How to Establish Rebounding Position

To properly get position in rebounding, one has to utilize several different skills all at one time. It helps to have size but it is not the requirement that many people might have you believe. Rebounding position is all about heart and determination, as well as executing the training that you have learned. If you are willing to put in the time and effort, you can get great rebounding position and your fair share of rebounds regardless of your size and stature.

The first thing you should know is about is angles. The basketball can bounce in a million different ways off the rim depending on a number of factors - how the ball is shot, where the ball is shot, what type of shot and so on. There is no way to know where a ball is going to go unless you repeatedly line up and rebound in practice often. Watching the ball come off of a shooters hand will help train you to instinctively know where the most likely rebounding spot should be. Practice is essential to learn the angles and learn where to establish rebounding position.

Another key factor is your teammates. Remember that like everything in the game of basketball, it is a team effort when it comes to rebounding. If your teammate has good position on one side of the rim, then you should try to establish good rebounding position elsewhere. It does no good to box out your own teammate as this just lowers your odds of getting the rebound. This seems obvious but it happens all the time.

If you are playing man to man, then rebounding position is easy. You want to put your body between the man you are against and the rim. This is called boxing out and it is highly effective regardless of size. You simply turn to the rim and put the other player on your backside. Squat down and put your rump right into their stomach and back up. Keep your feet strongly squared up to the rim and keep your hands up. Your eyes should always be on the ball and how it approaches the rim.

Once the ball bounces off the rim, then it is all about effort and timing. You want to jump for the ball so that you reach it at the height of your jump. Grab the ball with both hands and squeeze tight. Do not try to be fancy and pull down one handed rebounds. This will cause turnovers and you to end up on the bench.

When a rebound bounces wild or to an open area of the floor, then hustle to the basketball. This can not be overstated and should never be an issue with a basketball team. Every loose ball should be chased by all and the one that wants the ball the most will get it. Let that person be you.