Alternating-possession rule: Baseline:

The possession arrow changes direction The boundary line behind each basket;
after each held ball situation, alternating also called the endline.
which team gets possession of the ball.
Basket:
Assist: Attached to the backboard, it consists of
A pass that immediately precedes and a metal rim 18″ in diameter suspended
sets up a scored basket. 10′ from the floor, from which a 15-18″
corded net hangs, and through which
Backboard: points are scored; also used to refer to a
The rectangular or fan-shaped board successful field goal.
behind the basket.
Beat the defender:
Backcourt: When an offensive player, with or
The half of the court that is opposite a without the ball, is able to get past an
team’s offensive basket; the court a opponent who is guarding him.
team is attempting to defend.
Bench Points:
Ball handler: The number of points scored during a
The player with the ball; usually the game from players that began the game
point guard at the start of a play. on the bench. All points scored by non-
starters.
Ball Side:
The half of the court from the middle to Blocked shot:
the sideline where the ball is currently The successful deflection of a shot by
located. May also be referred to as the touching part of the ball on its way to the
‘strong side’. basket, thereby preventing a field goal.

Bank shot: Blocking:

A shot where the ball is first bounced (or The use of a defender’s body position to
banked) off the backboard at such an illegally prevent an opponent’s advance;
angle that it then drops into the basket. the opposite of charging.
Bonus free throw: offensive player illegally contacts a
See “One-and-One.” defensive player who has established
position or is stationary.
Bounce pass:
A pass that strikes the floor before it Chest pass:
reaches the receiver. A two-handed pass thrown from the
passer’s chest in a straight line to the
Boxing out: chest area of the receiver.
A player’s attempt to position his body
between his opponent and the basket to Controlling the boards:
get rebounds and prevent the Securing a majority of the rebounds.
opponents from doing so. Also referred
to as Blocking out. Conversion:
A made basket or free throw.
Carrying the ball:
Also called “palming;” a violation Court vision:
committed by a dribbler that involves A player’s ability to see everything on
placing the dribbling hand under the ball the court during play — such as where
and momentarily holding or carrying it his teammates and defenders are set up
while dribbling. — which enables him to make better
choices in passing; the best players
Center: possess this trait.
Also called the “pivot player;” an
offensive position typically played by a Crossover dribble:
tall player who plays mainly in the key A dribble in which the ball is moved from
areas (at the post). one hand to the other while the dribbler
changes directions.
Center court circle:
The circular area at midcourt from which Cut:
jump balls are taken. A quick movement by an offensive
player to elude an opponent or to
Charging: receive the ball.
A personal foul committed when an
Cylinder: Double foul:
The imaginary area directly above the A situation in which two opponents
basket where goaltending or basket commit a foul against each other
interference can occur. simultaneously.

Dead ball: Double team:

Occurs whenever the whistle blows to A defensive tactic in which two
stop play and after a field goal, but defenders temporarily guard one player.
before the opponent gains possession
of the ball. Downcourt or down the court:
The direction a team on offense moves,
Defense: from its backcourt into its frontcourt and
The team not in possession of the ball towards its own basket.
whose objective is to keep the opponent
from scoring; also a specific pattern of Dribble or dribbling:
play used by a defending team. Process by which a player repeatedly
bounces the ball off the floor so that it
Defensive rebound: returns to his/her possession. It’s the
A rebound of an opponent’s missed only legal means by which a single
shot. player may move the ball across the
court.
Double-double:
When a player scores double-digits in 2 Drive:
categories during one game (points, A quick dribble directly to the basket in
assists and rebounds are most an effort to score.
common, but it can also be blocks or
steals); a sign of great versatility. Dunk:
When a player close to the basket
Double dribble: jumps and strongly throws the ball down
A violation that occurs when a player into it; an athletic, creative shot used to
dribbles the ball with two hands intimidate opponents.
simultaneously or stops dribbling and
then dribbles again.
Elbow: Fastbreak:
A term often used to indicate the area of An offensive strategy in which a team
the court where the free-throw line and attempts to move the ball downcourt
side of the key meet. and into scoring position as quickly as
possible so that the defense is
Elbowing: outnumbered and does not have time to
It is a violation if a player vigorously or set up.
excessively swings his elbows, even if
there is no contact; it is a foul if contact Field goal:
is made. A basket scored on any shot other than
a free throw, worth two or three points
End line: depending on the distance of the
See ‘baseline’. attempt from the basket.

