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.
Rebounding
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.
6 Drills for
Building Rebounding Principles
Any of these drills can be ran as is, or, by keeping score,
the coach adds an added competitive element to their rebounding drills.
1. 3-0 Rebounding
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.
2. 3 on 3
Rebounding
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.
3. Rebound Area Drill
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.
4. Toughness
Drill
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.
5. Superman Drill
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.
6. War Drill
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.
