Basketball

Basketball Terms

Assist

You will often see in a players stats a certain number of assists. These are passes that subsequently result in a goal being scored

Back Court

The defensive zone for each team.

Defensive rebound

A rebound caught by defenders.

Double Team

When two defenders mark one attacker, usually their best player.

Drive

An attacking move at full speed.

Dunk Shot

A dunk is the spectacular scoring maneuver when a player jumps high, reaches above the ring, and stuffs the ball down through the hoop.

Fake

To fake is to feint a pass or move.

Free Throw

An uncontested shot from the free throw line, taken by a player who has been fouled. It is worth one point only.

Game Clock

This is a clock that runs whenever the ball is in play, and stops whenever the ball goes out of bounds or when a foul is committed.

Goal Tending

An illegal move by a defender of striking the ball on its downward flight to the basket. Two points are awarded.

Jump Ball

A jump ball is the method by which the game is started. The ball is tossed up between two players, who try and tap it down to their teammates.

Paint

When a player takes a shot from within 'the paint' it means they are shooting from inside the key, which these days is often painted a different color.

Personal Foul

Personal fouls are fouls committed by a player, and after five of these (or six in the NBA) the player has to sit out the game. A replacement is allowed to enter the game.

Pick / Screen

An offensive maneuver using one player to block for another, without making contact, by placing themselves between the defender and their own teammate who has the ball.

Shot Clock

A 30-second clock (or 24 in the NBA) which limits the time a team may have possession of the ball without shooting. If a shot is not put up in this time then possession passes to the other team.

Substitution

When a player on court is substituted which one from the bench. This can occur whenever there is a break in play, on direction of the referees.

Time Out

A time out is when play is stopped on request of the coach, which gives each team a chance to discuss tactics.

Traveling

Taking more than 1 1/2 steps without dribbling, which results in a penalty free to the opposing team.