I’ve written several articles on the topic of rebounding and this one is going to be going out to the beginner coach who is looking for a drill or a way to get his players used to physical contact.  It’s very simple and elementary but can be a good tool for learning the basics for all players.

Start with an offensive and defensive player.  The offensive player is further away from the basket than the defensive player who has inside position.  The coach shoots a shot from near the foul line with the intent to miss.  The defensive player needs to box out the offense and then go get the ball. 

Defenders should step toward the hoop to see if the offensive player is going to make a move.  Once he makes a move the defender should make contact with the offensive player by stick his rear end into the legs of the offense.  Good rebounders are low with their knees bent and elbows out.  Your back and shoulders should also be used to block the player from getting the ball.  Once contact is made, the defensive player should go get the ball. 

This drill can be done 1-1 up to 5-5 and I encourage game play or some sort of competition while doing it.  Defense gets one point for every rebound while the offense gets 2 points for every rebound they get.  PLay to 5 or 10 points or however you want to.

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I have always played guard but I’ve been priviledged to be around some excellent coaches. I also am an avid student of the game of basketball so I’m not just ‘guard’ minded in my studies. I’ve loved studying the game on all levels including rebounding. I was never the best rebounder because I was always missing one of the key elements that I’m going to talk about, but others show all the traits necessary to cover here.

1. DESIRE: This is the best and most important one. This is also the one that I lacked completely. The best rebounders are players who want to be good at it and are willing to sacrifice to do well at it. I love watching players like Paul Millsap from the Jazz and even Reggie Evans from the 76ers. Those 2 guys want to get the basketball and they don’t give up. In Evans’ case he knows that rebounding keeps him in the league and that keeps him hungry. Millsap has a more polished offensive game but his desire to get the ball is what seperates him being only 6*6.

2. TECHNIQUE: Understand that the NBA isn’t the greatest place to watch to learn how to rebound so I point to the college game. In the NBA they allow a more physical style of play and that helps players be better rebounders. The one team that I love watching rebound is Michigan St. Tom Izzo has those guys so drilled on rebounding that they rarely lose the battle of the boards. Izzo preaches contact and not to shy away from it. His players all make contact with the player they are responsible for and then has them go get the ball. How they make contact is different then a lot of other coaches preach. Izzo has his guys face up and make contact with the man they are boxing out. This stops the offensive player from gaining momentum. Once they have made solid contact they turn immediately into the player and keep their body on them. Space creates opportunity for offensive rebounds and all State players know that. Michigan St. usually puts on a rebounding clinic and are very fun to watch on the glass. For teams that aren’t very physical they simply destroy them.

3. UNDERSTANDING THE GAME: What I mean here is angles, bounces, tendencies. Dennis Rodman talked about how he really studied players and what their tendencies were. How did they miss shots? Were they short or long? Did they like to shoot from the baseline and if so when they miss where does the ball go? All these things come into play. For instance, if a player is shooting a baseline jumpshot where is the rebound going to typically go? It will be short or long typically. It is near impossible for the ball to go into the middle of the key unless it is just a brick. Good rebounders know these angles and have a knack for always being in the right place.

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