Here is a glossary of all the terminology you may encounter using My Basketball Teacher to better help you understand the game of basketball and how to develop your abilities.
# A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
#’s
1 – 1 refers to the point guard position.
2 – 2 refers to the shooting guard position
3 – 3 refers to the small forward position
4 – 4 refers to the power forward position
5 – 5 refers to the center position
20 – a 20 refers to a 20 second timeout
30 – a 30 refers to a 30 second timeout
45 – the 45 refers to the degrees from the baseline that a player is positioned. The 45 typically refers to a player who is on the three point line halfway between the baseline and the top of the key beyond the three point line.
50/50 Ball – a 50/50 ball is a term used to describe a loose ball that has an equal chance of being possessed by either the offense or defense.
60 – a 60 refers to 60 second timeout
90 – 90 refers to the degrees between your upper arm (biceps) and your forearm, that is part of proper shooting form mechanics. A player’s forearm should be at a 90 degree angle to the player’s upper arm.
A
Airball – an airball refers to when a player shoots the ball in an attempt to score but the ball does not make contact with either the rim or the backboard.
Alley – the alley, or slot is a position on the floor in a 4 out offense. The alleys, or slots, are the two offensive positions in a 4 out offense that are beyond the three point line and just above the free throw line.
Alley-Oop – an alley-oop is a type of pass where the passer passes the ball in the air, high enough that the receiver has to jump to receive it but when the receiver does receive it in the air they do not land before releasing a shot attempt, most often a dunk attempt.
And 1 – And 1 refers to when a player shoots and scores but is fouled on the play and so gets to shoot an additional free throw. The additional free throw is the “1” to the “and”.
Assist – an assist is a statistical category that counts how many times a player or team has passed the ball to a player that has led to a score. Assists have been measured differently over the history of the game of basketball with stricter and looser definitions of what constitutes an assist. For example, presently the understanding of when a pass becomes an assist considers how much a player has to do after receiving the ball in order to score with less action being more favorable for considering whether the pass was an assist or not.
B
Back Court – The term back court can refer to two different things in basketball. First it can refer to the guards on a team. For example: the back court really carried the team tonight, pouring in 68 points by themselves. Secondly, it can refer to the area of the basketball court that lies on the opposite side of the half court line from where the offensive team is trying to score from.
Backdoor (cut) – to go backdoor, or to make a backdoor cut means for an offensive player to draw a defender away from the hoop to set them up for a quick cut behind them towards the hoop. A player usually achieves a backdoor cut by getting a defender to over-commit to not allowing the offensive player to receive a pass and so the offensive player quickly change direction and cuts behind the defender in the direction of the hoop.
Ball – Ball can refer to the equipment used in the sport of basketball (for example: hold the ball in your finger pads) or in reference to team offense the ball can refer to the player holding the ball. For example: “when guarding the ball”
Ball Screen – A ball screen refers to when a player sets a screen on the defender guarding the basketball.
Ball Swing – A ball swing is when the ball gets passed or moved from one side of the floor to the other. This is also called a reversal.
Baseline Drift – a baseline drift is a pass made by a player attacking on the baseline and then passing along the baseline to a player on the opposite side of the court.
Bench – the bench refers to the players who are not playing on the floor at the time but are a part of the playing roster of the team. The bench can also refer to all players that are not starters for a team.
Bigs – Bigs are a term that describe tall, post players.
BLOB – BLOB is an acronym for a BaseLine Out of Bounds play.
Block – a block refers to when a player shoots the ball but has a defensive player knock the shot off course.
The Block – The blocks refer to the two larger, filled in rectangles attached to the key, on the outside of the key. Thy are the closest protrusions to the backboard.
Boards – boards or the boards refer to rebounds. Board here is a synonym for the backboard.
Bounce – Bounce often refers to a players ability to jump really well. It can however, also be a reference to a player that is dribbling.
Box out – a box out (or block out) refers to when a player positions their body in front of the person they don’t want to get the ball after a shot has been put up. The goal of a box out is to not allow certain players to get a rebound and to give yourself a better opportunity to rebound.
