TERMINOLOGIES

Air ball: A shot that misses the rim or backboard.

Alive: Offensive player who has the ball and has not dribbled.

Alternating Possession Rule: The possession arrow changes direction after each subsequent
jump ball or held ball situation, alternating which team gets possession for the throw-in. The first
possession after a held ball goes to the team who lost the opening jump ball to begin the game.

Assist: A pass to a teammate that results in a made basket.

Backboard: The flat surface directly behind the basket. The basket is connected to the
backboard.

Backcourt: the area from the midcourt line to the end line farthest from the offense basket.

Backdoor: An offensive move where a player cuts behind the defenders and receives at pass
for a field-goal attempt.

Ball Handler: The player with the ball. Usually the guard at the start of the play.

Bank Shot: A shot where the ball is first bounced or banked off the backboard at such an angle
that it then drops into the basket.

Basket: Consists of the rim and the net, also known as 'the hoop.

Basketball: A round ball made of rubber, leather or synthetic leather. Comes in 3 different sizes
(size 5, 6 or 7).

Blind Pass: A pass from a ball handler who does not see their receiver but is estimating where
they should be.

Blocked Shot: The successful deflection of a shot by touching part of the ball on its way to the
basket, and preventing a field goal.

Blocking: The use of a defender's body position to legally prevent an opponent's advance. It is
the opposite of charging.

Boards: The backboard which the ring or basket is attached or slang for a 'rebound' - the act of
a player grabbing the ball after a missed shot attempt.
Boxing out: The defensive player turns and faces the basket following a shot and with his or
her back to the opponent, and ensures that the player being guarded can't 'rebound' the ball.

Center circle: the circular area at the midcourt from which jump balls are taken.

Charging: An offensive foul, which occurs when an offensive player runs into a defender who
has established position.

Court vision: A player's ability to see everything on the court during play.

Crossover dribble: When a ball handler dribbles the ball across their body from one hand to
the other.

Cut: A quick movement by an offensive player without the ball to gain an advantage over the
defense usually directed towards the basket.

Dead: Offensive player has the ball and has already used their dribble. They must now either
pass or shot the ball.

Dead Ball: Any player with the ball that is not 'live'. This occurs after each successful field goal,
free-throw attempt, after any official's whistle or if the ball leaves the court, then play is stopped.

Defense: The act of preventing the offense from scoring. Defense is the team without the ball.

Defensive rebound: a rebound made by a player on defense.

Double Dribble: The act of dribbling the ball, stopping the dribble or motion of the ball and
beginning to dribble again. Results in a violation and turnover.

Double team: two teammates join efforts in guarding a single opponent.

Down court: The direction a team on offense moves, from its backcourt to its frontcourt and
towards its own basket.

Downtown: Referred to as a shot that was considered to distant for the normal shooter to take
or in the '3-point' area.

Dribble: The act of bouncing the ball up and down. The offensive player with the ball uses the
dribble to move the ball around the court.

Drive: The movement of an offensive player while aggressively dribbling towards the basket in
an attempt to score.
Dunk: A shot in which a jumping player slams the ball down into the opponent's basket from
above.

Endline: the boundary line also called the baseline behind each basket

Established Position: When a defensive player has both feet firmly planted on the floor before
an offensive player's head and shoulder gets past them. The offensive player who runs into
such a defender is charging.

Exhibition Game: The act of playing another team and the outcome not being counted in any
league standings.

Fake: A movement made with the aim of deceiving an opponent. This can be done with either a
pass or a shot fake.

Fastbreak: The act of moving the ball quickly down court by an offensive team in hopes of
getting ahead of the defense to score.

Feed: To pass the ball to a teammate who is in a scoring position.

Field Goal: When the ball enters the basket from above the rim during play. It is worth two
points.

Flagrant Foul: This is unnecessary or excessive contact against an opponent.

Floor: The area of the court within the end lines and the sidelines.

Floor Violation: A player's action that violates rules but does not prevent an opponent's
movement (traveling, double dribble, etc.). They are penalized by a loss in possession.

Forwards: the two players on the court for a team, who are usually smaller than the center, and
bigger than the guards; often the team's highest scorers.

Foul: Actions by players, which break the rules but are not floor violations. They are penalized
by a change in possession or free throw opportunities.

Fouled Out: A player having to leave the game because they have committed five fouls.

Foul Shot or Free Throw: An unguarded shot taken from the foul line by a player whose
opponent committed a personal or technical foul which is worth one point.
Free Ball: A ball, which is in play but is not in the possession of either team, also called a 'loose
ball'

Free Throw: The act of shooting the ball from the marked free throw line (ranging 10-15 feet
from the basket) while the remaining players line up down the 'key' Shot is taken at the result of
a foul or technical foul being called.

Game clock : shows the remaining time in each of the four 10 or 12 minute quarter.

Give and Go: An offensive play in which a player passes the ball to a teammate and cuts
towards the basket for a return pass to score.

