Rebounding doesn’t just win games, it wins championships. (P.S those aren’t my words, they’re paraphrasing the words of HOF coach Pat Summitt). It’s also no coincidence that a list of the most prolific rebounders in NBA history (think Bill Russell, Wilt, Kareem, Rodman, Duncan) also happens to be a list of players who have won most of the championships from the 50’s up to the 2010’s.
Unfortunately, rebounding is also one of the most neglected fundamentals. Coaches spend tons of time teaching shooting, dribbling, defense and offense, but when it comes to rebounding it’s suddenly just about “wanting the ball more”. Whilst I agree that a hunger for the ball is at the heart of rebounding, a few drills can go a long way towards teaching rebounding technique and showing to your players that rebounding is a game winning skill.
This week I’ve put together a list of 16 championship level rebounding drills. They’ll cover all your needs including:
- Teaching rebounding technique
- Scoring off the offensive rebound
- Rebounding into transition offense
- Games based rebounding drills
Scroll through this article and plug in the best drills for you into your next practice!
Teaching Rebounding Technique
Rebounds with passers
What makes it great
A game based drill like this teaches players how to switch from moving around on defense to getting into rebounding position.
Instructions
- Players pair up and stand on each low block. 3 players stand on the wings and at the top, with one ball between them.
- The ball is swung around the perimeter. Meanwhile, the players on the low block must fight for position. Inner player is on defense.
- When one player shoots, each pair must fight for the rebound. Rebounder swaps out with the shooter and repeat.
Coaching points
- Allow the perimeter players to shot fake, pass fake, drive, etc to make the drill more realistic.
- For older teams, just fighting for the rebound isn’t enough, they have to be playing good defense beforehand too, e.g the weak side low block should sink middle for help, both defenders need to always stay between their man and the basket.
No ball blocking out on floor
What makes it great
If you coach a U9 team this is a great drill to introduce boxing out and teaching them to not be afraid of contact.
Instructions
- Players pair up around the half court circle. A ball is placed in the center.
- The player on the inside is on defense and must block out the player on offense when the coach calls “box”.
- The player on offense tries to reach the ball, but they can only move in one direction (left or right). Start at half speed first, then play it at game speed.
Coaching points
- A lot of young players will start off jumping to turn around- teach them to stay grounded and pivot instead.
- Also make sure your players aren’t using their arms to drag/hold players back. This is a foul! Instead, make contact with the body.
Mass rebounding pivots
What makes it great
As we’ve seen with the drill above, you can’t rebound without learning to pivot. This is a pivoting drill with some conditioning that makes a good warmup for U9 teams.
Instructions
- Players line up along the baseline with balls.
- On your whistle, players in the first line spin the ball to the free throw line, catch it with a jump stop, and then pivot.
- Dribble back to the baseline. Catch the ball and repeat.
- Do 5 pivoting on the strong foot, and 5 on the weak foot before resting.
Coaching points
- Players should be dribbling on the way back with the outer/opposite hand to their pivot foot. So, pivoting on the left foot leads to a right handed dribble.
- Run this drill at half pace first- many young players will treat this drill as a race and neglect technique in favor of speed.
Superman Drill
What makes it great
This is a great drill to run to observe each player’s rebounding technique and find improvements.
Instructions
- Players line up on the wing with balls. A coach/team manager stands at the opposite low block.
- Each player passes to the coach and cuts to the basket.
- The coach shoots a shot off the backboard/rim, which the player must rebound.
- They then outlet the ball back to the coach, who rolls it to the top for them to collect.
Coaching points
- Always rebound the ball with 2 hands
- Players need to come down with elbows out (not swinging), just to put space between the ball and defender.
Scoring off the offensive rebound
Box jump put backs
What makes it great
Using a medicine ball/boxes turns a simple put back drill into a great conditioning one that will improve your player’s vertical, second jump, and strength when finishing.
Instructions
- Place 2 boxes (18-24 inches), on either low block. A player stands on one of the boxes. Their partner stands under the basket with a medicine ball.
