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Mikan variation series

Progress through regular, reverse, and power finishes. Keep the ball high, use both hands, and finish off the correct foot. 1 to 3 players, 1 basket, about 8 minutes.

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Mikan variation series drawn on a half court in 2 steps. 1. Right side: Start under the rim, ball above the shoulders. Step off the left foot and finish a right-hand layup off the right side of the backboard. Catch the ball as it comes through the net. 2. Step across: Step across under the rim and finish a left-hand layup off the right foot on the left side, then keep going side to side with no dribble.
1. Right side: Start under the rim, ball above the shoulders. Step off the left foot and finish a right-hand layup off the right side of the backboard. Catch the ball as it comes through the net. 2. Step across: Step across under the rim and finish a left-hand layup off the right foot on the left side, then keep going side to side with no dribble.Credit: Drawn by Ball Coach

What it needs

Players
1 to 3 players
Baskets
1 basket
Court
Needs a quarter court
Time
About 8 minutes
Equipment
one ball per basket, a second ball per player for the two-ball version
Type
Skill work, foundation

Set it up

One player and one ball under each basket; with more players than baskets, two or three share a basket and rotate every 30 seconds. The working player starts under the rim, facing the court, ball held above the shoulders.

Run it

Regular: step off the left foot and finish a right-hand layup off the right side of the backboard. Catch the ball as it comes through the net, before it touches the floor. Step across and finish a left-hand layup off the right foot on the left side. Keep going side to side with no dribble, the ball never dropping below the chin. Reverse: from under the rim, step through to the other side and finish a reverse layup with the hand away from the rim, then go back the other way. Power: from one block, jump stop on two feet, shoulders square to the baseline, and finish with two hands off the glass; then step across to the other block. Two-ball: hold a ball in each hand. Finish a one-handed layup off the correct foot with one hand, keeping the other ball held out in front of you. Catch the rebound with the hand that shot, as the ball comes through the net, then step across and score one-handed with the hand that has not shot yet, the first ball still held out in front. Catch that rebound with the hand that just shot, and keep going side to side.

What to coach

Progress through regular, reverse, and power finishes. Keep the ball high, use both hands, and finish off the correct foot.

Score it

Count makes in 30 seconds for each finish, or race to 10 makes. A make counts only if the ball stayed above the chin and the finish came off the correct foot. Write down the best score so players can beat it next time. A two-ball make counts only when the finish is one-handed and the other ball stays held out in front of you.

Make it harder

Start with regular, then reverse, then power. Then have a coach bump the shooter with a pad on power finishes, use the weak hand only, or cut the time window. Add the two-ball version once the regular finish is clean with either hand.

With fewer players, baskets or coaches

With a larger group or more players than baskets, put up to three at every basket you have. At one basket with a big group, run it as one station in a rotation, not as a line.

Use it in practice

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Where this drill comes from

Ball Coach wrote this drill for its practice planner's drill library. The curricula below shaped how the library organizes practice; no text or diagram is copied from them. The diagram is drawn by Ball Coach.