The Mental Aspects of Rebounding

Basketball is a game that has a lot of “little” games within its circle. There’s the shooting percentage game, the turnover game, the free throw game, and the rebounding game, just to name a few. We, as coaches, like to win all of the little games.  Well, maybe not the turnover game. But winning the little games is very crucial because the more little victories you have, the better chance you have of getting the “W”, or the big victory. 

There are some aspects of the game that are considered very crucial, or “must wins”. Rebounding is one such aspect. A team with the rebounding edge has a better chance of winning the game, because they are able to attempt more shots, while limiting the other team’s shot attempts.

Lets say UCLA and Duke have just played each other. Not knowing the actual score, but only a few statistical facts about the game lets figure out who won. I’ll make it easy. Every stat is the same, except rebounding, and shot attempts. Both shot 45% from the field, and had 10 turnovers. The difference is that UCLA had 5 more rebounds than Duke did. Who won? UCLA, of course, and with just 5 more rebounds. Why? They had the ball more, thus shooting more, thus limiting the number of shot attempts taken by Duke.  

The best thing about rebounding is that everyone can be good at it. The mistake many coaches make is to designate one or two people on the team to focus on rebounding. We generally look at height, body type, and jumping ability to determine who will be a good rebounder. When we do that we deplete some of the strength of the team as a whole. The truth is that the foundation of rebounding has absolutely nothing to do with physical size. It has everything to do with a player’s mind. A player that is 5’5 can be just as good, or better at rebounding as a player that is 6’5.

The first step to being a good rebounder is the desire to want to be good at it. Rebounding takes effort.  It takes a conscious choice to be a good rebounder. Players have to exert some energy to move from where they are standing, to where the ball is while trying to maneuver, and get around players blocking them out. What I noticed is that many players often become spectators when it comes to rebounding. I am constantly reminding my players to rebound. They look at me like, “Oh yea!.”

One thing that I tell my players is to assume that every shot is a missed shot, and they should go after the ball accordingly. They have to feel like the rebound should be theirs, and nothing is going to stop them from getting it. Rebounding is a mentality that says, “no matter how far I am away from the ball I can still get to it, if I hustle.” We have all seen players run from one side of the court to the other, and end up with the ball. Had they assumed that they would, or could not get the ball, they would not have ended up with it. That type of play stems from aggressive rebounding mental state.  That could have been the difference in the game. (Every play counts!).

Basketball being what it is, big strong players are a plus. But size need not be used as a crutch for not being able to rebound. A player that may be smaller in physical stature, but has an understanding of the importance of rebounding, with the attitude that if he does not make it happen, it will not happen is can be more affective than someone who is just, big. Think about five players with a mind to crash the boards, and rebound!

Then they will be able to do what they like best. Play offense! Tell them rebounding leads to more offensive opportunities.

Written by Craig Johnson. Men’s Assistant Basketball Coach at North Lake College in Irving, Texas, and President of newly opened Johnson’s Sports Center. Johnson’s Sports Center is an online instructional sport video, and bookstore. We will also offer, in the near future, many other sport related products, and a medium for coaches to buy and sell used sports equipment. You can visit the site at www.johnsonsports.com