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Power Rebounding: Philosophy and Drills

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By Shane Dreiling

Many coaches apparently agree that rebounding is the most important phase of basketball when it is considered in comparison to offense or defense. For instance, we may not be a good shooting team, but we would not have to be if we rebounded well to get the second and third shot every time down the floor. On the other hand, if we limit our opponents to one shot, as long as it is not a lay-up or dunk, we would have a chance to win as well, regardless of our defense. The importance of rebounding cannot be over emphasized, as it does bring about winning basketball.

In our program we emphasize a few things and work everyday to get better at them. These include our transition offense and defense, our half court defense, and rebounding. We do cover these elements everyday and they remain a focus throughout each week and month of the season.

We emphasize rebounding in every drill and in every full / half court situation everyday. We never take a day off from our emphasis on rebounding.

Our philosophy is based on:

• Basic stance…DOLEAC position with feet shoulders width apart. DOLEAC refers to arm position. Get wide in the chest and hands ready for rebound. Rebound with a wide base. When you return to the floor, have your legs spread so you are strong and you are in an athletic position for an outlet or a dribble.
• Always assume a shot will be a miss. We never want the ball to hit the floor and we want to rebound the ball above the rim (or as close as talent allows) consistently.
• Rebounding with two hands every time. Usually the one handed rebounds are nothing more than potential rebounds that never materialize.
• Going after every rebound. On defense, we must have five block outs and our guards must rebound down into the elbow areas of the court. On offense, we send three to the glass and stagger our other two offensive players back to protect against the quick outlet and fast break.
• Be physical and make contact every time on the blockout. We teach our players to bump and go get the ball. Find an offensive player, make contact, then adjust and release to the ball.
• Rebound out of your area. Most players are area rebounders, but we want our players to follow the flight of the ball with their eyes, judge its bounce, and then get to that area to rebound it with two hands.

Our rebounding effectiveness is not based on drill work, but is based on an uncompromising daily emphasis by all members of our staff. We may compromise a few things along the way, but rebounding will never be one of them.

Any of these drills can be ran as is, or, by keeping score, the coach adds an added competitive element to their rebounding drills.

This is an aggressive, physical drill for post players. This drill last 30 seconds. The coach will shoot from 10 feet away as many times consecutively as he can. We look for:

• Starting with a wide base with hands up.
• Reacting to the ball by following the flight of the ball.
• Moving their feet to rebound out of their area.
• Going to get the ball with 2 hands and landing with a wide base.

After the rebound, take a good shot by getting the ball to the basket. If not, pass the ball with 2 hands back to the coach. All 3 players chase a loose ball and sprint back to their position for the next shot.

This is our most competitive rebounding drill. Three players are chosen to play defense. The other players fill 3 lines and start at the 2 blocks and free throw line. The coach makes an entry pass. The coach can pass and shoot in this drill. Each possession starts with the coach entering the ball.

Rules:

• Defense must get possession of the ball 3 times before getting out.
• Possession is defined as a 2-handed rebound or loose ball when forcing a turnover.
• A made basket does not change the count.
• Players can’t switch.
• If the offense gets an offensive rebound or loose ball, the count returns to 0.

1 on 1 drill where players start 10 feet from the basket. The defender takes the normal guarding position. The coach shoots the ball, which initiates a block out. The rebounder must initiate contact, hold off opponent, release to the ball with 2 hands, and land with a wide base.

3 man drill where the coach or manager shoots the ball and misses. All three players in the foul lane area go after the rebound. The player who gets the rebound tries to put it back into the basket. The other two players try to stop him any way they can within the bounds of normal play.

The best conditioning drill for rebounding ever invented. Place one player with the ball at the second foul line marker. He must throw the ball over the rim to the opposite corner of the backboard. Throw it high on the backboard. The player then races across the lane to retrieve the ball before it hits the floor. If he catches the ball in the inside of the lane area it does not count as a rebound. Upon catching the ball, he lands with good body balance, pivots inward (toward his right) and throws the ball off the opposite corner. He races across to retrieve the ball before it hits the floor. This movement is continued for a one-minute period.

We begin by placing five defensive players in the paint under the basket and five offensive players spread out along the perimeter. A coach shoots the ball. When the ball leaves the coaches hand on the shot, each defensive player must find an offensive man, make contact and go get the ball. Offensive players can do anything they want to secure the ball. If the defense rebounds the ball, the sequence is over. Offense looks to score the ball if they get the rebound.