- The partner tosses the ball off the backboard, which the player must jump off the box to rebound.
- They tap the ball once of the backboard and then lay it in.
- Step up to the opposite box and repeat.
- Run for 6-10 repetitions.
Coaching points
- Players should keep the ball high (above their head) throughout catching and finishing.
- When picking the height of the box don’t choose a height greater than what your player can jump.
Random Mikans
What makes it great
You never what position you’ll under up in after you grab the offensive board. That’s why your players need to learn how to finish from all angles and places.
Instructions
- Players stand with a basketball under the basket.
- They shoot a layup and then rebound the ball.
- Afterwards, the shoot a layup with the other hand.
- The rule is that no 2 consecutive layups can be the same. Make 20.
Coaching points
- Ideas for different layups include, with either hand, off 1 or 2 footed jumps, using the wrong foot, front and reverse. However, always use the glass.
Rebound post attack
What makes it great
This is a high intensity conditioning and finishing drill, perfect for individual workouts or stations.
Instructions
- 2 balls are placed at each elbow. A player stands in front of one of them.
- The player sprints to the backboard, taps it with both hands, then runs back to grab a ball.
- They turn around and take one dribble for a layup. Repeat on the other side.
- Run for max reps in 1 minute.
- Afterwards, they shoot a free throw. If they make can rest, but otherwise, they will have to repeat the drill.
Coaching points
- Pivot outwards after catching the ball + drive with the outer hand.
Rebounding into transition offense
Rebound transition drill
What makes it great
Here’s a warmup rebounding and finishing drill that teaches fast break concepts. A better alternative to weaves.
Instructions
- Players pair up and line up in 2 lines, one at the corner, another at the opposite low post. One player in the low post has a ball.
- The player with the ball throws it off the backboard then rebounds it.
- They outlet it to the corner player, who cuts to the wing.
- The corner player brings the ball up to the opposite low block whilst the rebounder rim runs.
- Hit the rim runner for the layup.
Coaching points
- Make sure all the rebounding fundamentals from earlier drills are being reinforced. Players jump up to catch the ball with 2 hands, land with elbows out to protect the ball, and pivot to the outlet.
5 on 5 closeout rebounding into two trips
What makes it great
Coach Oliver (head coach of the University of Windsor’s Lancers) loves using limited possession 5 on 5 drills to break things down for his players. Here, rebounding is the focus.
Instructions
- Players split up into two teams for a 5 on 5. The team on offense spaces out along the perimeter. The team on defense all stands under the basket. A coach stands under the basket with a ball.
- Coach passes the ball to a perimeter player, who must shoot it.
- They then play a live 2 on 2, for 2 possessions, there and back.
Coaching points
- Coach Oliver advocates to never turn back on a perimeter player when boxing out- they have tons of space to get around you. Instead, he wants his players to “T up”, standing sideways with a bent elbow against the offensive player’s chest.
- After each round, step in to make changes with a coaching “intervention”. What’s that? Coach Oliver explains in his own words in this blog post.
Tip transition drill
What makes it great
In a game, you never know who’s going to end up with the rebound so you need a drill to get everyone used to starting the fast break. Here’s one of them.
Instructions
- Players split into two teams of 5 and line up in a straight line behind the basket. First player has a ball.
- Each player tips the ball off the backboard and runs to the back of the line.
- On your whistle, the player that rebounds the ball and his team are on offense. They must run the ball down to the other end to score. Play to one make.
Coaching points
- Organize your players in the line so that their teams alternate i.e team 1, 2, 1, 2
- If your players are struggling to score off the first trip you should ask them to figure out their roles i.e who should be looking to outlet, who’s leaking out to the wing etc. These roles change every time which is what makes the drill so challenging.
Free throw transition
What makes it great
This set play off a free throw rebound/side line in bound gets the ball in the other basket in 5 seconds or less. If you practice this your team will get a few easy baskets every game.
