Box-Out & Rebound

Skill drill

Make contact, seal your player, and go get the rebound.

6 min pairs Half court
DefenseFootworkU10U12U14U16

Technique guide

pairs · 1 ball, 1 hoop

Get everyone ready

Shot's up — find your manWhen the shot goes up, turn and find the player you're guarding. X1C

● Player / attack■ DefenceGold: ballGreen C: coach

Illustrated steps · 5 seconds per step at 1×

Set up

Offensive player behind a defender, both near the rim. Coach has the ball.

Look for: Find, hit, then go get it.

Playback options
Illustrated steps · 5 seconds per step at 1×
Coach’s notes & group organisation

Offensive player behind a defender, both near the rim. Coach has the ball.

  1. Coach shoots; defender finds their player.
  2. Defender pivots, makes contact, and boxes out.
  3. Hold the box for a beat, then go grab the ball.
  4. Chin the rebound and pivot away from pressure.

Suggested reset

Stop after the rebound is secured. Return the same ball to the coach; swap rebounder and opponent before the next toss. Waiting pairs enter after both players have boxed out. Keep the landing area clear.

Coaching cues

  • Find, hit, then go get it.
  • Wide base, low, backside into the opponent.
  • Chin the ball on the catch.

Adapt the challenge

Harder: Live: offense tries to get the offensive board.

Easier: Freeze the offence until the defender has made contact, then release them.

Three-Second Hold: Hold the box for a three-count before either player can chase the ball.

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.

What good looks like
  • 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

  1. 1Coach shoots; defender finds their player.
  2. 2Defender pivots, makes contact, and boxes out.
  3. 3Hold the box for a beat, then go grab the ball.
  4. 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

Harder

Live: offense tries to get the offensive board.

Easier

Freeze the offence until the defender has made contact, then release them.

Three-Second Hold

Hold the box for a three-count before either player can chase the ball.

Related drills

Coaching notes that use this drill