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Boxing out is a way to block an opposing player with your body to prevent them from getting a rebound. The technique is so effective, in fact, that a shorter player can out-rebound a taller player! Boxing out is an essential skill for every player on the floor, but it’s especially important if you’re a center or power forward, since your primary goal on missed shots is to rebound the ball. Check out this list of useful tips for mastering the powerful technique.

1

Get close to the backboard when a player shoots.

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  1. It doesn’t matter if you’re on offense or defense. Wait for the ball to be in the air on its way to the basket, then run and position yourself close to the backboard, anticipating the rebound.[1]
    • Often, watching an opponent pass the ball with peripheral vision can be mistaken for a shot, particularly if it is a lob pass across the court.
    • Listen for your teammates yelling, "shot" in case someone takes a shot that you don’t see right away.
    • If you see a shot taken, yell "shot" yourself so others can hear you.
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2

Position yourself between your opponent and the basket.

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  1. Get in front of the player you’re boxing out and face the net, keeping your body between your opponent and the basket. Get ready to think quickly and go for the ball when it bounces off the rim or backboard![2]
    • If you’re on defense and you are facing the player you’re guarding, make contact with your opponent’s chest using your forearm. Then, quickly turn your body to the opposite side of the arm you extended to back pivot into them and face the net.[3]
3

Choose the opponent to box out based on your defense.

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  1. If you’re playing man-to-man defense, box out whoever you are assigned to guard. Box out the closest person to you if you’re playing zone defense. Once you’re near the backboard after a shot, find the player and get ready to box them out.[4]
    • If it’s clear that a teammate will not be able to box out their own man, and their man is closer to the basket than your man, move to box out the opponent closest to the basket instead.
    • If you're playing a high position in the zone, or closer to the top of the key, past the free throw line, try to select an opponent who is also above the key. If you're playing a low position, closer to the basket, try to find someone near you in the paint.
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7

Watch the ball while you're boxing out.

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10

Pivot away from the basket to the sideline and look to pass.

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  • Question
    Should you have your back to the person when you box them out?
    Ryan Tremblay
    Ryan Tremblay
    Basketball Coach
    Ryan Tremblay is a Basketball Coach and the Owner of National Sports ID and STACK Basketball. With over 30 years of experience, Ryan specializes in basketball coaching, social media marketing, and website design. Ryan created the National Sports ID as a platform to verify the age/grade of youth athletes and STACK Basketball to inspire young athletes to grow into mature individuals and basketball players. Ryan was a First Team All-Decade basketball player in Bergen County and finished in the top 20 all-time leading scorers in the county’s history with 1,730 points. He went on to Caldwell University on a basketball scholarship where he was part of three championship teams. Ryan was a two-time All-Metropolitan, All-State, and All-Conference point guard and the all-time three-point leader in the school’s history, landing him in the Caldwell University Athletic Hall of Fame.
    Ryan Tremblay
    Basketball Coach
    Expert Answer
    No, you should start by facing your opponent—put your body against theirs to push them and back them out. However, you might wind up with your back to them because you want to rebound.
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About This Article

Ryan Tremblay
Co-authored by:
Basketball Coach
This article was co-authored by Ryan Tremblay. Ryan Tremblay is a Basketball Coach and the Owner of National Sports ID and STACK Basketball. With over 30 years of experience, Ryan specializes in basketball coaching, social media marketing, and website design. Ryan created the National Sports ID as a platform to verify the age/grade of youth athletes and STACK Basketball to inspire young athletes to grow into mature individuals and basketball players. Ryan was a First Team All-Decade basketball player in Bergen County and finished in the top 20 all-time leading scorers in the county’s history with 1,730 points. He went on to Caldwell University on a basketball scholarship where he was part of three championship teams. Ryan was a two-time All-Metropolitan, All-State, and All-Conference point guard and the all-time three-point leader in the school’s history, landing him in the Caldwell University Athletic Hall of Fame. This article has been viewed 174,532 times.
14 votes - 90%
Co-authors: 15
Updated: October 7, 2021
Views: 174,532
Categories: Basketball
Article SummaryX

To box out in basketball, position yourself between your opponent and the basket, and look at your opponent's eyes to determine which way they plan to move for the rebound. Then, take 1-2 steps towards the player and extend your arm to touch their torso, but avoid holding or forcibly hitting them. If you extended your right arm, follow up by pivoting your body to the left so you’re facing away from your opponent. Next, extend your butt slightly, stretch out your arms behind you to feel where your opponent is going, and slide your feet to either side to prevent them from getting around you. For tips on how to box out in a man-to-man or zone defense, read on!

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