Box-Out & Rebound
Make contact, seal your player, and go get the rebound.
What this drill teaches
Contact-first rebounding: find your player, hit, then chase the ball. The forced sequence breaks the instinct to stare at the ball's flight, teaching kids that rebounds are won with the body before the hands.
In games: Fixes the game-day picture of five kids watching a shot while an opponent strolls in for the putback — one taught box-out routinely erases the other team's second chances.
- Eyes finding a player first, not tracking the ball's arc
- A real pivot into contact with a wide, low base
- Rebound chinned with a pivot away from pressure
U10: contact will feel awkward — freeze the offence until the hit lands. U14–U16: expect live battles, instinctive contact and offensive boards fought for.
Equipment
1 ball, 1 hoop
Setup
Offensive player behind a defender, both near the rim. Coach has the ball.
Steps
- 1Coach shoots; defender finds their player.
- 2Defender pivots, makes contact, and boxes out.
- 3Hold the box for a beat, then go grab the ball.
- 4Chin the rebound and pivot away from pressure.
Coaching points
- Find, hit, then go get it.
- Wide base, low, backside into the opponent.
- Chin the ball on the catch.
Why kids love it
Rebounding is effort, not height — kids love realising they can out-work a taller player.
Variations
Live: offense tries to get the offensive board.
Freeze the offence until the defender has made contact, then release them.
Hold the box for a three-count before either player can chase the ball.