mini-Mikan drill is the most basic lay-up drills. A player starts on one block and takes a block shot aiming and hopefully using the “top corner of the backboard.” After taking the 1st shot, the player grabs the rebound and goes directly to the opposite block. (It does not matter if the player makes or misses the 1st shot.) The player squares up to the basket and shoots a 2nd shot. The player continues to take alternating shots from the right and left block for 30 seconds or until a player makes a set number of shots. The number of shots will depend on the age and skill level.

This the first individual lay-up drill that should be taught. Keep teaching and repeating the drill until a player is ready to learn the next layup drill.