Mikan Drill
Continuous alternating layups under the rim. Timing, touch, and both hands.
Setup
One player, one ball, directly under the basket. No defender and no other equipment — this is a solo drill run in the space beneath the rim.
How to run it
- 1Start on the right side
Shoot a right-hand layup off your LEFT foot, banking it softly off the top corner of the square.
- 2Catch it out of the net
Rebound with both hands before the ball hits the floor. If it bounces, the rep is over.
- 3Cross under to the left
Step across the front of the rim and shoot a left-hand layup off your RIGHT foot, same soft bank off the opposite corner.
- 4Keep alternating without pausing
Right, left, right, left. Steady enough that you never stop to reset your feet.
- 5Count makes, not attempts
Target 20 consecutive makes for younger players, 30–50 for older ones, then rest.
Coaching points
- The ball never touches the floor. That continuous touch is the whole point of the drill.
- Inside hand, outside foot — right hand off the left foot, left hand off the right foot. It is the same footwork every driving layup uses.
- Keep the ball high between catches, above the shoulder. Bringing it down to the waist invites a strip and wastes time.
- Aim for the top corner of the square, not the middle of the backboard. Soft touch beats a hard bank.
- Stay under the rim. Drifting out turns it into a different drill and kills the rhythm.
Common mistakes
- Letting the ball bounce between reps — the most common error, and it breaks the continuous-touch purpose entirely.
- Shooting both sides with the dominant hand. Players will cheat the weak side unless you watch for it.
- Jumping off two feet every rep, which removes the alternating footwork the drill is built to teach.
- Going so fast the shots stop dropping. A missed Mikan rep teaches nothing.
Make it harder or easier
- Easier: let younger players catch and reset their feet between reps, then remove the pause once the pattern holds.
- Harder: Reverse Mikan — the same pattern on the far side of the rim, shooting reverse layups.
- Harder: cap it on time — most makes in 45 seconds, tracked week to week.
- Hardest: one-hand Mikan with no guide hand, which exposes any flaw in touch.
Coaching focus: Finishing at the Rim
Finishing drills train footwork, touch, and body control through contact near the basket. Reps with both hands and both feet build the habit of finishing strong regardless of angle.
Frequently asked questions
One player, one ball, directly under the basket. No defender and no other equipment — this is a solo drill run in the space beneath the rim. 1. Start on the right side: Shoot a right-hand layup off your LEFT foot, banking it softly off the top corner of the square. 2. Catch it out of the net: Rebound with both hands before the ball hits the floor. If it bounces, the rep is over. 3. Cross under to the left: Step across the front of the rim and shoot a left-hand layup off your RIGHT foot, same soft bank off the opposite corner. 4. Keep alternating without pausing: Right, left, right, left. Steady enough that you never stop to reset your feet. 5. Count makes, not attempts: Target 20 consecutive makes for younger players, 30–50 for older ones, then rest.
Mikan Drill works well for players in Ages 4–6, Ages 7–9, Ages 10–12, and can be scaled up or down in speed and complexity for other age groups.
Run Mikan Drill for about 5 minutes as part of a broader practice or individual workout — enough reps to build the habit without losing quality.
Letting the ball bounce between reps — the most common error, and it breaks the continuous-touch purpose entirely. Shooting both sides with the dominant hand. Players will cheat the weak side unless you watch for it. Jumping off two feet every rep, which removes the alternating footwork the drill is built to teach. Going so fast the shots stop dropping. A missed Mikan rep teaches nothing.
You'll need: ball, hoop.
Coaching Mikan Drill?
Swap notes with coaches running this drill in the free community, or build Mikan Drill into a timed practice plan, assign it to your roster, and track who's completed it in the app.
The community is free and always will be. No card needed for either.