Contested Pad Layup

🎒 Gear Needed: 1 x basketball, 1 ring, 1 blocking pad (or large couch cushion/pillow), partner (or coach)
⏱ Suggested Time: 5 - 10 minutes
👥 Participants: Partner (2 players)
📍 Space: Backyard | Half-Court
📊 Difficulty: Intermediate

📝 Instructions

1. Preparing for Match Contact: In competitive Australian junior basketball, uncontested layups are rare. Defenders will contest space inside the key. This drill builds physical resilience and concentration so players can finish through contact for a “three-point play” (and-one).
2. Setup: The offensive driver starts on the right wing, 4 metres from the ring with the basketball. The partner stands on the edge of the key holding a blocking pad (or thick cushion) securely against their chest.
3. The Attack & Gather: The driver explodes downhill with an aggressive attack dribble. As the driver takes their first gather step inside the key, they must chin the ball tightly with both hands and brace their core.
4. Delivering & Absorbing the Bump: The partner with the pad steps across into legal guarding position and delivers a controlled, firm chest bump against the driver’s non-shooting shoulder. Crucially, the pad holder must NOT push with their arms; they simply provide solid torso resistance.
5. Finishing Through the Contact: Rather than flinching or fading away from the bump, the driver absorbs the contact, maintains their vertical jump path toward the backboard, and lays the ball up softly off the top-right corner of the backboard square.
6. Repetitions: Complete 8 makes driving right, then move to the left wing for 8 makes driving left (absorbing contact on the right shoulder and finishing with the left hand). Swap roles so the partner gets equal repetitions.

💡 Coaching Cues

• Initiate the Contact: Do not shy away or fade backwards. Lower your driving shoulder slightly and meet the pad with confidence.
• Chin the Ball: Keep two hands clamped on the basketball at chin height so the physical impact of the bump does not jar the ball loose.
• Eyes Locked on the Square: No matter how hard the contact is, keep your eyes glued to the target square on the backboard throughout your takeoff and release.

🔄 Variations & Progressions

• Make It Easier: The partner holds the cushion stationary without stepping toward the driver, allowing the driver to initiate light touch and focus on balance.
• Make It Harder: “And-One Challenge” — the partner contests with the pad and claps or shouts on release; the driver must convert 5 layups through contact consecutively to finish the set.

📺 Video Demonstration