Rebounding rarely makes the headlines, yet few teams can win consistently without competing on the boards. While height is certainly an advantage, fundamentals, positioning and attitude separate the good players from the just OK players. Too often teams are given additional scoring chances because players failed to gain possession following a missed shot. It also happens following a missed free throw when players fail to make contact and pursue the ball – – a gift for the opposition. It happens when the defense forces a poor shot but relaxes and gets beat to the rebound.

Rebounding in principle, is pretty simple. Put your body between the opposing player and the ball – and then go get the ball. Of course, the other team wants the ball too so you have to want the ball more than they do. The rules prohibit, tripping, tackling, shoving and mugging your opponent (unless you are in certain AAU tournaments) so you have to do some basic things if you want to get the ball “legally”. The first and most important task relates to positioning. It’s good to be between the opposing player and the ball. If you have good position – keep it! If you don’t have good position – get it!

A good defensive effort often ends with a rebound opportunity. If you have worked hard on defense and forced your opponent into a poor shot you want to make sure you secure the ball and do not allow the offense a second chance to score. Defensive rebounding is not a solo act, it requires everybody on the defense to do their job and keep their man from getting the rebound. Positioning is key. You also have to be strong, holding your position.

Offensive rebounding is the unscripted, yet valuable part of any offense. Every offensive rebound is an additional scoring opportunity for your team and one less for the opposition. Since nobody makes 100% of their shots offensive rebounds are a good thing. To be a good offensive rebounder you have to be agile and committed to continually moving your feet to get a chance at securing the rebound.

Although they are similar, defensive and offensive rebounding skills are different. Becoming a competent rebounder requires learning and mastering different techniques.

MINDSET

Most coaches agree that both defensive and offensive rebounding are driven by a player’s mindset. That mindset originates at an early age. Unfortunately, for many it is not viewed as an important part of the early learning process.

When kids are learning to play basketball, they want to shoot and score - that’s when the parents, fans and coaches cheer the loudest. It’s affirming and consequently reinforcing. Unfortunately, that does not change much as players develop. Check out the typical end of season awards found in many local news media sources. In almost all cases those who earn recognition are the team’s high scorers. Sometimes the team’s most valuable player - the one who does everything well does not get the recognition. The point is, there is not much external motivation for a player to be a good rebounder. If players do not develop a rebounding mindset at an early age higher level coaches will have tough time getting players to invest in the rebounding effort. Rebounding must be stressed and practiced every day. Those who work hard on rebounding should be rewarded with recognition and playing time.

A player with the proper mindset for rebounding -

1.     Is aggressive.

2.     Is committed and determined.

3.     Looks at every shot as an opportunity for a rebound.

4.     Anticipates where the ball will come off the rim.

5.     Puts in what some call “flight time effort” - the work a player does while the ball is in the air.

Mindset - Attitude / Aggressive Style

Four of the five mindset aspects noted above involve attitude and effort (1,2,3 & 5). The best rebounders play with an edge. Their attitude is, “I’m going to work harder than you and I’m going to get the rebound - and you are not”. The attitude is matched by an aggressive style of play and basic technique.

Mindset - Every Shot is a Rebound Opportunity - Assume the Miss

Rebounders understand that high school players typically shoot less than 40% from the field, and under 65% from the free throw line. That means that they will miss 6 out of 10 shots and 3.5 out of every 10 free throws. A good rebounder assumes the shot will miss and goes to the boards knowing there is an opportunity for a rebound.

Mindset - Flight Time Effort

A good rebounder does not accept their position on the court when a rebound is available. When the shot goes up they put in the “flight time” effort - if they have position they make contact with the nearest competitor and hold their position. If they do not have position, they work to get position, using what they know about anticipating where the ball will go, while the ball is in flight (usually two or three seconds), so they are in position to grab the rebound when it comes off the rim.

Mindset - Learn to Anticipate Where the Ball is Going

Some players have a habit of watching the ball in flight. This causes them to react rather than anticipate. To be in a sound rebounding position a player must anticipate where it will be. If you react to where the ball already went you are too late.