Instructions
- Players set up in positions for defending a free throw. 2 bigs at each low block, 2 wings at each mid post (4 players allowed within the perimeter per NCAA rules). The point guard stands at half court. A coach stands at the line to take it.
- Coach shoots the free throw. The big either rebounds or takes it out to the baseline.
- The strong side wing calls outlet and runs to the wing to get the inbound pass.
- The point guard stays on the strong side for the down court pass.
- Meanwhile, the weak side wing and non-rebounding big fill their lanes, staying wide and rim running respectively.
- Point guard attacks the basket, or hits one of these players with a pass for the shot.
- Run this drill without defense until it’s perfected, then add in defenders.
Coaching points
- Try throwing two handed overhead passes in transition as they’re faster and fly over defenders.
Games based rebounding drills
2 line rebounding
What makes it great
Players practice fighting for the rebound, tracking the basketball, and scoring under defensive pressure.
Instructions
- Players line up in 2 lines behind each elbow. A coach stands at the free throw line with a ball.
- The coach shoots a shot and players must rebound and put the ball back in the basket.
- Run until one player makes 5.
Coaching points
- Praise players who manage to get the ball even if it doesn’t fall on their side. This will happen all the time in games and players will need to out muscle or out wit their defender to get the ball.
4 on 4 block out
What makes it great
Run this drill with all your perimeter players so that get used to “T-ing up” and blocking out players who have plenty of space to move around them.
Instructions
- Players split into groups for a 4 on 4. Offense stands outside the perimeter, defense stands along the free throw line. Coach stands at the free throw line with a ball.
- After the coach shoots the ball off the backboard, play is live. Defenders must box everyone out.
- The rule is that no one can rebound the ball until it has bounced twice on the ground.
- If the offense gets the rebound, swap roles.
- Run for points, first team to get 5 defensive rebounds wins.
Coaching points
- You can make the drill more difficult by extending the number of bounces before rebounding, or making it a time limit e.g an 8 count.
- This drill should reinforce the importance of positioning over jumping high. If your players can stop the offense from getting close to the basket, then the chances of them getting the rebound will be much lower, even if they’re more athletic.
1 on 1 on 1 rebounding
What makes it great
This is a drill that’s entirely about hustle. Wanting the ball more. Fighting for it.
Instructions
- Players line up along the baseline. A coach stands at the top with a ball.
- Coach shoots a shot, and 3 players must fight for the rebound.
- Whoever gets the ball in the basket after the rebound wins and stays on.
Coaching points
- Standing on the baseline is more about giving everyone an equal chance- but if you want to make the drill more game like have players spread out in the paint.
12 seconds game
What makes it great
Sometimes the defense will have time to get back but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a great shot. Use this drill to practice early offense sets and principles.
Instructions
- Offense has the ball on the opposite baseline, with everyone spread out behind the 3 point line. Defense can guard man/press/set up in half court, change depending on what you want to practice.
- Offense must take the ball from their own half and score within 10 seconds.
- There are 3 rules: 1. Must make at least 3 passes before scoring 2. If you have a layup, you can bypass rule 1 3. All shots must be taken from within the paint.
- Run to 5 possessions then swap teams.
Coaching points
- To make this drill more rebounding orientated you can mix it with the 4 on 4 block out drill. Play 5 on 5 blockout, transitioning into this game after the rebound
10 seconds game
What makes it great
This simulates changing sides on a fast break- practicing transition from offense to defense and vice versa after a rebound.
Instructions
- Players split into teams for a 5 on 5. Everyone stands along the perimeter. The team with a ball purposely misses a shot.
- Defense rebounds and takes the ball down court. They have 10 seconds to get set up into the positions for the half court offense.
- After they switch sides, they have an extra 15 seconds to score.
Coaching points
- Obviously this drill changes a lot depending on what offense you’re running. E.g if you run a 5 out motion, you can allow your players to just run anywhere and fill up perimeter spots. If you run a dribble drive motion, you have specific lanes that you wanted filled by certain players.
Coach Keith
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