Break the Press – Breaking a press refers to when a team on offense is being pressed and they are able to advance the ball forward far enough that the defensive team calls off the press for that possession.
Breaking at the Elbow – breaking at the elbow refers to when a player is shooting and their shooting arm bends closer than the 90 degrees (between their upper arm or bicep, and their forearm) it should be at when rising up to shoot.
Brick – a brick refers to a missed shot, usually a badly missed shot. Often times, the analogy of building a house is used to refer to a collection of badly missed shots.
Bump – to bump a player is a defensive term that refers to when a defensive player gets caught in a defensive rotation guarding a player they are not assigned to. The player that is responsible for that player will come and “bump” the other player back to the person they are responsible for guarding. This is similar to switching on defense but the circumstances and guiding philosophy are different.
Bunnies – Bunnies refers to a player that jumps really well.
C
Charge – a charge refers to when an offensive player runs into a defensive player who has established defensive position. For a charge to happen the defensive player must accept the contact within his or her cylinder.
Charity Stripe – the charity stripe refers to the free throw line. It is called the charity stripe because when a player shoots free throws they shoot them free from defensive coverage, hence the term charity is used in reference to the free aspect of the shot attempt.
Center – the center position is a designated position on a basketball team for a player that is usually the tallest player on the team. The skill set of the center is typically similar to that of a power forward but stereotypically they do not have the athleticism or mobility of a power forward.
Close Out – a close out or to close out, refers to when the ball is passed on offense and in the defense’s rotation the player who is now guarding the ball runs to their defensive assignment quickly so that the player does not have a chance to catch and shoot without defensive pressure.
Coffin Corners – the coffin corners is a term that can be broadly used to refer to any corner of the playing area (for instance in corner between the baseline and sideline), but is most often used to refer to the corners of the halfcourt line and the center line. They are referred to as the coffin corners because if a team is able to trap an offensive player there, they do not have many options for what to do with the basketball.
Contain – Contain is a term used on defense to refer to a player keeping an offensive player in front of him or her, instead of allowing the offensive player to penetrate the defense.
Cookies – Cookies are another word for steals.
Court – The court refers to the playing area that basketball is played on. Players can not play outside of the court without risking a violation.
Crash (or crash the boards) – Crash or to crash the boards, refers to the act of going after a rebound. It is descriptive of the act of going after, not necessarily getting the rebound.
Cross court pass – A cross court pass is a pass that originates on one side of the key and ends up on the other side of the key.
Crossover – crossover refers to a dribble move whereby the dribbler releases the ball from one hand, bouncing the ball in front of themselves in the direction of the other hand and receives the dribble with their other hand.
Cross Screen – a cross screen is a screen set when one player is on one side of the floor and they screen for a player on the opposite side of the floor at the same level. Screens where one post player on one block sets a screen for another post player on the opposite block are usually referred to as cross screens.
Curl Cut – A curl cut refers to an offensive player using a screen. In a curl cut the offensive player circles the player setting the screen tightly and goes back in the same direction they came from before using the screen.
Cut – a cut is a movement made by a player in order to try and free them up to receive a pass. There are various kinds of cuts such as L-Cuts, and V-Cuts
Cut the Floor in Half – cutting the floor in half refers to a defensive player who is not guarding the ball and is now standing in a help position where they are directly in front of the rim at some distance.
D
Dead – Dead is a term that refers to when a player has picked up the basketball and can no longer dribble. Defenders will often communicate to their team that the player is dead which can change their team’s defensive approach to take advantage of the predicament the offensive player finds him or herself in.
Deadball – a deadball refers to when the ball has gone out of out of bounds and the play and time has stopped.
Deadball Rebounds – deadball rebounds refer to when the ball has gone out of out of bounds and the play and time has stopped. It is only a deadball rebound however when no one has gained possession of the ball before it has gone out of bounds.
Defensive Slide Shuffle (or simply, a slide) – a defensive slide shuffle is the act a defender makes to move laterally. In a defensive slide, the defender moves laterally by extending the foot out on the side of their body that they are moving in. Then they drag their opposite foot back into position. This is done repeatedly in any given direction. Feet are never to cross and heels should never come together. The defenders shoulders should stay level while performing the slide.
