Rebound

A rebound is credited to a player who retrieves the basketball after a missed shot. Rebounds are divided into two categories: offensive rebounds (retrieved by the shooting team) and defensive rebounds (retrieved by the defending team).

Offensive Rebounds

An offensive rebound gives the team a second chance to score on the same possession. This is extremely valuable because second-chance points are often high-percentage shots close to the basket.

Defensive Rebounds

Defensive rebounds end the opponent's possession and start the transition to offense. Securing defensive rebounds consistently is one of the most important factors in preventing second-chance points.

Rebounding Technique

The fundamentals of rebounding involve three steps: see the shot, make contact with the opponent (box out), and go get the ball. Boxing out is the most teachable and impactful part of rebounding, as it is about effort and technique rather than height alone.

Tracking Rebounding Stats

Beyond total rebounds, coaches should look at offensive rebound percentage (what percentage of available offensive rebounds your team secures) and defensive rebound percentage. These rates provide context that raw rebound totals do not. A team that secures 75% of available defensive rebounds is performing well regardless of the total number.