We recognize the importance of rebounding, especially in the context of possession (getting the ball) and possessions (execution with the ball).
One question which arises is "nature or nurture", do you train rebounders or do you acquire them? I'm sure it's both. Rebounding is the one skill in the game where "selfishness" (getting the ball) helps both you and your team.
A few stories may be in order. One coach felt compelled to teach his star "double digit" rebounder to rebound correctly...block out, get the ball. After his 'reeducation', the player got only a few rebounds a game. The coach then instructed him to "just get the ball" and the player returned to his prior rebounding efficiency. Pete Carril had a saying that rebounders usually coming from "the wrong side of the tracks." I've heard of coaches who have drills where all rebounds are live, including on made baskets.
1. George Raveling's War on the Boards is the industry standard in rebounding literature.
Good luck finding it.
2. Tom Izzo's MSU Spartans are perennial rebounding forces. Izzo sometimes has rebounding practice with helmets and shoulder pads.
3. Sylvia Hatchell teaches "hit and get", make contact then get the ball. John Wooden taught rebounders to assume the "jumping frog" position, arguing that you don't rebound with your arms down.
4. Rebounding differential was one of Dean Oliver's original keys in "Basketball analytics", along with field goal percentage, turnovers, and free throws taken. If you check the box score, the team winning the rebounding battle usually prevails. But how meaningful aggregate rebounding stats are...I'm not sure.
6. Size matters. This study showed that height accounted for about fifty percent of the variation in rebounding.
Here are some great notes from Coach Raveling.
