4 v 4 Rebounding

4 v 4 Rebounding is a simple drill where there are 4 offensive players and 4 defensive players.  The ball is shot and the 4 offensive players try to get a rebound while the 4 defensive players have to box out the 4 offensive players before getting the rebound.  The drill itself is simple but I add a few variations to make it more difficult. 

Original Drill

The four offensive players are set just outside of each block and just outside each elbow.  The four defensive players are standing right by their offensive player.  The coach or player shoots the ball and the four defensive players box out the four offensive players and get the rebound.  Players can rotate in and out of the drill but it is very stationary.

Original Drill but with space

Once the players get good at rebounding out of the original drill, I change it.  Now the defensive players start underneath the basket.  If the court has a charge line then the players have to be within that arc.  The ball is shot and the 4 defensive players have to step out to the offensive players to make contact and box out. 

This gives the offensive players chances to move freely forcing the defense to react to the movement.  The defense has to make contact on the box out before they are allowed to get the rebound.  This makes each defensive player move away from the basket so they can make contact.  But now the contact is being made against a moving target.  Each defensive player has to react to the offensive player which creates a scenario more like a game situation.

Offensive players are moving along the 3 point line

The next variation is to have the offensive players move along the 3-point line.  The defensive players are under the basket but they are able to watch the offensive players moving.  The defenders are able to talk to each other to have an idea of who to box out on the shot.  The defensive players are now boxing out the players in front of them rather than moving around each other.

On the shot, the offensive players crash to the basket, while the defensive players move out from the basket to make contact and box out.  While the defenders can get confused at times on who to box out especially if two offensive players cross at the moment of the shot, this is easily fixable.  The defensive players are able to see the crossing of offensive players and communicate the switch from one to the other. 

Defensive players look at rim while offensive players move

The final variation I use is having the offensive players looking at the basket while the offensive players are moving around the 3-point line.  This prevents the defensive players from being able to see the offensive players so they have to read and react even quicker.  The defensive players have to communicate in split seconds.  One of things I see a lot is defensive players moving around teammates to get to an offensive player.  By reducing the time they have to see the offense, the defensive players have to widen their sight so they pick up each offensive player quickly. 

I give a shot call first.  The players react to the call and either crash for the rebound or go to box out.  After 1 to 2 seconds, the ball is shot.  The players then are battling for the rebound of the shot.  I always give a 1 to 2 second delay from starting the players to the shooting of the basketball.  Without this delay, the defense has an easier time because the offense does not have enough time to get into a good rebounding position.  With a couple of seconds the offensive players can get near the basket and work on sealing the defensive player so they have more room to get a rebound. 

This variation is a great drill because it makes it very difficult for the defense to get to their box outs.  They have to read and react very quickly.  In a zone defense where the box outs are not always simple, this drill helps players to not all box out the same player.  They learn to spread out to every offensive player.  I have seen so many times 2 or 3 defenders all boxing out the same player while another offensive player is able to come right to the basket and get the rebound.  This variation helps to prevent that from happening. 

This is a great rebounding drill because it can be made easier or harder depending on what you are wanting to do as a coach.  Sometimes you may just want to reinforce rebounding in practice so you use the original drill.  Maybe after a bad rebounding game you go through each one.  If the players are not communicating, then you have the defense looking at the rim to start.  This drill will really help your rebounding especially out of a zone defense or help side defense.  The actions involved in the drill are very similar to what the players are going to face in every game.