teaching 8 year old layups

The YMCA here requires 10-foot goal starting 8 year old (3rd graders) for games. My 8 year son has trouble jumping off one leg when doing layups.

Do you think it's better to let him focus on power layups which use both legs to jump?

How go you guys teach your 8 year old layups?

on a side note, should they need to learn both anyways?

I teach lay ups both ways -- jumping off one foot and from a jump stop.

I taught going off one leg when I was the sophomore and Varsity boys coach, the one year I coacched girls I taught going off the jump stop. I felt like it gave t hem more body control. Just my opinion.

Thanks Coaches Jeff and Sar. You guys are great.

Thanks for the kind words.... I know that I am speaking for Jeff and Joe also.

a quick follow up question

To do power layup, you need jump stop. In Jerry Krause's book "Basketball Skills & Drills ", he uses the term Quick Stop. Just to make sure, these two are the same thing, right?

I prefer quick stop as it implies there is no jump when you come to a stop.

When using a jump stop, I literally mean that you jump and come to a stop.

Based on the goofy rules, you cannot pivot after a jump stop, but you can pivot after quick stop. However, I rarely see a referee call a travel when a player pivots after a jump stop.

I wanted to clarify that the situation I mentioned above is referring to stopping off the dribble.

Off the pass, it does not matter if you jump stop or quick stop, you can still pivot.

Thanks for the reply. But I'm a bit confused about this. What's the difference between quick stop and jump stop? I thought they are the same with both feet landing at the same time.

What I stated above was what I interpreted from a referee one time when I asked about the rule, because I've heard different things. I dug out my NHFS Rulebook and finally figured it out.

It doesn't matter how high you jump or whether it is a quick stop or jump stop.

It depends on WHEN YOU TERMINATE THE DRIBBLE.

So, if you do this sequence.

1. Jump
2. Pick up the ball or terminate the dribble.
3. Land on both feet at the same time.

You can choose either foot for your pivot foot.


If you...

1. Pick up the ball or terminate the dribble.
2. Jump
3. Land on both feet at the same time.

If you pivot, this will be a traveling violation. However, you can jump to shoot or pass.


I've seen what looked like the exact same move in which the player jumps, lands on both feet, and pivots called a travel one possession and allowed the next possession. I never understood why.

However, what I didn't realize until now, the reason that it was called a travel is that they picked the ball up a split second earlier.

I hope that makes sense. I think a video needs to be done on this.

Quick stop - it's when you land both feet at the same time with a minimal jump. You are not trying to jump UP in the air. You are just quickly setting your feet.

Jump stop - it's when you land both feet at the same time with a jump UP in the air.

At least, that's how I define it.