Chapter - 26

Rebounding

Defensive rebounding | Offensive rebounding | Defensive rebounding suggestions | Offensive rebounding suggestions | Drills

The team that controls the boards will win the majority o£ their games! Control of the boards reduces the number of shots taken by the opponents and increases the number of shot attempts by the good rebounding team. Though a great deal of rebounding is dependent on team size, size alone will not result in backboard control. Techniques must be developed through diligent work in practice that will lead to successful rebounding on both the offensive and defensive boards.

Defensive Rebounding

The defensive rebounder must maintain a position between his opponent and the basket. This position is commonly called "blocking out" or "screening off" the boards. As a shot is taken, the defensive player must turn into the path of the offensive rebounder and maintain this position until the ball is rebounded. If the offensive rebounder attempts to go to the defensive player's left, the defensive player must reverse pivot on his left foot so that his body turns into the path of the offensive player. (Illustration 12). If the offensive player attempts to cut to the defensive player's right, the defensive player must reverse pivot on his right foot (Illustration 13).

ILLUSTRATION 12. Footwork for screening the offensive player off the board. If the opponent moves to the defensive player's left, the defensive player must reverse pivot on the ball of his left foot so that his body will be brought into the path of the offensive player.

ILLUSTRATION 13. Footwork for screening the offensive player off the board. If the opponent moves to the defensive player's right, the defensive player must reverse pivot on the ball of his right foot so that his body will be brought into the path of the offensive player.

After the defensive player gains the desired inside position of the offensive player, he should hold his elbows wide and almost parallel with his shoulders and his feet slightly wider than shoulder width in order to present a big obstacle to the offensive player. His body should be crouched with the knees bent and ready for the spring upward for the ball. His head should be erect with the eyes focused on the ball. If the defensive player can succeed in "feeling" the offensive player with his back or elbows, he can slide with any change of direction by the offensive player and easily maintain inside position.

As the rebound comes off the board, the defensive player should leap into the air with elbows wide and with his body in a slight jack-knifing position commonly called the "eagle spread." The jack-knife movement of the body throws the rear of the body backward and keeps the opponent off the defensive player's back. The defensive rebounder should grab the ball firmly with both hands and should move his elbows sideways as he returns to the floor. This movement of the elbows is necessary to keep the ball moving and protect it from the opponent. The movement of the elbows should never be with malicious intent but solely for ball protection.

Upon alighting with the ball, the player should either make a quick pass out to a waiting teammate for a fast-break attempt or take a quick dribble away from the congested area under the basket. The dribble out should be toward the nearer sideline. The rebounder should avoid any cross-court pass under the basket.

Offensive Rebounding

The offensive rebounder is usually faced with the defensive player's efforts to screen him off the boards. Realizing that the defensive player will turn into his path, the offensive player must use quick fakes in attempting to get through to the basket. He should fake left, go right; fake right, go left; fake right, left, go right, and so on in efforts to avoid this defensive block-out. However, fakes must be done quickly for only seconds exist between the shot attempt and the rebound. The offensive rebounder who hustles toward the boards using clever fakes is difficult to block out.

The offensive player must not allow the defensive player to "feel" him with his back or elbows. If he allows this, the defensive player will be able to slide with any change of direction by the offensive rebounder.

If the offensive player finds himself in contact with the opponent's back so that the opponent can "feel" him, the offensive player should take a step backwards to eliminate this contact, then fake and cut around the block-out.

If the offensive player succeeds in getting by the block-out, he should crouch with knees bent so as to be able to spring into the air for the rebound. If the rebound is close to the goal, he may use a one-hand tip to attempt a quick score. The tip is executed with the fingers spread widely and with a forward movement of the wrists. The ball should be controlled and guided toward the basket, not batted as many players erroneously do. If the rebound is not close enough to the basket for a tip attempt, the ball should be caught with two hands. The rebounder should return to the floor and go immediately back up for a shot attempt. Many offensive players want to dribble the ball out from under the basket after grabbing the offensive rebound. This should seldom be done. The ball is in the dangerous area near the basket, an objective of the team's offensive pattern. Why take it out from this area? The rebounder can thrust his body upward for the second shot and succeed in scoring a high percentage of the time. In addition, he will often be fouled and can turn the rebound into the devastating three-point play.

Defensive Rebounding Suggestions

1. Each defensive player must screen his respective opponent off the board.

2. Use the reverse pivot to move the body into the path of the offensive player.

3. The body should be crouched with arms held wide to present a big obstacle to the offensive player and to be ready to go up for the rebound.

4. Grab the ball firmly with both hands to prevent an opponent from slapping it out of your hands.

5. Use the "eagle spread" body position to protect the ball as it is rebounded.

6. Keep the ball moving to prevent tie-ups.

7. Get the ball away from the basket as soon as possible. If a teammate is open for a pass-out, make the pass to him quickly. If no teammate is open, use a dribble toward the nearer sideline.

8. Do not get pushed too far under the basket. Rebounds are no good coming out of the opponents' basket.

Offensive Rebounding Suggestions

1. Use fakes and quick changes of direction to get around defensive block-out.

2. Be aggressive. The hustling offensive player is difficult to screen off the boards.

3. Attempt tip-in if the rebound is near the basket.

4. Catch the ball with two hands if ball rebounds away from the basket.

If the rebound is taken in the area inside the free-throw line, go back up immediately for a second shot attempt.

5. Know offensive and defensive responsibilities. Don't crash the board if no one is back for defensive balance.

6. Don't foul the defensive rebounder as he comes down with the ball. His basket is 90 feet away and such fouls here are foolish.

7. Press the rebounder if you are the nearest player to him to prevent him from making an easy pass out to a teammate for a fast-break.

Drills

REBOUNDING DRILL 1. A coach or manager shoots the ball at the basket. Defensive players attempt to block offensive opponents off the board. This is a good drill for practicing both defensive and offensive rebounding skills. After the rebound, defensive players should go to the ends of the lines as the offensive players become defensive rebounders.

REBOUNDING DRILL 2. 1 shoots at the basket. Defensive players rebound any missed attempt. The player that recovers the rebound becomes the new shooter. The other two defensive players and shooter 1 go to the end of the line. 2, 3, and 4 become the new rebounders.

REBOUNDING DRILL 3. 1 and 2 both have a ball. They shoot the ball against the board, spring into the air, and rebound it. Emphasis should be on form with players using the "eagle spread" body position and moving their elbows sideways as they grab the rebound. After rebounding, 1 and 2 will go to the end of their respective lines.

REBOUNDING DRILL 4. 1 shoots the ball over the goal and against the board. 2 attempts tip-in. 2 then shoots ball over goal for 1 to attempt tip-in. After each has had two tip-ins, 1 and 2 go to the end of their respective lines.

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