Rebounding is one of the most important aspects of the game but it is often overlooked. It gives you possession of the basketball and it helps in offensive and defensive rebounding to win the game. See the image below. Offensive rebounding gives the team extra chances and many opportunities and defensive rebounding help you in good defense.
You may not be a good shooter and you should read how to shoot basketball but if you are a great rebounder and defender then you will get to play the game. Good rebounders are key role players. Although height and jumping ability provide advantages, the key to rebounding is determination, discipline, and technique.
Today in this article I will tell you the tips that will help you to become a better rebounder.
1. Offensive Rebounding
Offensive rebounding is difficult in ball defending because defensive players have an edge to get inside position. However offensive players can get an advantage by knowing when and where a shot is going to be taken.
Therefore you should anticipate shots by teammates as well as react to your own shot. The positioning objectives for an offensive rebounder are that you should go to a gap, not a back, get an inside position, block out the defender, and make contact with the defender.
2. Defensive Rebounding
The defensive rebounding technique requires that players must gain the inside position on an opponent and block the opponent and then get the rebound. When you get a position between the basket and the ball, the opponent enhances the defensive position that gives you the advantage to secure a rebound bouncing from the rim.
Rebounding occurs very quickly as it is a single action. The rebounding is referred to as blocking out or boxing out. All players should know the following rebounding fundamentals.
3. See or Hear the Shot
You must be aware of when and where a shot is taken. Once you see a shot being taken, you should call out the shot to alert teammates so that they can get in position to rebound. If you are guarding the shooter your primary responsibility is to make the defensive call. however, no verbal alarm works as well as your own observation of the shot being released.
4. Assume a Miss
Every shot means a potential rebound. You must learn to assume that every shot will be a miss and then go to rebound. When you develop this attitude you will be conditioned to perform rebound every time a shot is taken. This habit must be implemented on offensive rebounding.
5. Box Out
Nowadays few players box out their opponent so you will get the advantage if you are willing to box out. Always try to make contact with your opponent when boxing out and get in front of him facing the basket, bend over, widen your feet and take your arms out and put your backside into the offensive player and get the ball to fight for the inside position. Try to be aggressive and don’t allow the offensive player to push you under the basket.
6. Run Hard on Fast Break
The ability to begin the fast break depends upon defensive rebounding and forcing turnovers by the opponent. The basic strategy should emphasize getting the ball up to the court to stop the opponent from sending their team for the offensive rebound on a shooting attempt instead of keeping some players back to defend against a fast break.
Defensive rebounding provides you with more fast-break chances. As a result of a fast break, the shot is taken close to the basket. One player should really knock down the floor and grab the rebound when the shot is missed.
7. Don’t Watch the Ball
Focus on getting the inside position so you can box out and don’t continuously watch the ball because ball watchers get very few rebounds.
8. Ball Possession
Rebounding is the primary key to gaining and maintaining possession of the ball. At the offensive end of the court, rebounds maintain the possession and quickly lead to easy baskets. Getting an offensive rebound takes the ball away from the opponent team. At the defensive end rebounding gains possession and it is the final part of the defense. It boosts the confidence of the team if the defense is completed with a defensive rebound.
9. Develop Every Rebound is Mine Mentality
When the shot goes up great rebounders believe that they can get the ball no matter where the ball goes when it hits the rim. you must develop a rebounding mindset in the early development of your learning. This mindset is something that needs to be ingrained early to become a better rebounder.
10. Learn the Angles
With the passage of time and practice, you will be able to understand where the ball is going depending upon where the shot came from and its arc and you also have to check the opponent’s angles. Maintain the position where the ball is most likely to end up and then you will get the advantage over your opponent.
11. Get Low, Get Leverage, and Get Up
When you are boxing out, maintain your position and get low with a wide base. As a result, you will get the advantage to move your opponent out of position and then jump as high as possible with both hands up ready to rebound.
12. Don’t Be Pushed Under the Basket
Some of the rebounds drop straight down under the basket. Try to maintain 3-5 feet from the rim to increase your chances of rebound. If you are not in a position to secure the rebound you can get one hand on it and tip it away from the opponent to your teammate. Work hard in the whole game and make your opponent work.
13. Keep Moving
You must not stand flat-footed or straight. If you are moving you can easily get into a rebounding position when the shot goes up. An offensive rebounder means that your defender can’t judge where you are and from what angle you will crash the boards.
14. Chin the Ball After Rebounding
Don’t do much effort to get the rebound and then have it stripped out of your hands because you lazily put the ball down by your waist. Put the ball under your chin and keep your elbows out. The defender will think twice about reaching in if you are chinning the ball.
15. Dribbling
The offensive rebounder should dribble if a shot is impossible. Dribbling only gives the defensive players an opportunity to recover and steal the ball, since offensive rebounders are often surrounded by defenders. Therefore you should first look for a shot and then for a passing opportunity after you get an offensive rebound.
16. Aggressive Player
Rebounding is a messy and complex business. An aggressive player will always get the edge on a passive player. You need to mix it up both giving and receiving a lot of physical contacts. The players and the team should get down in the trenches and do some physical messy work.
Conclusion
From all the above discussion it is concluded that you need to do a lot of hard work because rebounding is a blue-collar skill that depends upon hard work. Hope you understand all the above tips to become a better rebounder.