What does box out mean in basketball? To box out means to position your body between an opponent and the basket after a shot so they have a harder time getting the rebound. The player establishes inside position, makes legal body contact, and keeps the opponent behind them while locating the ball.
Boxing out is one of the basic skills of rebounding, according to NBA. It can help players of any size compete for missed shots because good positioning can reduce an opponent’s height or jumping advantage.
In This Article
What does box out mean in basketball?
A box out in basketball is the act of establishing rebounding position between an opposing player and the basket.
FIBA’s coaching material describes blocking out as establishing a position between the basket and the offensive player. Instead of immediately watching the shot and jumping, a defender first identifies the player they need to keep away from the rebound.
You may also hear coaches use the term block out. In basketball, box out and block out generally describe the same rebounding technique.
The goal is simple: keep your opponent farther from the best rebounding area while giving yourself space to pursue the ball.
How do you box out?
A good box out usually happens in a short sequence immediately after a shot is released.
- Find your opponent. Identify the player who could attack the offensive rebound.
- Make legal contact. Move into the opponent’s path without pushing or holding them.
- Turn toward the basket. Pivot so your body is between the opponent and the rim.
- Stay low and balanced. Use a wide stance and bent knees so the opponent cannot easily move around you.
- Locate the ball. Once your rebounding position is secure, track the missed shot.
- Go get the rebound. Release from the box out when appropriate and pursue the ball with two hands.
FIBA coaching guidance similarly teaches defenders to make contact, pivot into rebounding position, face the basket, and prepare to jump for the ball.
Why is boxing out important?
Boxing out improves your chances of controlling a missed shot before an opponent can reach it.
On defense, that matters because grabbing the rebound can finish the defensive possession. Failing to box out may allow the offense to collect the ball again and create another scoring opportunity.
Boxing out can also help a shorter player compete against someone taller. The taller player may have a greater reach, but that advantage becomes less useful if they cannot get close enough to the rebound.
Jr. NBA specifically teaches boxing out as a technique for keeping an opponent away from the ball while rebounding.
The skill is also a team responsibility. One defender may successfully box out an opponent while a teammate collects the actual rebound.
Can you box out on offense?
Yes. Offensive players can also use positioning to improve their chances of getting an offensive rebound.
The situation is slightly different because defenders usually begin with inside position. An offensive rebounder may try to move around the defender, anticipate where the ball will bounce, or establish legal position before the defender completes the box out.
Both players are competing for space, but neither has permission to simply push the other player out of the way.
Is boxing out a foul?
Boxing out itself is legal, but illegal contact during a box out can be called as a foul.
Players are allowed to establish position and use their bodies within the rules. However, the NBA states that a player cannot hold, push, charge into, or illegally impede an opponent using an arm, leg, knee, or abnormal body position. Contact that reroutes an opponent can be called a personal foul.
That means there is an important difference between holding your position and forcefully moving an opponent.
A legal box out is based on position and balance. Common actions that can result in a foul include:
- Shoving the opponent backward
- Holding an opponent with the arms
- Extending the elbows dangerously
- Hooking or wrapping an arm around another player
- Moving into an opponent in a way that illegally displaces them
Basketball allows physical competition for rebounds, but that contact still has to follow the game’s rules.
Box out vs rebound
Boxing out and rebounding are related, but they are not the same action.
Boxing out creates rebounding position. Rebounding means gaining possession of the missed shot.
A player can therefore make an excellent box out without being credited with the rebound. For example, a center might keep the opposing center away from the basket while a guard collects the ball, as reported by Sports Illustrated.
This is one reason boxing out can be valuable even though the player performing it does not always appear in the box score.
Common boxing-out mistakes
One of the biggest mistakes is watching the ball immediately after the shot. Doing that can allow an offensive player to run past the defender and gain better position.
Other common mistakes include:
- Standing upright instead of using a low stance
- Forgetting to locate the opponent
- Boxing out directly underneath the rim
- Turning toward the ball before establishing position
- Trying to push the opponent instead of holding legal position
- Stopping after contact instead of pursuing the rebound
FIBA recommends establishing the box-out position away from directly underneath the basket because many missed shots will rebound farther from the rim.
FAQs
Do you have to box out in basketball?
No rule requires a player to box out, but it is a fundamental rebounding technique. Coaches teach it because establishing position can prevent opponents from getting easy offensive rebounds.
Can a smaller player box out a taller player?
Yes. A smaller player can successfully box out a taller player by establishing inside position early, staying balanced, and preventing the taller player from reaching their preferred rebounding spot.
When should you start boxing out?
You should normally begin your box out as the shot is released. The first job is to find the opponent and establish position before turning your full attention to the ball.
Is box out the same as block out?
Yes, the terms box out and block out are commonly used for the same basketball technique. Both describe establishing position between an opponent and the basket during a rebounding situation.
Conclusion
So, what does box out mean in basketball? It means using legal body position to keep an opponent away from a rebound. Strong boxing out gives players better rebounding position and helps a defense finish possessions.