Part of the “flight time effort” is learning to anticipate where the shot will go if missed - and getting there. Assume the shot will be missed. Where is the shot coming from? If it came from the far corner, 70% of the missed shots will rebound on the far side (weak side) of the basket. That means 30% will rebound on the same side as the shot. This data holds true for shots taken from the wing as well - they will rebound to the opposite wing 70% of the time. The range of possibilities for shots taken from the top is greater and more difficult to predict. Rebounders, armed with this knowledge, can learn to anticipate where the rebound will likely come off the rim and move to gain position there.

Other factors that contribute to better anticipation:

Long Shot = Long Rebound - Long shots will typically bounce farther from the basket.

Shots with a “shooter’s touch” - high arc and good rotation (back spin) are more likely to hang on the rim and fall closer to the basket.

Flat, line drive shots will typically hit harder off the rim and bound out farther.

Recognize the flight path - is the shot long or short, left or right of the target? Short shots can drop straight down at the rim.

MENTAL TOUGHNESS

Mental toughness is the ability to perform consistently under stress and pressure, displaying qualities such as character, resilience, grit and perseverance. The best rebounders are mentally tough, and being mentally tough is just as important as a player’s physical talents. The character, resilience, grit and perseverance a player displays on the court is what allows players with less physical talent to outperform players with greater talent.

ROLES - BENEFITS

Good rebounders are important "role players". Every coach knows the value of a good rebounder. Players who are not as skilled at shooting or dribbling can find a place on the court by doing the tough things that make a difference. Rebounding is one of those things. Good rebounders usually get rewarded with playing time.

SKILLS / TECHNIQUE

BOX OUT

The “traditional” box out is most effective in the lane where multiple bodies are coming together to try and get the ball. A good rebounder must carve out space in order to be able to secure the ball in traffic.

1.     Box outs start with the player initiating contact with her opponent. Turn to find the nearest opponent and step to her body and use your arm bar to bump her upper body, slowing her

momentum to the ball.

2.     As you make contact, reverse pivot to face the basket and establish position between you and the opponent. Set your feet at least shoulder width apart, with your hips down and engaged.

3.     Your arms are at shoulder height and wide, hands up. This is critical since shots sometimes hit the rim and drop straight down quickly. If your hands are not ready you can miss the chance for a

rebound.

4.     Locate the ball in flight.

5.     Maintain contact until you site the ball and can anticipate where it will go.

6.     Then release and pursue the ball.

7.     On the catch “chin” the ball, keeping it away from opponents trying to slap it away.

8.     Pivot to the outside, away from pressure.

9.     Execute a crisp overhead outlet pass.

TAG & GO

If on the outside, 15 feet or more from the basket a “traditional” box out can be difficult to maintain. A more contemporary method is the tag and go.

1.     Turn to locate the nearest opponent moving to the ball.

2.     Step to her and bump her as above.

3.     Pivot to face the basket and locate the ball.

4.     Release and pursue the ball.

SWIM MOVE

The swim move can be used when there is a player between you and the ball, in position to get a rebound that you want to get. Facing the basket use your off hand (the hand farther away from the other player) and push on her hip. At the same time bring your inside hand (the hand closest to the other player) up and over her shoulder (like a swim stroke) and down across her mid-section. As you swim with your arm, step over her leg and slide in front of her, gaining inside position. Box out to maintain position.

SPIN MOVE

If the defender is facing you and you want to get in front of her to gain position for the rebound, use a spin move. While facing the defender, step between her legs with one foot and spin, pivoting on the other foot, to get in front of her. Box out to maintain position.

PIN DOWN

The pin down is a subtle technique a player can use in certain situations. If you are battling an opponent for rebounding position and her arms are down move your arm over the top of hers and pin it down with the pressure from your arm. Use only the arm. If you grab with your hand it could be called for a foul. As you rise up to meet the ball from this position your hands will reach the ball before her hands.

