Dominate the Inside Game
5 ways to become a great offensive rebounder

Part of being a great inside player is being a great rebounder. Pounding the offensive boards can get you tons of playing time and increase your scoring average.

Here are 5 secrets for becoming a big-time offensive rebounder.

5 ways to become a dominant offensive rebounder

1.) Anticipate the shot
This is something all great rebounders do. Even before your teammate shoots the ball, you should have an idea of when the shot is going to go up, and where the rebound might go (from where the shot is taken on the floor).

For example: if someone takes a close-in shot, the rebound will likely be close to the basket. If someone takes a deep shot, the rebound will likley be a long one, or bounce high off the rim.

By anticipating the shot, and where a miss might go, you can get the extra step on your opponent. An extra step is all it takes to get into good rebounding position and grab the board.

2.) Make a quick and powerful first step
Once you decide to get into rebounding position, your first step has to be quick, powerful, and to the basket. Your goal is to get even with your opponent (because most likely they'll be between you and the basket since they're on defense), or to get in front of them.

So when you anticipate a teammate about to shoot the ball, don't wait. Make a quick and powerful step towards the basket, and around your opponent. This will put you in a pretty good position to rebound the basketball. It also puts a lot of pressure on the defense to work hard to keep you off the boards.

3.) Make a counter-move if necessary
Once you make a good first step to get even with, or past, your opponent and into good rebounding position, your opponent will try to block this move and keep you off the boards. This is when you'll have to make a strong counter-move.

A counter-move simply means that when your opponent blocks your first move, you make a 2nd (or 3rd) move to continue fighting for position. For example, if you make a quick step to the right to try to get around your opponent, and they block this move, you might counter with a quick step back to the left, or a spin-move to the left around the defender.

Whatever you do, don't give up if your opponent blocks one of your moves. Continue battling for good position. Continue working to get in good position to grab the rebound. After all, if you work hard enough, you could get 2 points out of the deal.

4.) Go after the ball
This may sound overly simplistic, but once you battle to get into good rebounding position, go after the ball. No matter how hard you work to get into good position, your end goal is to get the rebound.

There are many times where players will work hard to block out or get into good rebounding position, but then don't go hard after the ball. Don't stop working until you or someone else comes up with the rebound. Remember: go after the ball!

5.) Be strong and power back up with the shot
After you grab an offensive rebound, power back up with the ball. You should expect contact (or even a foul) as you go back up with the shot. But anytime you get the ball inside on an offensive rebound, you should plan on going back up strong with the shot.

There may be times when you grab an offensive board and your're out of position, off-balance, or there are too many defenders around for you to go back up with the shot. That's OK. Don't force a bad shot. But most of the time, when you grab an offensive rebound, take it back up strong and score the basket.

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