Yesterday morning when I was playing basketball a teammate of mine went flying by me to the hoop when a shot went up by the other team. I on the other hand was stepping toward my man to block him out (also known as boxing out). I was taught that it didn’t matter if I got a rebound only that my man should not get it. If everyone on your team has this mentality in the end, someone on your team will get the rebound, because by blocking out, the defense has control and have better position to get to the ball.
Blocking out consistently is not an easy task and not an easy skill to instill in players because the player generally has to move away from the basket and away from the action. It doesn’t seem right, but it can make all the difference in the world. I was a top rebounder at my college and I was only 5’9”. I blocked out. My daughter is one of the top rebounders at her college and she is 5’8”, she does the same. You don’t have to be tall to get rebounds (though it can help), but you do have to be tough and block out.
When you’re on the court remind yourself to block out, if you’re coaching make sure to spend time working on this skill, and if your watching basketball, watch closely and learn to appreciate this part of the game. Blocking out seems to go against the grain as it takes a player away from the action, but in the end it’s one of the best ways to help a team win.
More information on blocking out:
Boxing Out by ExtremeBasketballSkills
How to Block Out in Basketball by HoopSkills