BIOMECHANICS

Jumping

Once position is established, the ball is located and the rebounder moves to the ball, the rebounder often must jump to the ball to gain possession. The biomechanics of jumping includes four phases:

Loading

Boost

Flight

Landing

Most rebound efforts involve a standing vertical jump. To maximize your standing vertical jump Elevate Yourself.org recommends the following sequence:

1.     Stand with your feet shoulder width apart.

2.     Arms are bent, hands are in front of your chest.

3.     Quickly squat down while bending your hips back, bending your knees forward and swinging your arms as far back as possible.

4.     At this bottom position your chest should be slightly above parallel to the ground, your thighs are slightly above parallel to 45° and your arms are back, at their highest point.

5.     Jump, extending your ankles, knees, and hips as you swing your arms forward and up - jumping into a straight vertical position as quickly as possible (triple extension).

6.     Landing forces can run up to 6 times your body weight. Focus on landing properly (safely). Land on the balls of your feet and then evenly distribute your weight from the toes to the heels to

cushion the impact. Do not land flat-footed. Shift your weight back over your heels. Your knees should remain behind your toes during the movement.

7.     As you shift your weight back over your heels the thighs are slightly above parallel to the ground, hips are back.

8.     The chest and arms are forward for counterbalance.

Coaches for Elevate Yourself emphasize that the rebounder should be relaxed with the arms loose. Perhaps most importantly, the more quickly the rebounder moves down to up the more energy she creates for the jump (the higher she will jump).

Securing the Ball (Catching)

At the height of your jump you reach for the ball and catch it, preferably with two hands* -

Watch: Visually track the ball. The longer you see the ball - ideally from the time it leaves the shooter’s hands until the time you grab it - the better.

Reach: The rebounder jumps to the ball, arms slightly bent, and extends the arms towards the pass. The fingers point slightly out, thumbs up, forming a “pocket” for the ball.

Give and Grasp: Absorb the force of the ball while watching it move into your “pocket”. Try to avoid tensing up. Bring the ball slightly back towards the body as you grasp it, squeezing the fingers around the ball as you land. As you land “chin” the ball, bringing it slightly away from the body, at chin height, elbows out. Don’t swing your elbows. If you make contact with another player a foul can be called.

* modified for basketball - Radford University “The Gentle Art of Catching & Throwing” By Artie Kamiya

Block & Tuck (Catching)

The Block & Tuck is a method of cleanly catching and securing the ball on a rebound when reaching for the ball with two hands is not possible. The rebounder reaches for the ball with one hand, “blocks” the pass with that hand and “tucks” it by quickly snapping the ball to the other hand. The initial contact is on the fingers rather than the palm of the hand.

BOXING OUT ON A FREE-THROW

The outcome of a game can be determined by a single rebound yet often, with the game on the line, players fail to secure a rebound off a missed free throw. Free throws are the one time during game action when players have time to consider their actions and execute without relying on instinct. In the time between the whistle and the release of the shot you can remind yourself of the things you need to do to gain possession of a missed free throw and be ready to execute. Teams spend little time practicing this even though failure in these situations can be the difference between victory and defeat.

Defensive rebounding off a missed free throw is the easier task. The defense is granted inside position on both sides of the lane. The defense can place more players on the lane lines than the offense is allowed. If the defense does the fundamental things right, they should secure the rebound. To assure the right things are done right they must be practiced.

Fundamentals for the defenders with inside position on the blocks are:

1.     On release of the shot, the inside defenders, positioned on the blocks, must step across AND MAKE CONTACT with the offensive players in the next position up the lane.

2.     They need to be in a wide, balanced stance and use their arms and hands to feel the offensive player’s movements.

3.     While maintaining contact the inside defenders must move to maintain position.

4.     As the shot approaches the rim the elbows must move to shoulder height, hands up and ready to react to a quick, unexpected deflection off the rim or to aggressively jump to the ball.

