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3/4 Court Two Long Play

3-Man Weave Rebounding Drill

Jump to the Ball Drill

2-on-2 Competitive Give-and-Go Drill

2-on-2 Competitive Rebounding Drill

Reversal for 3

Defense 101 - Defensive Rebounding Techniques

Follow this outline to learn the essentials and how-to's of defensive rebounding.  You cannot be a good defensive basketball team without being able to rebound effectively!

III.  Defensive Rebounding Techniques

A.  Positioning

1. Distance from basket
   a.  Make sure not to get caught too far under the basket
   b.  Distance depends on length of shot taken by offense -- the longer the shot, the more distance needed between the basket and the defensive rebounder
2. Boxing-Out
   a.  Make contact with offensive player immediately
   b.  Wide base with the feet
   c.  Knees flexed
   d.  Buttocks down so as to sit on the offensive player's thighs
   e.  Elbows up so arms from shoulder to elbow are approximately parallel to the floor
   f.   Forearms extended up in the air, ready to grab rebound
   g.  Two methods by which to make initial contact with offensive player:
   1.  Reverse pivot(aa)  Pivot on foot opposite from the initial direction the offensive player decides to go (if offensive player goes right, then defensive person pivots on left foot)(bb) Swing opposite leg around on an inside path
   (cc)  Make contact with buttocks
   2.  Front pivot
   (aa)  Move same foot as initial direction of offensive player (if offense goes to right, defense moves right foot) directly in front of player so as to cut off the path to the basket
   (bb) Make contact with forearm first, then hip and buttocks
   (cc) Other foot becomes pivot foot
   h.  Shuffle feet so as to maintain contact with offensive player

B.  Getting the ball off the backboard

1. Use legs to drive up to get ball
2. Extend both arms up
3. Grab ball with both hands
4. Be aggressive -- go after the ball with authority

C.  Executing the Outlet pass

1. While coming down with basketball
   a.  Try to take half turn to the outside (if closer to left sideline, then open up left shoulder)
   b.  Turn head to look over outside shoulder to try to pick up outlet person
   c.  Keep ball up - near or above head while keeping it away from offensive player
2. After landing on the floor
   a.  Step toward outlet person with closest foot
   b.  Keep other foot planted
   c.  Execute a two-handed overhead pass toward target
   d.  If being excessively pressured for initial outlet pass, then take one dribble to relieve pressure before executing pass

John Wooden: Thinking Like a Champion
John Wooden's 'Thinking Like a Champion' has just been reissued on DVD. In this Q & A with former UCLA great Keith Erickson recorded in 1994, Coach Wooden discusses his philosophies on life and athletics.