Defend and rebound
Want more background?
The idea in everyday life
Defense begins with position, vision, communication, and controlled feet. Practice slides without crossing unnecessarily, close out under balance, see ball and player, then make legal contact for a box out before pursuing the rebound.
Defense protects high-value space; rebounding ends the defensive job.
One step at a time.
Use the sample or information you have permission to use. Keep your work as you go. You can pause between steps.
- 1
Stay balanced between player and basket, watch the torso, and move feet before reaching.
- 2
Practice closeouts with short controlled steps, high hand, and readiness to contain the drive.
- 3
Use angles and team communication to influence the ball away from easy space.
- 4
When a shot goes up, find your opponent and use legal body position to get between them and the basket. Catch the rebound with two hands, hold it securely near your chin, and pass safely to a teammate.
See how it works.
Taylor mirrors a partner across a taped lane for four 15-second bouts, practices five approach-to-closeout reps from the paint, then uses a tossed ball to call 'shot,' locate a partner, make box-out contact, and secure the rebound with two hands.
Did you cover these?
- Slides stay balanced without clicking feet together.
- The closeout can stop and change direction without flying past.
- Rebounding contact establishes position without holding, shoving, or undercutting.
What to finish
A partner drill sequence for closeout, contain, box-out, rebound, and outlet.
Watch for this
Watching the shot in flight before locating and controlling the player you are responsible for.
How can I tell I understand it?
You can complete a possession from closeout through secured rebound without crossing your feet or reaching.
Quick knowledge check
Answer all 3 questions. Get at least 2 right and the lesson completes automatically.
You’ll get an explanation for each answer. Signed in? Your results save to your account.
Pass the check. We’ll save the progress.
Answer all 3 questions above and get at least 2 right. You can review the explanations and try again.
Go to the knowledge checkOptional course overview video · same video as Lesson 1
Jr. NBA at Home: 100 Dribble Drill
From Jr. NBA. Watch here or open it on YouTube .
Notice the low, controlled posture in the Jr. NBA drill; carry it into defensive movement while keeping hands visible and legal.Tools, templates, and lesson sources
Tools and templates
Tools open in a new tab so you can keep your place here.
Sources and further reading
Explore the references behind this lesson.
Report a problem with this lesson
Tell us what went wrong. Please leave out personal information and private project contents.