Goaltending: Interference with a shot by touching the ball or basket while the ball is on, over, or
within the rim. Also touching the ball on its downward flight to the basket before it hits the rim.

Guards: the two smallest team players on the court usually handle setting up plays and passing
the ball to the teammates closer to the basket.

Guarding: The act of following an opponent around the court to prevent them from getting close
to the basket, taking an open short or making easy passes.

Half time: The rest period between two halves of the game. Usually 5 minutes in length.

Hand checking: Illegal use of hands, usually on the back or hips of the offensive player.

High percentage shot: A shot that is likely to go in the basket, typically taken near the hoop.

High post: A player who is stationed in or near the free throw semicircle on offense.

Hoop: The basketball rim and backboard players shoot the ball towards in attempt to score
points. Also referred to as the 'basket.

In the Paint: Being in the large rectangle area under each basket or the foul lane area, which is
painted a different color. AKA 'the key'.

Inbounds: The area within the end lines and sidelines of the court.

Incidental Contact: Minor contact usually overlooked by officials which does not give the
opposing team an unfair advantage or affect the outcome of the game.
Inside Shooting: Shots taken by a player near or under the basket.

Jump ball: two opposing players who jump for a ball after an official toss above and between
them.

Jump shot: Field-goal attempt by a player with both feet off the floor, enabling the player to
shoot over the defender.

Lay-up or Lay in: A shot taken after driving to the basket by leaping up under the basket and
using one hand to shoot the ball off the backboard.

Loose Ball: A ball that is alive but not in the possession of either team.

Lower Percentage shot: A shot that is less likely to go in the basket, usually taken further
away from the hoop.

Match-ups: Any pairing of players on opposing teams who guard each other.

Offense: the team with possession of the ball

Offensive rebound: a rebound by a player on offense

Out of bounds: the area outside of and including the end lines and sidelines

Outer Pass: The first pass made after a defensive rebound to a teammate to start a fastbreak.

Outside Shooting: Shots taken from the perimeter, further away from the hoop.

Pass: When a player throws the ball to a teammate to advance the ball during a possession.
Personal Foul: Contact between players, which may result in excessive physical contact or
provide one team with an unfair advantage. Players may not push, hold, trip, hack, elbow,
restrain or charge into an opponent. These are also counted as team fouls.

Pivot: A center, also the foot that must remain touching the floor until a ball handler who has
stopped dribbling is ready to pass or shoot.

Possession: To be holding or in control of the ball.

Post Position: The position of a player standing in the low post or high post in the 'key' area
near the hoop.

Rebound: A term used to describe the actual retrieving of the ball as it rebounds from the
backboard or the ring after a missed shot.

Receiver: The player who receives a pass from the ball handler.

Referee: The person(s) assigned to the game to maintain the flow and integrity of the game.

Sag: When a defender moves away from their opponent toward the basket they are defending.

Screen or screener: the offensive player who stands between a teammate and a defender who
gives his teammate a chance to take an open shot.

Scrimmage: Practice play between squads of one team.

Shooter: A player who takes a shot at the basket in attempts to score.

Shooter's roll: This is the ability to get even an inaccurate shot to bounce lightly off the rim and
into the basket.

Shooting Range: The distance from which a player is likely to make their shots.

Shot clock: a clock that limits the 24 seconds to a team which has to shoot the ball.

Squaring up: When a player's shoulders are facing the basket as they release the ball for a
shot. This is considered good shooting position.

Steal: To take the ball away from an opponent.

Strong Side/Weak Side: Whichever side of the key that the ball is on when on offense is called
the strong side. The other side is the weak side. If the ball changes sides, the weak side is now
the strong side.

Substitute: A player who comes into the game to replace a player on the court.

Switch: Two defensive players change checks during live play.

Team foul: each personal foul committed by a player is also counted against his team.

Technical Foul: A special violation called at the discretion of the referee towards players,
coaches or the team. Infractions include an intentional or flagrant contact foul, sports man like
conduct or other actions detrimental to the spirit of the game.

3-point play: a 2-point field goal followed by a successful free throw

3-point shot: a field goal worth 3 points occurs when the shooter has both feet on the floor
behind the 3-point line as he releases the ball

Throw-in: The method by which a team with possession inbounds the ball.

Time-out: A period of sixty seconds during which the play is stopped and teams discuss
strategy and a moment to allow players to rest.

Tip-off: The initial jump ball that starts the game.

Trailer: An offensive player that follows behind the ball- handler.

Transition: the shift from offense to defense.

Travelling: a floor violation, called walking, which occurs when the ball handler takes too many
steps without dribbling.

Turn over: the offense of losing possession through its own fault by passing the ball out of
bounds or committing a floor violation.

Violation: An infringement of the rules, which does not involve contact. The opposing team is
awarded the ball for a throw-in from out of bounds.
Z

Zone defense: a defense used extensively by a team, where each defender is responsible for
an area of the court and must guard any player who enters that area