3 Basic Lessons to Increase Your Rebounding Ability

There are 2 occasions where you can get the ball off the boards: while you are on the offense and when you are on the defense. Whichever way, you need to learn these lessons to become a improved rebounder for your team:

1. Rebounding is getting into the correct location.

Your coach constantly yells “rebound!” and you are tired of hearing it since, no matter how high you jump, your opponent is still able to take the ball away from you. If this is your difficulty, then you might not be placing yourself in the right rebounding position. Remember this: rebounding doesn’t commence as soon as you get the ball on its way down, it begins on the ground. Thus, knowing where to place yourself to get the advantage is one secret to getting the rebound.

The perfect location is putting your body between your opponent and the ball. Take note that not all rebounds arrive from the rim or the backboard, so placing your body between the opponent and the basket isn’t always doable.

2. Rebounding is anticipating where the basketball will land.

You get the right spot but it is worthless if you do not know how to foresee where the basketball is going to go. This requires common sense. For example, if the shot is taken from the perimeter, it is probable that the ball will bound off strong. A short shot may produce an opposite effect. What you should do is to continually watch the ball and the player taking the shot. Foresee where the ball will end up and situate yourself taking into consideration lesson number 1. Understand that you cannot always guess where the ball will end up but knowing this will improve your chances.

3. Rebounding is all about attitude (you have to WANT the ball).

As said by many, rebounding is not just about who jumps high or who is taller; it’s about who wants the basketball the most. This is the third lesson you have to learn. The attitude is all it takes to become a first-class rebounder. You may know how to position prior to the rebound and you may know how to expect where the ball will end up, but if you do not want it, you won’t get it.

Getting into the right position, being able to anticipate where the ball will land, and wanting the ball the most are the three main factors to become a good rebounder. Understand these and you’ll be controlling the board.

One last thing to take into account that can make you a better rebounder is being able to jump higher. Not only can jumping higher make you a better rebounder, it can also help you be able to dunk a basketball. There are several good programs available that can help you add inches to your vertical leap.