Dig – to “dig” on the ball refers to when a player not guarding the ball, looks to disrupt the ball handler when they try to drive past the player defending the ball. The player in a help position can “dig” on the ball to disrupt the dribble, or take the offensive player’s focus away from scoring the ball. A dig is essentially performed by performing a scoop motion with the hand closest to the ball so that the defender is “digging” up while the ball is out of the ballhandler’s hand.
Dimes – dimes are simply another word for assists.
Dive – a dive can refer to one of two things. First it may refer to a player who is literally jumping on the ground to get a loose ball. For example: “Dive on the ground” refers to when a coach is telling his or her players to jump on the ball when the ball is on the ground.
Secondly, it can refer to a player who is exaggerating contact to try and have a foul called in his or her favour. For example: “He’s diving!” refers to a player who is faking or exaggerating contact in order to try and convince a referee that a foul has occurred.
Dish – Dish refers to a pass that is made, usually at the last second, to another player for a scoring opportunity.
Double Screen – A double screen is when two people screen together, shoulder to shoulder to create a bigger, wider screen for the offensive player using the screen to create space between him or herself and their defender.
Draw a foul – to draw a foul simply means to create contact in such a way that the player you are drawing contact from is called for a foul.
Drift – to drift means for a player to shuffle or move towards the baseline as an offensive teammate on the other side of the court attacks towards the baseline. The goal of drifting is to give the attacking player an outlet if the attacking player gets caught on the baseline without a teammate to pass to. The player drifting gives the attacking player a viable pass to make.
Drive – to drive refers to the action of dribbling the basketball quickly towards the hoop to try and create a closer, higher percentage shot.
Drop Pass – a drop pass is simply a pass that is “dropped off” to a player close to the ball after that player’s defender has committed to the ball and left the player they were guarding open. This is also called a dump pass.
Down Screen: A down screen refers to a screen being set where the screener comes from further away from the basket to closer to the basket to set the screen.
Drop Step – a drop step most often refers to a post player performing a reverse pivot by “dropping” one of their feet behind them and then turning in that direction to get closer to the hoop.
Dump Pass – a dump pass is simply a pass that is “dropped off” to a player close to the ball after that player’s defender has committed to the ball and left the player they were guarding open. This is also called a drop pass.
Dunk – a dunk is a form of shot attempt whereby the offensive player jumps high enough to force the ball through the rim from top to bottom.
E
Either side of the ball – Either side of the ball refers to playing offense and defense. If a coach refers to one side of the ball they are talking about offense or defence but not both. For example: “He only plays one side of the ball” refers to players only playing hard on offense or on defense but not both.
The Elbows – The Elbows refer to the corners of the key at the free throw line.
Endline – the endline refers to the baseline on a basketball court that restricts the legal playing area. There are two endlines and two sidelines. The endlines are the shorter, width of the court lines at the ends of the basketball court.
F
Fastbreak – a fastbreak is when a team gains possession of the ball and quickly moves to try and score right away rather than set up a traditional offense.
FIBA – FIBA stands for Fédération Internationale de Basketball Amateur. It means International Basketball Federation and refers to the governing body for international play. The rule set used by FIBA are referred to as FIBA rules and they govern the vast majority of play around the globe.
Flash – to flash to the ball refers to being on offense and making a hard cut towards the basketball in order to receive a pass.
Floor balance – Floor balance refers to when a team is on offense and has an equal number of players on each side of the floor, with the players on each side of the floor mirroring each other.
Flop – a flop is a term used to describe when a player acts like they received a lot more contact on play than actually occurred in order to try and convince the referees a foul occurred.
Floppy Play – a floppy play is a play where a player has a choice of a double screen (or staggered screen) if he/she cuts one way, and a single screen if he/she cuts the other way. This is most often performed when the player using the screens starts underneath the basket.
Flush – A flush is when a player dunks the basketball through the hoop with both hands but makes minimal contact with the rim and does not force it to move.