Established position: Flagrant foul:

When a defensive player has both feet Unnecessary or excessive contact
firmly planted on the floor before an against an opponent.
offensive player’s head and shoulder get
past him; the offensive player who runs Forward:
into such a defender is charging. An offensive position played to the sides
of the basket near the key area and out
4-point play: toward the sideline along the baseline.
A made 3-point field goal in which the
shooter was fouled, followed by a Foul (also referred to as ‘personal
successful free-throw. foul’):
A violation resulting from illegal contact
Fake or feint: with an opposing player.
A deceptive move to throw a defender
off balance and allow an offensive Foul line:
player to shoot or receive a pass; See “Free-throw line.”
players use their eyes, head or any
other part of the body to trick an Foul shot:
opponent. See “Free-throw.”
Free throw: Game clock:
An unguarded shot taken from behind Shows how much time remains in each
the free-throw line after a foul. If quarters or halves of games.
successful, the shot counts one point.
Guard:
Free-throw lane: An offensive position played primarily at
Also called the “key” or “lane;” a 12-foot the perimeter, or away from the basket.
wide area extending from the baseline
to the free-throw line. Players may not Guarding:
be in this area during a free-throw The act of following an opponent around
attempt. the court to prevent him from getting
close to the basket, taking an open shot
Free-throw line: or making easy an pass, while avoiding
A 12-foot-long line that is parallel to and illegal contact.
15 feet from the backboard.
Half-court or set offense:
Free-throw line extended: When a team takes the time to develop
An imaginary line drawn from the free- a play in its frontcourt, such as the give-
throw line to the sideline to determine and-go or a screening play; opposite of
the location for certain plays. fast break.

Front court: Held ball:

The half of the court (divided by the Formerly called a “jump ball.” When two
center line) that contains the offensive players on opposite teams are in joint
team’s basket; the offensive half of the control of the ball.
court.
Help Side:
Full–court press: The half of the court from the middle to
A defensive tactic in which a team the sideline opposite to where the ball is
guards the opponents closely the full currently located.
length of the court.
Hesitation Dribble:
A dribbling action with a change-of-pace
intended to confuse and/or freeze the In the paint:
defender. The basic action is a stutter In the “key” area, so named because
step in which the dribbler momentarily this area of the floor is painted.
slows his or her pace and speed.
Jump ball:
High percentage shot: The procedure for starting play at the
A shot that is likely to go in the basket, beginning of a game or an overtime
such as a layup. period. The official tosses the ball into
the air between the two opponents
High post: positioned at the center-court circle; the
An imaginary area outside either side of two players jump up and try to tap the
the foul lane at the elbow / free-throw ball to a teammate.
line extended area.
Jump shot:
Inbounds: A shot that is released after the shooter
The area within the baselines and has jumped into the air.
sidelines of the court; also the act of
bringing the ball into this area by means Jump stop:
of a throw-in. A method used to come to a complete
stop. Both feet must land simultaneously
Incidental contact: – either parallel or staggered – in order
Minor contact usually overlooked by for it to be a jump stop.
officials.
Key:
Inside shooting: Also called the “free-throw lane” or
Shots taken by a player near or under “lane;” the area measuring 12 feet in
the basket. width and extending from the free-throw
line to the end line.
Intentional foul:
A personal foul that the official judges to Layup or layin:
be premeditated. A shot taken close to the basket that is
usually banked off the backboard
towards the basket.
Loose ball: One-and-one:
A ball that is alive but not in the The “bonus” free-throw situation
possession of either team. awarded for non-shooting fouls after the
opposing team exceeds a certain
Low post: number of team fouls in a half. The
An imaginary area outside either side of person fouled shoots one free throw; if
the foul lane close to the basket. successful, the shooter takes a second
shot.
Lower percentage shot:
A shot that is less likely to go in the Out of bounds:
basket, such as one thrown by a player The area outside of and including the
who is off balance or outside his end lines and sidelines.
shooting range.
Outside shooting:
Man-to-man defense: Shots taken from the perimeter.
A team defense in which each player is
assigned to guard a particular opponent. Over-and-back violation:
A violation that occurs when the
Offense: offensive team returns the ball into the
The team that has possession of the backcourt once it has positioned itself in
basketball. Also, a structured pattern of the front court.
play that a team uses while attempting
to score. Overhead pass:
A two-handed pass thrown from above
Offensive rebound: the forehead.
A rebound of a team’s own missed shot.
Overtime:
Officials: An extra period played to break a tie
The referees who control the game, stop score at the end of a regulation game.
and start play, and impose penalties for
violations and fouls. Palming:
See “Carrying the ball.”
Pass: Pick-up games:
An intentional throw to a teammate. Impromptu games played among
players who just met.
Passer:
The player who passes the ball to a Pivot:
teammate. A footwork technique in which a player
keeps one foot in contact with a “spot”
Period: on the floor while moving the other foot
Any quarter, half or overtime segment. to adjust the position of the body or to
evade a defensive player.
Perimeter:
The area beyond the foul circle away Point guard:
from the basket, including 3-point line, An offensive position played by a guard
from which players take long-range who usually brings the ball up the court
shots. and initiates the offense.

