Rebounding is one of the least glamorous but most important aspects of playing basketball. When a shot is missed by your team, acquiring the rebound ensures an additional possession which gives you another opportunity to score. When a shot is missed by your opponent, getting the rebound means you prevent them from getting second chance points, and regain possession for your own offence. In a close game, getting crucial rebounds can be the difference between winning and losing.
So how do you become an expert rebounder? Well, you might think that you need to improve your jumping skills, but that’s not necessarily so. Regardless of your jumping ability and height, you need to be prepared for the ball to miss and get ready to catch the rebound. This involves out-positioning opponents who are also trying to get the ball off a missed shot.
It may sound easy, but you need to work very hard to become a good rebounder. This involves becoming very fit, increasing your spatial awareness, and perfecting the right techniques.
1. Keeping yourself in top physical condition
If you’re not fit, you won’t be able to play a good game of basketball. With all the running, jumping and physical contact required in the game, you need to get fit and then get fitter. The better your physical fitness, the greater your chances of being in the right position at the right time to grab a rebound.
If you’re not fit, then you will likely run out of steam and miss the rebounds by simply not being in the right place in time. That’s often why the bigger size players start off well at the beginning of the game and then wane as the match continues, simply because they run out of steam.
Working on your physical fitness means that you can outlast everyone else and get more rebounds to help your team! Our Private Basketball Coaching sessions not only help players work on their fundamentals, but also have a strong focus on fitness.
2. Work on your knowledge and awareness
Knowing all your teammates and how they operate on the court will help you to anticipate what’s going to happen at the glass. This knowledge can make you almost psychic, because you know when and where people are going to shoot, and where to position yourself for a rebound. Former NBA star Dennis Rodman wasn’t overly tall, but his positioning and hustle made him one of the best rebounders in the history of the game.
Then there’s knowing what the ball is going to do if it misses. With a little forethought you can work out that the majority of shots that miss from the corner rebound back to the same or opposite corner. On the other hand, shots missed from the wings are more likely to rebound to the same or opposite wing. An example might be that you have certain players on your team who statistically, when they miss usually tends to overshoot rather than under. If you already know this information you can position yourself to get the rebounds for your team.
3. Work on your rebounding technique
One of the best techniques to learn if you want to improve your rebounding techniques is the SWIM manoeuvre which gets you out of a box manoeuvre set up by your opponent. This involves getting your opponent’s arm out of the way so you can catch the ball. So as your opponent moves to block you moving forward, place your arm on their shoulder (face to face). Move your opposite leg in front and across their body (so you are slightly side on to them) and then use the arm on the same side of your body to swim over their head and move yourself forward and past their position, running forward to get the rebound and gain some easy points for your team!
We run a range of drills to help children of all sizes become better rebounders. To enrol your kids in basketball for the school holidays, call us on 1300 872 255 or shoot us an email today.
