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All coaches know that offensive rebounding significantly influences the outcome of games and even determines championships. 

"Offense sells tickets, defense wins games, rebounding wins championships.”

• Pat Summitt

This is why we’ve pulled four offensive rebounding drills from a few of the best coaches around, which you can use to improve your chances of securing second possessions and stealing games during this upcoming season. 

Jamy Bechler - Halfcourt Hustle

Jamy Bechler - Halfcourt Hustle

Jamy Bechler is considered one of the top experts in developing team leadership and creating championship cultures. 

Coach Bechler’s ‘Championship Rebounding’ course details his Halfcourt Hustle drill, which starts with one player positioned at the wing with a ball and a line of players at halfcourt. 

From there, the player on the wing takes their three-point shot. Once they do so, the first player in line will sprint to get the rebound, regardless of the shot’s outcome. Ideally, they’re able to do so without the ball hitting the ground. 

Jamy Bechler - Bull Rush

Jamy Bechler - Bull Rush

Another one Coach Bechler’s drills is called Bull Rush, which requires an assistant coach at the top of the key with a blocking pad. 

The drill begins with the line of players at the top of the key making a quick cut and “bull rushing” through the coach with a pad in front of them by swimming their near arm under the pad and lowering their shoulder through the contact while continuing toward the basket. 

Once they do so, one of the coaches under the basket will lob them a ball. They’ll catch it at its highest point, come back down to the floor (while keeping the ball at a high point), shoot a layup, get their own rebound (make or miss), then make another layup. 

Coaches will want to keep an eye on whether their players are getting lower than the coach with the pad when crashing the boards. 

Darren Savino - Offensive Rebounding Drill Emphasis

Darren Savino - Offensive Rebounding Drill Emphasis

Darren Savino enters his sixth season as UCLA’s associate head coach in 2024-25. His ‘Offensive Rebounding’ course conveys that whenever there’s a shooting drill taking place at practice, the players should always be following their own shots. 

Being a good offensive rebounder is just as much about willpower and grit as it is about having natural talent or great technique. Plus, following one’s shot will help a player understand how the ball is going to bounce off the rim. 

Stephanie Gaitley - 3 on 3 Line Drill

Stephanie Gaitley - 3 on 3 Line Drill

Stephanie Gaitley is the head women’s basketball coach at Farleigh Dickinson University, a position she has held since 2023. 

Coach Gaitley’s ‘Defensive and Rebounding Competitive Drills’ clinic explains her 3 on 3 line drill, which begins with three offensive players on the wing and three defensive players stacked in the paint, with the top player being #1 and the bottom player being #3. 

The coach passes one player the ball and then calls a number out 1-3, and that player has to run out and guard the player who gets the pass (who must dribble once). 

The chaos this drill creates is perfect for showing the movement and angles a player on the wing must take to the basket when trying to secure an offensive rebound.

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