Build a Better Player

Some Thoughts on Summer Camp

Part One: 1-on-1 Boxing Out
Teams are picked in the winter.
They are made in the summer.
We all know that the time to improve your basketball skills is during the summer and I have seen over 3,000 different girls at six different weeks of camp this summer who have taken the first step toward improving by just taking part in a summer camp. I believe that it is important to focus on a few things at a time that will make small and growing changes in a player's ability. For example, at nearly every camp that I have been a part of, there is inevitably some 1-on-1 competition. When a shot is taken, I am constantly amazed at the number of defenders who FAIL TO BOX OUT!!!!!!! Once the shot goes up, both the offensive and defensive player have a fairly good idea as to where the ball is going. It is very rare for a ball to change its flight in midair, isn't it? That being the case, why not quickly look at the shooter, make contact and BOX OUT turning toward the flight of the ball as you box out? Once the defender boxes out the shooter, it is basically a matter of geography when you think about it. Shouldn't you be the first one to the ball if you are closer? Time and time again defenders force a tough shot but fail to box out and simply go to the rim for the rebound. On a long shot, it is even more likely that there will be a long rebound and in that case, boxing out is crucial. Even when a long rebound isn't eminent, what reason can be given for NOT boxing out other than laziness? I mean it is just you (the defender) and the shooter (the offensive player). Who is going to get the rebound? It will be one of you two, so why not take care of the small detail of boxing out that will considerably increase your chances of getting the rebound.

We have also all seen players who may or may not have boxed out their opponents, the ball comes toward them, they are late in getting their hands up and the ball ricochets off their hands and the shooter gets the rebound. BOX OUT AND GET YOUR HANDS UP!

In boxing out drills, the focus is on rebounding and making a consistent effort to go after the ball. In 1-on-1, the focus is on the two players on the court. In both situations, it is difficult to box out well since offensive rebounders will use an assortment of clever spins and fakes to get the rebound that they will seldom use in games. They will hardly ever use them in games. They will almost never use them in games. Because of this, it is important to CONSISTENTLY ATTEMPT to box out every time. The more you box out, the better you will get at doing it and it will make a considerable difference in games when offensive rebounders rarely make as much of an effort in going after the ball. In 1-on-1, everyone can see when you don't box out and it would make sense that when your opponent gets a rebound simply because you didn't box out, this negative reinforcement would be enough to goad you into boxing out. If it doesn't, then you are JUST PLAIN LAZY.

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