Personal foul: Possession:

Contact between players that may result To be holding or in control of the ball.
in injury or provide one team with an
unfair advantage; players may not push, Possession arrow:
hold, trip, hack, elbow, restrain or Used to determine which team’s turn it
charge into an opponent; these are also is to inbounds the ball to begin a period
counted as team fouls. or in a held ball situation.

Pick: Post:
See “Screen or Screener” An offensive position played close to the
basket along the key.
Pick and Roll:
A play in which an offensive player sets Press:
a pick for the dribbler, then cuts off that An aggressive defense that attempts to
pick, or ‘rolls’, toward the basket looking force the opponents to make errors by
for a pass from the dribbler for a shot. guarding them closely from either half
court, three-quarter court or full court.
Quadruple double: Shooter:
A triple double with double-digits scored A player who takes a shot at the basket.
in 4 categories.
Shooter’s roll or shooter’s touch:
Rebound: The ability to get even an inaccurate
The act of gaining possession of the ball shot to bounce lightly off the rim and into
after a missed shot. the basket.

Run: Shooting range:

Occurs when one team scores several The distance from which a player is
field goals in quick succession while its likely to make his shots.
opponents score few or none.
Sidelines:
Scoring opportunity: 2 boundary lines that run the length of
When a player gets open for a shot that the court.
is likely to score.
Sixth man:
Screen or screener: The best substitute on a team; usually
The offensive player who stands the first player to come off the bench to
between a teammate and a defender to replace a starter.
gives his teammate the chance to take
an open shot. Slam dunk:
See “dunk.”
Scrimmage:
An unofficial game between two teams, Squaring up:
or five-on-five play between team When a player’s shoulders are facing
members in a practice situation. the basket as he releases the ball for a
shot; considered good shooting position.
Shot clock:
A clock that limits the time a team with Substitute:
the ball has to shoot it; 24 seconds in A player who comes into the game to
the NBA; in college, 35 seconds for replace a player on the court.
men, 30 seconds for women.
Swing man: from the backcourt within 10 seconds to
A player who can play both the guard avoid a violation.
and forward positions.
Three-point field goal:
3-point play: A made basket from a distance greater
A made 2-point field goal in which the than 19 feet and nine inches during a
shooter was fouled, followed by a high school or college game.
successful free-throw.
Three-on-two:
3 seconds: A common fastbreak situation in which
A violation in which an offensive player three offensive players attempt to score
remains within the key for more than on two defenders.
three seconds at a time.
Timeout:
Team fouls: When play is temporarily suspended by
Each personal foul committed by a an official or at the request of a team to
player is also counted against his team; respond to an injured player or discuss
when a team goes over the limit, its strategy.
opponent is awarded free-throw
opportunities. Transition:
The shift from offense to defense, and
Technical foul: vice versa.
A foul that does not involve contact with
an opponent; a foul that involves Traveling:
unsportsmanlike conduct by a player, A violation occurring when a player with
coach or non-player; or a contact foul the ball takes a step without dribbling
committed by a player while the ball is (moving the established pivot foot).
dead.
Triple double:
Ten-second line: When a player scores double-digits in 3
The mid-court line over which the categories during one game (points,
offensive team must advance the ball assists and rebounds are most
common, but it can also be blocks or court and the opponents within that
steals); a sign of great versatility. area.

Triple Threat Position: Zone offense:

Triple threat is an offensive position a An offensive pattern of play designed to
player can use who has not dribbled yet. attack (score against) a particular zone
The offensive player stands with knees defense.
flexed, feet slightly wider than shoulder
width, and both hands on the basketball.
From this position, the offensive player
can either shoot, dribble, or pass to a
teammate … thereby being a ‘triple
threat’ with the basketball.

Turnover:
A loss of possession of the ball by
means of an error or violation.

Upset:
When a higher-seeded (better) team
loses to a lower-seeded (inferior) one.

Violation:
An infringement of the rules that’s not a
foul. The penalty for a violation is the
awarding of the ball to the opponent.

Weakside:
The side of the court away from the ball.

Zone defense:
A team defense in which each player is
responsible for defending an area of the