Rebounding is not as glamorous as a JA Morant shot, but it wins basketball games.

Coaches love players who fight for the rebound because every possession is an opportunity to score points. Great rebounders motivate teammates, provide inspiration that rubs into every team player, and turn games into wins.

Know how to become a better rebounder and rob your opponent of scoring opportunities.

What Makes a Good Rebounder in Basketball?

A good basketball rebounder is a player who can consistently retrieve missed shots, give their team opportunities to score, and limit the opponent’s point production. Here are some key traits that make a good basketball rebounder:

Positioning 

The ball will not drop into a player’s hands. A good rebounder knows how to position themselves in the best place to grab a missed shot. They understand the ball’s trajectory and can anticipate where it will bounce.

A player who knows where the ball bounces make the first move to retrieve it when it leaves the rim. A ball possession from a rebound can transition into a fastbreak play or an opportunity for second servings.

Enjoy watching crazy passes from Denver Nuggets Nikola Jokić. The guy pitches the ball of a rebound for a fast break play and taps the ball to open teammates for an easy two.

The ball has a higher chance of bouncing off the rim, depending on whether the shot is long, short, hard, or soft. Expect long bounces from misses coming from the wing and corner areas. The ball bounces high on missed shots from long range.

Box Out

Boxing out is a quick move that blocks an opponent’s path, slowing him down to prevent him from getting the ball.

A player positions his body between the opponent and the basket. A good rebounder uses their body to prevent their opponent from getting to the ball. They use their size and strength to create space and get into a good position for the rebound.

Boxing out is a two-way basketball maneuver that can work in offense and defense. Being a good rebounder doesn’t mean you get every rebound; you only need to ensure your opponent doesn’t get any.

Timing

A good rebounder has a great sense of timing and can jump up to grab the ball at the highest point. They have a quick reaction time and anticipate where the ball will be before their opponent.

Hustle

A good rebounder is always hustling and never gives up on a play. They have a high energy level and work hard to get to the ball, even if it means diving on the floor or jumping over other players.

Pursue the ball when it leaves your area, and don’t let other players beat you. If you are not in an excellent position to get the rebound, tip out the ball so that teammates may grab it.

Hands 

A good rebounder has strong hands and can grab the ball with ease. They can secure the ball and quickly transition it to their team’s offense.

Grab the ball with two hands to keep opponents from wresting the ball from your possession. Keep the ball high so small guards won’t strip it.

Footwork

A good rebounder has good footwork and can quickly move around the court to get into position for the rebound.

A good basketball rebounder is a physical, intelligent player with a strong work ethic. They know how to position themselves, box out their opponents, and have excellent timing.

Types of Rebounds

Players from both teams fight for the ball from missed shots that bounce off the rim or backboard. Players like Charles Barkley, Ben Wallace, and Dennis Rodman were King of the Boards because they fought for every rebound more than any player on the court.

Rebounding means more possessions for the team and more opportunities to score. It is the key to winning basketball games. Here are the two types of rebounding in basketball. 

Defensive Rebounds

Rebounding is the responsibility of all the players on the court. Each defensive player’s assignment is to box out any offensive player when a shot is missed.

In a man-to-man defense, every defensive player has their opponents covered; winning rebounds is easier. Defensive players have no specific assignments in a zone defense, and you need to box an offensive player when the shot goes up.

Box out by placing your forearm at the opponent’s chest and extending the hip on them. Raise your hands, making your body wider and hard to maneuver. Respond quickly to the ball’s bounce; otherwise, opponents might beat you.

Offensive Rebounds

An offensive rebound is an opportunity to score points. Shooters are the best offensive rebounders because they know where the ball is going. Defensive players box out, and you need to make different moves to get the offensive board.

Spin off the box out by faking one way and quickly switching directions to get the rebound. Use your body to drive the defender under the basket for a poor angle. You’ll be in an excellent position to control the glass.

8 Techniques to Improve Your Rebounding Skills

In basketball, rebounding is a crucial skill that can significantly affect a team’s performance. You can improve your rebounding skills in the following ways:

Box Out 

The most fundamental technique in rebounding is boxing out. This technique requires good footwork and timing. It involves getting between the opponent and the basket, establishing a solid position, and using your body to keep them away from the ball.

Anticipate the Ball’s Bounce 

After a shot, you must anticipate where the ball will land after bouncing off the backboard or rim. Pay close attention to the ball’s velocity, the shooter’s angle, and the shooting position.

React Quickly 

To get to the ball before your opponent, you must react quickly and aggressively once you anticipate where the ball will land. Utilize your physical ability and wits to leap and snatch the ball at the peak of the ball’s bounce.

Raise Your Hands

Always keep your hands up and be ready to catch the ball when rebounding. This gives you a better chance of catching it and securing the rebound.

Practice Your Footwork

Good footwork is crucial to rebounding. Practice moving quickly and changing direction efficiently, so you can get into position to box out and grab the ball.

Beef Up Your Upper Body

Rebounding requires upper body strength, so make sure you include exercises that focus on your arms, chest, and shoulders in your training routine.

Study the Game 

Watch games and study how players rebound. Pay attention to their positioning, footwork, and timing, and try to incorporate these techniques into your game.

Practice Makes Perfect       

It takes a lot of practice to rebound. Create drills focusing on various rebounding aspects and practice them regularly until they become second nature.

3 Effective Drills to Become a Better Rebounder

Watch this video to get you into the groove for basketball rebound play.                     

A team that wants to be on the winning end must rebound at a championship level. Grabbing six defensive rebounds can result in 12 points for your team and reduce the opponent’s chances of scoring on putbacks.

If you are the catch-up team, that will turn a devastating loss into a resounding victory.

Check out these three drills to improve your team’s rebounding skills.

Slide Rebounding

Players gain experience in teamwork, boxing out, chasing the ball on a rebound, and defending against a shooter.

This drill runs on 4 on 4. The defensive players position themselves in the key while the offensive players spread outside the three-point area. A defender is assigned to the shooter while the others slide from side to side. Players communicate to box out the offense before going for the rebound.

Battle Boards

Players are required to fight aggressively for the rebound.

The drill needs two offensive and two defensive players elbowing each other as they wrestle for a position. The coach shoots the ball, and the four player fights for the rebound. The team gets one point for every rebound, and three strikes end the tussle.

Golden Egg

This drill will teach players the boxing-out technique and to use their bodies to box out.

The eight players are scattered around the free-throw lane, and a basketball is at the circle’s center. When the coach signals play, defenders must box out offensive players to keep them from getting the ball.

Wrapping Things Up: How to Become a Better Rebounder

Who says short players can’t rebound? Charles Barkley is 6’6″ tall with good fundamentals of rebounding. Barkley was the Rebound King in the NBA season 1986-87, with 14.7 rebounds per game with the Philadelphia 76ers.

This shows that desire, skill, and physicality beat height in rebounding. The basketball ends up with who wants it more.

We hope you enjoyed this post! If you did, be sure to check out our other basketball FAQ articles here.