When it comes to improving touch, control, passing, and shooting – the core skills of a great footballer – repetition is key. Unfortunately, repetition can be boring.
Making football practice and training fun isn’t always easy, which is perhaps why football rebounders are becoming increasingly popular at grassroots football clubs across the UK.
Whether you don’t have the foggiest what a football rebounder is or you’ve never really thought about adding one to your training repertoire, we’ve got you covered.
Our brief guide to football rebounders should help you implement their use correctly – for the good of your team and all its players!
What Is a Football Rebounder?
A football rebounder is a relatively simple training tool designed to help players refine their technical skills, improve their reactions, and elevate their overall game.
Consisting predominantly of a metal or plastic frame and some durable, fully elasticated netting, this versatile training tool is designed to return the ball to the user at various speeds and angles.
Have you ever kicked a ball against a wall repeatedly in order to fine-tune your control, touch, passing, or shooting? While this can be effective, the process can quickly become repetitive and predictable.
And if you’ve ever played competitive football, ‘repetitive’ and ‘predictable’ are words that probably don’t spring to mind all that often.
Football rebounders deliver unpredictability and variety. So, whether you’re fine-tuning your passing technique or brushing up on your touch, you can do so in a way that replicates a match scenario.
A good rebounder should fire your ball back at a range of angles and speeds – keeping you on your toes and mentally ready to react. And that’s something a simple wall or fence can’t do.
Football rebounders have been around for a while, but they’re now becoming popular among grassroots football coaches for a number of reasons.
Versatility
Football rebounders are perfect for solo training or team drills, as they allow players to work on their skills independently or incorporate them into group sessions for an added element of fun.
Compact Design
Most rebounders are lightweight, foldable, and easy to transport, which makes them convenient for use in gardens, training grounds, or even the local park.
Skill Development
Football Rebounders are excellent for improving the following core football skills:
Passing and Ball Control: Hone your accuracy and first touch through repetitive practice.
Shooting and Reflexes: Create unpredictable rebounds to challenge your reaction time and sharpness.
Aerial Techniques: Develop your headers and volleys with a focus on precision and power.
How to Use a Football Rebounder
This is the beauty of a high-quality football rebounder. It’s exceptionally easy to set up and use. If you can put out training cones, you can use one of these simple yet effective football training tools.
Choose a Flat, Open Space
In other words, a football pitch or training area is ideal. But any flat surface will do, which means you can fine-tune your skills at the local park, an indoor sports facility, or even your own back garden. Just make sure you have space to move around freely.
Adjust the Angle
A lot of rebounders come with adjustable angles. For ground passes and improving your first touch, set the rebounder to a low angle. For aerial control and headers, tilt it to a steeper position. Of course, you can also simply adjust your starting positions to keep things interesting.
Incorporate into Drills and Practice
The latest football rebounders are as lightweight as they are compact. So, where you go, your rebounder can follow. Integrate yours into your weekly training and practice routines to reap the benefits. It will serve you well during drills for developing quick passing, ball control, shooting, and your first touch.
The Different Types of Football Rebounder
While the basic premise of a lightweight frame and elasticated netting remains the same, there are different football rebounder designs to choose from.
Adjustable Football Rebounders
Featuring adjustable angles, these more sophisticated rebounders allow players to simulate a variety of ball trajectories for passing, shooting, and control drills – ideal for personalised training sessions.
Dual Football Rebounders
Dual rebounders have two sides with different net configurations. This setup allows you to simultaneously practice ground passes, shooting, control, touch, and more.
Football Rebound Boards
Rebound boards are solid, angled surfaces designed to return the ball with speed and precision, helping players practice volleys, quick reactions, and passing under pressure.
Handheld Football Rebounders for Goalkeepers
These are small, portable rebound tools held by coaches to direct fast, controlled ball returns to keepers.
Target Football Rebounders
Target rebounders incorporate specific goal zones – helping players improve their accuracy and focus when passing or shooting.
Trainer Ramp Rebounders
Ramp rebounders feature curved surfaces that replicate realistic ball bounces for game-accurate drills. The unpredictable nature of the rebounds generated can enhance ball control and touch over time.
4 Potential Training Drills with Football Rebounders
You can get creative when you have a football rebounder at your disposal. But here are a few training ideas to get you started:
1. Passing Precision
Start at different distances and pass the ball with enough force to ensure a clean rebound. To make the drill more challenging, mark specific targets around the rebounder or use cones to aim for tighter angles.
2. First Touch
Stand a few yards away from the rebounder and pass the ball against it. As it rebounds, use your feet, thighs, or chest to control the ball and prepare for your next move.
3. Reaction Training
Adjust the angle of the rebounder to create unpredictable ball returns. This forces you to react quickly and adapt your positioning, enhancing reflexes and decision-making. To make this easier, consider purchasing an adjustable rebounder.
4. Shooting Practice
Simulate game situations by using the rebounder to practice volleys and deflections. Position a large football rebounder near the penalty area, pass the ball into it, and shoot on goal as the ball rebounds. This drill should improve your timing, shooting accuracy, and ability to finish under pressure.
The Fun Way to Become a Better Footballer
If you’re looking for ways to mix things up in training or make your solo practice sessions more interesting, buying a football rebounder could deliver exactly what you’re looking for.