Force – Force can mean one of two different things. The first is on offense. Force is usually used on offense to refer to a player taking an unnecessary shot too early in the clock. They “forced” the shot. On defense it means something entirely different. On defense to force an offensive player with the ball means to make the offensive player go in a certain direction. For example, a defender may force the offensive player to dribble wide instead of directly to the basket.
Front Court – the front court can refer to two different things in basketball. First it can refer to the post players. For example: The team did not get much production from their front court.
Secondly, it can refer to the area of the court beyond the half court line that the offensive team is trying to score in.
Front Pivot – A front pivot is a pivot whereby the player performing the movement starts with both feet parallel, facing the same direction and then lifts one foot off the ground, and moves it forward, in front of their body and plants it back down.
Fronting – Fronting (to front) the ball means for a defensive player to stand in between the ball and the post player they are guarding to try and deny a pass to that player.
G
Gap (or the gap) – the gap is the space between an offensive player with the ball and the offensive player a defender is responsible for. Usually the term is used to describe the space between a player with the ball and one of the players right next to ball.
Glass – the glass refers to the backboard because most backboards are made of tempered glass or plexiglass. For example: a coach may tell a player to get to the glass which simply means to try and get close enough to the backboard to make a layup or dunk attempt. Using the same phrase a coach may also mean for a player to go and try to rebound the basketball by getting closer to the backboard.
H
Half – Half is simply slang for the half court line. Coaches will often say to “pick them up at half” which means for the defensive team to start playing defense starting at the half court line.
Halfcourt – Halfcourt refers to the playing area past the half court line. Coaches will often refer to their half court offense or their half court defense referring to their appropriate play on the offensive or defensive end.
Handle – handle refers to how well a player dribbles. Often times handle also refers to a player who can dribble the ball really well. For example: Kyrie Irving has a great handle.
Hash Mark – a hash mark on the basketball court is a short line on the sideline that designates where the ball is taken out for sideline out of bounds.
Hedge – to hedge refers to a defensive manoeuver when a screen is used by the offense. A hedge refers to the defender guarding the screener who shows him or herself quickly on the player coming off the screen.
Hedge and Recover – to hedge and recover refers to a defensive manoeuver when a screen is used by the offense. A hedge refers to the defender guarding the screener who shows him or herself quickly on the player coming off the screen, acting as if they are switching on defense. The defender who hedges then recovers quickly to their original defensive assignment once the defender of the player who came off the screen has returned to a sound defensive position.
Hesitation Dribble – A hesitation dribble, sometimes called a “hezi”, refers to when an offensive player is moving forward with their dribble, stops for a second to try and get the defender to set his or her feet, and then continues their forward progress in the attempt to get by their defender.
High-Low – High Low refers to having a post player in the high post who will pass to a post player in the low post.
High Post – the high post refers to the area around the free throw line.
High Side – high side refers to the side of a player that is closer to half court.
Hoop – The term hoop most often refers to the rim or cylinder that is attached to the backboard. For example: “he should take it to the hoop” means a player should attempt to get to the rim in order to have an advantage.
Hustle plays – Hustle plays are plays made that do not require any skill, but only effort. The most common hustle plays are going after loose balls, and getting rebounds.
I
In – In, as used in the phrase, “get in it” refers to the system a coach is directing his or her players to and can refer to both offense and defense. For example: a coach may tell his or her team to “get in it quickly” on offense meaning to start the offense they want to run quickly.
In and Out Dribble – an in and out dribble is a dribble move where the ball stays in one hand. As the ball bounces up into the dribbler’s hand, the dribbler moves the ball from one side of his/her body to the middle of their torso, and then back to the same side of their body, before the ball is released from the hand and bounces on the floor again.
Inside (as in inside hand) – Inside refers to a direction of a player relative to the hoop. Inside refers to the player or part of the player that is closest to the hoop. For example, dribbling with the inside hand refers to the hand that is closest to the hoop and closer to the center of the floor.
J
Jam – jam is another term used to describe a dunk shot. For example: Demar Derozan jammed home the rebound.