5.     As with any rebound, the inside defensive player locates the ball in flight and releases to secure the ball.

6.     Once secured she chins the ball and pivots away a from pressure until she can make a sound fundamental pass to a teammate.

Fundamentals for the defenders in the third lane position, closest to the free throw shooter are:

1.     If the shooter is right-handed the defender on the shooter’s right side steps in front of the shooter at the foul line. NOTE: The defender cannot cross the free throw line until the shot hits the

rim, hits the backboard or goes through the net. If the defender crosses the free throw line a personal foul for “displacing the free-thrower” is called. The defender must wait for the shot to be

complete then find the shooter and box her out (the shooter cannot cross the free throw line until the shot hits the rim).

2.     On the other side, the defender pinches down to help on the offensive rebounder in the second position.

3.     If the offensive rebounder on the shooter’s right side (for a right-handed shooter) is a taller, stronger rebounder, the defender in the third position can pinch down to help box out the rebounder

and the defender opposite her can box out the shooter.

4.     If a shot rebounds hard, over the inside rebounders head, towards the corner, the defensive rebounder in the third lane position is in the best position to run down the ball and must sprint to the

ball and secure it. If she secures it in the corner she must quickly dribble out of the corner to avoid being trapped.

5.     If trapped, she must execute fundamental trap escape techniques.

6.     If the defensive players in the lane do their jobs effectively, they form a triangle in the lane with the player in the third lane position free to secure the rebound to the center and the two

defenders in the inside positions ready to grab a rebound to either side of the basket.

Grabbing an offensive rebound off a missed free throw is a gift for the offense. While more difficult than the defender’s task, it can be done.

Fundamentals of offensive rebounding off a missed free throw are:

1.     Except for the occasional crazy bounce, the offensive players lining up in the second lane position are at a disadvantage. The two offensive players (and the shooter) are outnumbered four to

three. To secure an offensive rebound they must be agile an keep their feet moving.

2.     Offensive rebounders must disengage from contact made by defenders trying to box out and move to the available space to get inside position.

3.     When the defender steps across to make contact one technique is to keep your feet free using your arm bar, set at 90°, at the defender’s back, waist high. Step back and with the feet free, step

slide to the high side of the defender and duck under her raised arm, stepping across her top leg to inside position.

4.     Similar to the above technique, the offensive rebounder can step slide to the high side of the defender and forward pivot so she is facing the rim - at a right angle to the defender. Use your arm

bar to keep the defender from re-establishing the box out.

5.     When the defender steps up the lane and across to make contact you can also use a spin move to the baseline (see above technique).

6.     When the defender steps across and makes contact outside the lane, pushing you back, use a swim move to gain inside position (see above technique).

REBOUNDING OUT OF A ZONE DEFENSE

There are both pros and cons to rebounding out of a zone defense.

On the positive side - 

Ø Zones allow you to keep your “bigs” near the rim.

Ø Basic rebounding fundamentals, like boxing out, are the same as with a man-to-man defense.

Ø The defense can easily get into the rebounding triangle, since players are already in close proximity to the rim. This is especially true with a 2-3 zone.

On the not so positive side -

Ø Rebounders attack the gaps in the zone, just like dribblers do.

Ø Mismatches can result when playing a zone when a shorter player may have to box out a taller player.

Ø The box out assignments are not as clear as when you play man defense when you simply box out your man. From a zone players must find opponents to box out.

Ø Boxing out from a zone requires really good communication so players clearly understand who will be boxing out whom?

Ø If the team is not strong on boxing out the offense can get two or three extra shots.

Ø Remember the data on tracking where missed shots most often land? Because the majority of missed shots end up on the weak side of the court weak side rebounding is critical to zone defense.

The weak side forward and guard much be disciplined rebounders or easy put backs will result.

If you opt for playing a zone defense the players must focus on not only gap penetration with the dribble or pass, but also gap penetration with crashing rebounders and weak side rebounders. It is wise to practice rebounding from a zone structure.