Basketball Drills - Rebounding 2-on-2 Drills

By Dr. James Gels, From the Coach’s Clipboard Basketball Playbook
"Helping coaches coach better..."

2-On-2 Competitive Rebounding With Steve Alford:


Several 2-on-2 rebounding drills are presented.

2-on-2 Rebounding Drill

This rebounding drill stresses the basics of boxing out, being aggressive, making the outlet pass, and "finishing" on the offensive glass.

Setup: See the diagram - two rows, one on each side of the free throw lane. The first player in each line becomes a defender and moves down by the blocks and will box-out the next player in line. The next player in each line are offensive players. Have a player at each wing for the outlet pass. The coach, or manager, shoots the ball from the free-throw line.

The Drill:
The coach shoots. The defenders box-out, rebound, make the outlet pass and the next group takes over. The two defenders rotate to the outlet positions, and the outlet players go to the back of the offensive lines.

2-man rebounding drill

Offensive players should be aggressive, try to get the offensive rebound, and power it back up to the hoop. Play until either the defense rebounds and outlet passes, or the offense rebounds and scores (limit offensive possessions to 6 seconds to keep the drill moving). Then rotate to the next group. Offensive players now are defenders.

Make sure all players hustle, are aggressive and are using good rebounding technique - with proper boxing out, attacking the ball, and making a good outlet pass. If the defense fails to secure the rebound, both players run a lap. Offensive players should be aggressive and power the ball back up to the hoop, scoring quickly (within 6 seconds).

If the offense scores, they have "immunity" for when they go on defense. When they are on defense, if they successfully get the rebound, they keep their "immunity" for the next time. If they fail to get the rebound, they lose the immunity, but don't have to run that lap. An offensive rebound with failure to score is nothing, no immunity.

1-on-1 Option:
You can also run this drill with just one line, one defender and one outlet receiver.

Box-out for rebounding position


Wing Skip-Pass and Box-Out Back-Side Drill

This a helpside, close-out and box-out drill. Start with the ball on either wing, with the opposite wing defender in helpside. When the ball is skip-passed, the helpside defender closes-out. X2 sprints to helpside.

O3 shoots and O2 goes for the back-side rebound. X2 must find and box-out O2 and rebound. X3 boxes-out the shooter. Rotate offense to defense after several shots, using both sides.

Man-to-man defense drill, skip pass and box-out Man-to-man defense drill, skip pass and box-out Man-to-man defense drill, skip pass and box-out


2-On-2 Rebounding Outlet Drill

This another helpside, close-out and box-out drill. One offensive player is on the opposite low block area and his defender is helpside in the paint. The other offensive player is on the wing. His defender starts at the block, passes out to the offensive player (who shoots), and the defender sprints out and makes a good close-out and then becomes a rebounder.

2-on-2 rebounding drill - helpside, close-out and box-out drill 2-on-2 rebounding drill - helpside, close-out and box-out drill2-on-2 rebounding drill - helpside, close-out and box-out drill

When one defensive player secures the rebound, his teammate sprints out for the outlet pass (diagrams B and C) and they go to offense, and we start the drill over.

Points of emphasis:
The post defender in helpside finds and makes contact with his man, and boxes-out inside (usually by using a reverse pivot after contacting his man).

The perimeter defender does not use a standard "box-out", but instead "checks" his man with a forearm and then releases quickly to pursue the rebound. If he gets the rebound, his teammate sprints for the outlet pass (diagram B). We also want to see a good close-out.

Options:
You can start the drill three ways: (1) as above with the wing shooting the 3-point shot, (2) the wing makes a shot-fake and a one dribble jump-shot, or (3) have the ball start on the wing with offensive player in triple-threat and he either shoots the 3-point shot or makes a dribble to a shot.


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