Jamming the Rebounder – Jamming the rebounder refers to when the defensive team gets a rebound, a player from the offensive team (now on defense after a missed shot) pressures the rebounder before the rebounder can make an outlet pass or start up the floor. This is done so that the team that just rebounded the ball can not get out on a fastbreak.
Jumper – a jumper refers to the act of taking a shot off the dribble. For example: a baseline jumper is a shot off the dribble where the shooter has dribbled to the baseline and then rises up to shoot.
Jump Stop – a jump stop is when a player comes to stop with the ball, either from dribbling or from a pass, and stops on two feet and thus has not established which foot is his or her pivot foot yet.
K
Keeping Your Dribble (or Keeping your dribble alive) – Keeping your dribble, or keeping your dribble alive mean to not stop dribbling. Your dribble is considered “dead” when it has been picked up, so to keep it alive simply means to continue dribbling.
Key – the key refers to the rectangular space in front of the hoop. This is a restricted area and offensive players are only allowed to stay in the key for 3 seconds at a time. They must vacate the key before those 3 seconds are up. The key is usually identified by being a different color from the rest of the basketball court.
Kick or Kickout – a kick or kickout refers to when the ball has moved closer to the basket because of a pass or penetration and is now being passed back out towards the perimeter.
L
L-Cuts – an L-Cut refers to a player who is making a cut, by misdirecting their defender first in one direction and then making a 90 degree change of direction in order to free themselves up for a pass. For example: A typical L-Cut is one where a wing player walks their defender down from the three point line in one corner to the first block on the key and then sprints up in the direction of the outside of the key towards half court to try and receive the pass.
Lane (or Driving Lanes) – a lane refers to a path free of defenders that the offensive players can attack the basket with their dribble.
Lane Lines – Lane lines on a basketball court are the lines above the low blocks on the outside of the key that run up towards the free throw line.
Lead Pass (or lead the receiver) – A lead pass is a pass made ahead of where the receiver is that will meet the receiver as they get to that forward spot. Lead passes are made to players on the move so they don’t have to slow their movement down to receive the ball.
Live – Live refers to real action typified in a game when the game clock is running. A coach may want to play against a dummy defense or against a live defense. If they want to play against a live defense they may just call “live” to notify both the offense and defense that they are playing as if the game clock was running.
Live Ball – refers to play when the clock is still running. For example: a play where the team with the ball dribbles up the floor and calls the play would be a live ball play.
Lob Pass (or simply Lob) – a lob pass (or lob) is a pass that is thrown in the air, usually to get the ball over a defender, that arches while in the air, sometimes looking like it hangs in the air.
Loose ball – a loose ball refers to when the basketball is not in possession of either team but is still in live play. The team that is able to get more loose balls is often believed to be the team that is making more hustle plays.
Low Post – the low post refers to the area around the basket but outside the key where a post up usually happens.
M
Man – When the term man is used it does not refer to a gender, it most often refers to the person a player is guarding, as in, “Whose man is that?” or “The man he/she is guarding is in the corner”.
Man-to-man Defense – Man-to-man defense refers to a team defense approach whereby each defender is assigned one player on the opposite team for whom they are responsible for guarding.
Misdirect – To misdirect in basketball means that when a player on offense sets a screen for a teammate, the teammate who will use the screen walks or cuts away from the direction of the screen so his/her defender doesn’t see it before cutting back and using the screen. To properly misdirect the player executing it should take at least two full steps in the opposite direction of the screen.
N
NFHS – NFHS refers to the rule set that governs many American and some Canadian developmental league play. It stands for National Federation High School rules. Sometimes it is simply called Federation rules.
Nose – Nose refers to when a player has a knack for something. For example: He/She has a nose for the ball can mean that a player has a particular tendency to get steals on the defensive end.
O
Off Ball – Off ball refers to any action that is taking place away from where the basketball is. For example, an off ball screen is any screen that is not happening on the player defending the ball.
Off the Bounce – Off the bounce is a phrase that means with the dribble. For example, a play may be called for a player to attack the defense “off the bounce” which just means to attack the defense by penetrating it with the dribble.
