Rebounding

Women's Basketball, Oct 2003 by Folkl, Kristin

Without a doubt, the ability to rebound is one of the most important weapons any player can have in her arsenal. While grabbing a board may not always be flashy or elicit applause from the crowd, as many close games have been lost by a team's inability to get it done on the boards as by missing a crucial shot or free throw. Therefore, the fundamentals of rebounding cannot be emphasized enough.

Fortunately, learning to effectively rebound is not complicated, but it does require possessing an intense dedication to task and a fighting spirit to "do the dirty work." When looking at some of the best rebounders the game has ever produced, you will see four attributes that are common to them all: skill, comprehension, anticipation and desire.

Skill: Being a skilled rebounder requires knowing how to properly box out the opponent. The first step of a good box out is for her to locate her player as soon as the shot goes up. Too many times, the defensive player initially focuses on what the ball is doing instead of on where her player is and what she is doing. Once contact is made, it is essential for her to keep the player on her back and to maintain a low stance with her legs slightly more than shoulder width apart and her knees comfortably bent. Her arms should be extended shoulder height with a 90-degree bend at the elbows with her fingertips pointing towards the ceiling. Finally, keeping the offensive player as far away from the basket as possible ensures the defender a greater likelihood of getting the ball. This stance allows the defender to be on balance, to be strong and to be agile.

Comprehension: It may seem contradictory but it's true: Rebounding is as much mental as it is physical. Understanding the opponent and the court's attributes plays a significant role in maximizing a player's chances of getting a rebound. It is imperative for a player to know the tendencies, strengths and weaknesses of her opponent. Is she taller than I, stronger than I or faster than I? How best can I keep her from getting position under the basket to begin with? How hard or soft are the rims on the court? Can I expect the ball to die when it hits a soft rim or bounce for a longer rebound on a hard rim?

Thinking about what will happen and preparing for it by visualizing, knowing the equipment and understanding the opponent are essential pieces of becoming a competent rebounder.

Anticipation: Recognizing where the ball may turn up after a missed shot and then obtaining the correct position to grab it is more than half the battle. A good rebounder adopts the mentality that every shot is a missed shot and then prepares accordingly. She assesses where the ball will go by watching the shooter's release, the trajectory of the shot in the air, the angle that it makes contact with the rim (or backboard or nothing) and the velocity with which it is moving.

For example, while a soft, high shot may bounce more on the rim and fall close to the basket, a hard, flat shot may hit the rim quickly and bounce farther away. On paper this seems absurdly obvious, but the trick lies in instantly recognizing and reacting to these situations while in the heat of the battle.

Desire: Desire is the catalyst that ignites skill, comprehension and anticipation. Without it, the others would not be conceivable. Simply wanting to grab the ball more desperately than the next player and having the heart to battle it out in the paint can do wonders for a player's rebounding ability.

Rebounding can keep an important possession alive, but most important, it can ensure that the opponent doesn't score off an offensive put back in a critical situation.

The beauty of rebounding is that it requires more than a physically gifted player to excel at it. While having serious hops, lanky arms, strong legs and a tall frame unquestionably helps in the quest, it does not ensure a legitimately solid rebounder.

Rebounding is a matter of pride, fundamentals and hard work. Any athlete who plays the game is capable of possessing these traits and hence the potential to be an incredible rebounder.

Kristin Folkl played both basketball and Volleyball while attending Stanford University, reaching the Final Four in both sports. She played four seasons in the WNBA, two with the Minnesota Lynx and two with the Portland Fire. She has also played internationally in Greece, Switzerland and Australia. Coquese Washington is on break this issue, as the Indiana Fever pursues a playoff berth. Send your questions to WBHoopQues@aol.com.