When it comes to youth basketball, finishing at the rim is a skill that often separates confident scorers from frustrated athletes. We’ve all seen it: a young player makes a great move, beats their defender, and… misses the layup. Over and over again. It’s discouraging for them, and frustrating for coaches and parents who know that finishing is one of the most teachable skills in the game.

Having coached my daughters for over 10 years of youth basketball, I can confidently say that making layups is often the difference between winning & losing at the youth level.

That’s one reason finishing should be a huge part of youth player development. In fact, I prioritize finishing above shooting at the youth level. Why? Because most youth players are strong enough to shoot with proper form, yet. However, they can learn to finish effectively around the rim, making the game fun and allowing them to experience success!

That’s why I love these 7 finishing drills from The Youth Coaching System With Jim Huber. They’re part of a progression that helps players build confidence, develop real-game finishing skills, and make those in-game layup opportunities count.

These drills combine fundamental footwork, game-like reps, and competitive elements that keep things fun and effective. Whether you're running a youth team or working with your child in the driveway, these are great drills to build into your training.

Youth Finishing Drill #1 - Two-Foot Finishing Footwork Series

This drill is the perfect place to start. It teaches players how to finish under control using two feet — a crucial foundation for youth players who often lose balance near the rim. By removing the ball and hoop, players can focus solely on their feet.

How it works:

• Players start in a stance and work on the rhythm: dribble → step → hop → finish.

• The cue "rip the ear" helps players visualize where the ball should go — up and strong next to their head.

Why it matters:
Teaching players to finish off two feet helps them absorb contact, stay balanced, and be more consistent in traffic. Too many young players attack out of control, leading to bad shots and turnovers.

Youth Finishing Drill #2 - One-Dribble Layups From The Arc

This drill teaches players to be efficient with their dribble. Too many players take extra dribbles, which slows them down and lets the defense recover. The goal is to cover as much ground as possible with just one dribble from the perimeter.

How it works:

• Players start at the three-point line or beyond.

• Take one hard dribble and try to finish at the rim.

  

Coaching tips:

• Encourage a "step, plant, push" mentality. Players must dribble fast but under control. Eyes should be up to help convert the layup.

• Challenge stronger players to cover more distance. Move them back to challenge them.

• Emphasize powerful, forward-driving movement. Stress locking out the elbow on the pushout dribble.

Why it matters:
This builds explosiveness and teaches players not to waste dribbles — a skill that translates directly to game play.

Youth Finishing Drill #3 - 1v1 Foster Drill

This is a live 1-on-1 drill that teaches players how to attack in transition and finish under pressure. It’s a great drill to work on attacking North-South in transition.

How it works:

• The offense and defense start at the free throw line. The offensive player dribbles to half court before attacking, while the defensive player touches the baseline.

• The defender tries to cut them off, forcing the offensive player to finish through contact or change direction. All shots must be in the paint.

  

Key skills developed:

• Finishing at full speed

• Handling contact

• Decision-making in live play

Why it matters:
Attacking with speed is an important skill. The offensive player should not slow down or play with the ball. They should use the defender’s momentum against them and attack the rim.

Youth Finishing Drill #4 - DeMatha Finishing Drill

This drill adds a layer of contact and unpredictability. It trains players to finish after receiving a pass — often while under pressure. It simulates a real game situation in which you finish with a defender on your side.

How it works:

• A coach tosses the ball to one of two players.

• That player becomes the offense, the other becomes the defender.

• The offensive player must finish quickly and decisively — off one or two feet, depending on the situation. The defender tries to stop them from scoring.

  

Variations to try:

• Toss the ball farther away to create a chase-and-finish scenario

• Force two-foot finishes for balance and power

Youth Finishing Drill #5 - Beilein Finishing Drill

Borrowed from Coach John Beilein, this 1v1 drill focuses on finishing through physicality and footwork. It teaches players to catch and finish in one motion against defensive pressure.

How it works:

• Players start on the blocks, hands out.

• The coach throws a pass to one player who must step across their defender, protect the ball, and finish. The other player defends.

• Players are encouraged to use ball fakes, pivots, and footwork to score.

  

Why it matters:
This teaches players to keep the ball away from the defender and use their body and feet, not just speed, to finish. It also incentivizes finishing quickly (without dribbling) before the defense arrives.

Youth Finishing Drill #6 - 1v1 Out of the Chair

A fun and challenging variation, this drill starts with the defender seated in a chair—they can’t move until the offensive player begins their attack. As a result, the offense has an initial advantage - now they must maintain it!

How it works:

• The offensive player starts in triple threat and explodes on the first dribble.

• As soon as the ball hits the floor, the defender is live.

• The offensive player must beat the defender with their first step and finish strong.

  

Why it matters:
It reinforces a low, long, explosive first step and finishing under pressure — two things youth players must master.

Youth Finishing Drill #7 - 1v1 Chair Step-Through

This is a great progression from the last drill, adding the concept of the step-through finish. It challenges players to work on different footwork as they attack the rim.

How it works:

• Same setup as the previous drill, but now the offensive player uses a rip-through, step-through move to get past the defender.

• Emphasizes tight ball control, footwork, and shoulder-to-hip contact to seal the defender.

  

Why it matters:
This helps young players learn to score without exposing the ball, using controlled aggression instead of speed alone. If the initial attack is taken away, players must be able to jab and rip as a counter.

Final Thoughts: Teaching Confidence Through Repetition

These drills are effective because they start with fundamental movements and gradually progress into live play. That’s how real confidence is built — one rep at a time, one challenge at a time.

And the best part? You don’t need a gym or a whole team to get started. Many of these drills can be adapted for 1-on-1 or small-group settings with minimal equipment.

So what are you waiting for?

And if you’re looking for a complete system that builds finishing, shooting, ball handling, defense, and more, check out the Youth Coaching System with Jim Huber. It’s saved countless hours for coaches and helped thousands of players build skills that last.

Want to Make Youth Practices More
Fun and WIN MORE GAMES

Coach Huber's Youth Coaching System gives you all the tried and true practice plans, drills, skills and concepts you'll ever need. Inside you'll get:

• 64 Interactive Practice Plans for all levels of youth basketball

• Exactly What to Teach - Offense, Zone Offense, Defense, Press Breakers, Out of Bounds

• Age-Apropriate Skill Development - for ages 9-14

• Drill Progressions From Beginner to Advanced

• Step-By-Step Instructions

SEE THE YOUTH COACHING SYSTEM

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