The rebound is one of the most important skills in basketball. It is also one of the hardest to master. There are many different types of rebounds, but they all have one thing in common: you can't get them if you don't get your hands up.
The best rebounders are usually tall, but jumping ability and hand-eye coordination are equally important. So if you're short or not very athletic you still have a chance to improve your rebounding. All it takes is some practice and determination.
Here are some tips on improving your rebounding skills:
Keep Your Hands Up - This is perhaps the most important tip for improving your rebounding skills. If you want to be a good rebounder, then keeping your hands up should be automatic. Don't let yourself drop them after making a shot or passing it to someone else; instead, keep them up until the ball bounces off of the rim or backboard and then jump for it!
Know Where You Are - Basketball courts vary in size from high school gyms with 10 foot rims to NBA arenas with 12 foot rims (and everything in between). You should know where you are when playing so that you can adjust accordingly.
Rebounding is all about timing and positioning. You have to be able to anticipate where the ball is going and get there before your opponent. It's also important that you know how to box out your opponent so that they can't grab the ball away from you when it comes off of your team's misses.
Keep an eye on the ball - Pay attention to any loose balls as soon as they come off of a teammate's shot or pass; once you see them, go after them immediately. You don't want someone else to snatch them up first!
Box out - Your goal should always be to box out your opponent so that he/she can't get near the ball. If he doesn't have room to move around, he won't be able to get into position for the rebound or even contest for position with you. Be sure not to shove too hard because this will draw a foul call against you; just make sure that their body doesn't get between yours and the ball!
Get low when you're near the rim. Don't jump up high when trying to grab a rebound - stay low and use your legs instead of jumping. This will allow for better balance and control over your body so that you don't lose track of where your opponent is while trying to get in position for a rebound.
If you still have questions, swing by our facility in Kirkland. Our team at EBC Training Centers are glad to help you!