A good defensive team, however, will reduce the impact of those factors through “blocking out” the offensive players.

“Blocking Out” is simply establishing a position between the basket and the offensive player. It is important that the defensive player has made contact with their opponent, not simply standing in front of them.

The defender must make sure that they are at least a step or two away from the basket, otherwise rebounds will bounce over them. The “no charge” circle provides a good reference point.

The keys to blocking out are:

• When a shot is taken, turn to face the offensive opponent
• Step towards the offensive opponent, making contact with your forearm, while still looking at the offensive player
• As the offensive player attempts to get around the defender, the defender pivots so that their bottom makes contact with the offensive player. The defender is now facing the basket, with their hands up ready to jump and rebound!

Getting Rebounding Position

Although very important, it is not enough to simply go for the rebound. A defensive player must first “block out” or take steps to ensure that their opponent does not get position to get an offensive rebound. For offensive rebounders, they must beat their opponent to get to a rebounding spot.

There are three key “rules” regarding rebounding spots:

1. Do not be positioned under the basket. The preferred position is to be at least a metre from the basket, so that you are catching the rebound in front of you
2. A missed shot from one side goes most often to the opposite side
3. Long distance shots rebound longer than short distance shots.

Offensive players should be especially alert to their defender going to help or losing sight of them, as this is an opportunity to get to a rebounding spot. A simple cue for offensive players is that if they can see the back of their opponent’s head, their opponent cannot see them!

Getting to a rebounding position is not a matter of racing your opponent to see who gets to the position first. Both offensive and defensive players must be prepared to use their body to establish a rebounding position.

The key to blocking out is:

1. See your opponent. When a shot is taken, many players simply turn towards the basket, thus losing vision of their opponent.
2. Balance. Players must have good balance with knees bent.
3. Contact with your opponent. Next, the player must move to establish contact with their opponent. This should be done using an “arm bar” that is kept close the body (within the “cylinder”), so it requires
   moving the feet! Players that extend their arms and push their opponents are fouling. A defender that is on the “split line” may be a significant distance from their opponent. In this instance, step to the side of the key, so that if their opponent moves to rebound contact is made there.
4. Turn to the basket. After making initial contact, the player should then pivot to face the basket, again keeping contact with their opponent.
5. Hands Up and rebound. One of the most common mistakes players make is having their hands down. Hands should be just above shoulder height, elbows out, which makes the player “wider” and harder to get around.

Jumping and Catching the Ball

This will be instinctive for some players but others will need instruction and guidance. The following points are
important:

• Be balanced before jumping as high as possible;
• Timing is crucial. Players must learn to jump at the proper moment to catch the ball as high as possible.
• Jump and move arms upwards, without fouling the opponent. The temptation to have their hands in the opponents back must be resisted.
• Land in a balanced stance, with the ball protected, holding the ball in two hands with hands on each side of the ball and elbows pointing out, not down.

Sometimes, the offensive player will be outside the key when the shot is taken, but the defender is inside the key (e.g. the defender is in a “help” position. In this situation, the defender still looks at their player, but does not move all the way to them. Instead, they move to the edge of the key. If the offensive player is going to contest the rebound they will need to move into the key, and the defender can then make contact.