The team that controls the boards wins the majority of their games! Control of the boards reduces the number of shots taken by the opponents and increases the number of shot attempts by the good rebounding team. It also increases the number of fast break opportunities.
Though a great deal of rebounding is dependent on the size of a team, size alone does not result in backboard control. If you work diligently in practice, techniques will be developed that will lead to successful rebounding on both the offensive and defensive boards.
Here are 20 tips to help you improve your rebounding skills:
1. Assume every shot will miss. Even the best professional players only make 50 percent of their shots.
2. Be aggressive. Rebounding is 75 percent desire and 25 percent ability.
3. Know when a shot is taken and from what area of the court it was taken from.
4. On defense, do not watch the flight of the ball. On offense, you should.
5. Know the rebounding characteristics of both rims and the shooter.
6. Find someone to box out.
7. Make contact.
8. Fight for position.
9. Have good leverage and balance. Keep your back straight.
10. Keep your hands up in front of you.
11. Maintain contact.
12. Use your rear-end to "sit on" the other player’s knees.
13. It’s imperative that the shooter is boxed out. They are usually the only ones with advanced knowledge of where the rebound may go.
14. If you are boxed out, step back, move and break the contact.
15. Rebound the "help side." Over 60 percent of all missed shots go to the opposite side of the shot.
16. Generally, the longer the shot, the longer the rebound.
17. Bank shots usually rebound closer to the basket.
18. Timing your jump is more important than the height of your jump.
19. Tip the ball to a teammate or an open area if you cannot grab it yourself.
20. Protect the ball. Don’t stand still or bring it down low where it can be stolen.