Outlet – an outlet is a pass made after a defensive rebound is secured. It is a pass made that initiates the forward movement of the offensive team once they have gained possession of the ball.
Outside (as in outside hand) – Outside refers to a direction of a player relative to the hoop. Outside refers to the player or part of the player that is furthest from the hoop. For example, dribbling with the outside hand refers to the hand that is furthest from the hoop and closer to the sideline.
P
Paint – the paint refers to the key as it is often coloured differently from the rest of the basketball court.
Penetration – Penetration refers to getting the ball closer to the hoop on offense, usually in reference to doing so with the dribble.
Perimeter – The perimeter is a term used to refer to the area of the court around or just beyond the three point line.
Perimeter Play – Perimeter play refers to the action a team has around the three point line and most often refers to the play of the guards as this is normally the territory of the court that they occupy.
Pick – Pick is another term used to describe a screen. In either, the terms mean for a player to plant their feet in one position and hold their ground in that position in order to allow a teammate to make a cut off of one of the screener’s shoulders in an attempt to free up that player from their defender.
Pin Down Screen – a pin down screen is a screen being set close to the hoop for the purpose of freeing up a player cutting towards the perimeter.
Pivoting – pivoting most often refers to the legal motion a player can make once they have the basketball. It is when a player moves one of their two feet into different positions to give themselves different angles to face the rest of the playing area.
Pivot Foot – a pivot foot refers to the foot that stays attached to the ground in one spot after the ball has been picked up.
Planting – planting refers to holding your ground in one position, usually in a position of advantage. For example, a coach may tell a player to plant themselves on the block in order to get a post up pass. Also a coach may tell a player regarded as a shot blocker to plant themselves in the key in order to protect the rim.
Planting your foot – planting your foot refers to getting your pivot foot down, most often before catching the basketball so as to avoid a travel, or to set up shooting footwork.
Point Guard – the point guard is one of the positions in basketball. It refers to a player who is responsible for bringing the ball up and leading the team’s approach. Point guards are usually good at handling the ball and at directing the play of the team.
Pop – to “pop” is another term to describe the act of making a cut. For example: The shooting guard pops to the corner on the out of bounds play.
Post – Post most often refers to a player who plays close to the basket because of their size advantage. A post player is usually taller and stronger.
Post can also refer to an action. To post means to try and get into a position close to the hoop to take advantage of a mismatch in order to create a higher percentage scoring opportunity. For example: A coach may tell a player to “post him up” which simply means to get into a position close to the hoop to receive a pass and attempt to score.
Post up (or post him up) – refers to trying to get the ball to a player who has sealed their defender close to the hoop.
Power Forward – a power forward is a position on a team designated as a player who is one of the taller players and typically plays well by scoring around the hoop and rebounding.
Pressure – Pressure is a term used to describe defense. Pressure on defense refers to guarding the ball closely and harassing the offensive player so that they want to get away from the defender.
Primary Ballhandling Move – A primary ballhandling move is a dribbling move that a player uses to try and beat his/her defender where the ball stays in the same hand. Examples of primary moves are stutter steps, in and out dribbles and shoulder fakes.
Primary Help – Primary help refers to the first player to help the defender guarding the ball.
Production – Production, often used in reference to bench players (or bench production), refers to how much value the players that make up the bench are giving their team. For example: “They got 28 points from the bench tonight” means that the bench players production was 28 points. Production can refer to any player and is not limited to scoring.
Q
Quadruple-Double – A quadruple double is a term rarely used as it refers to a player who has tallied more than 10 in four statistical categories. For example, having 14 points, 11 rebounds, 12 assists and 10 steals would constitute a quadruple-double.
R
Retreat Dribble – A retreat dribble is a dribble a ballhandler makes while moving backwards but the dribbler remains facing forward. The dribbler is stepping backwards while dribbling the ball and still facing forwards. Retreat dribbles are normally used when there has been an attempt to penetrate but the lane has been closed off.
Reversal – Getting the ball from one side of the floor to the other side.
Reversal Man – The player at the top of the key whose job it is to get the ball from one side of the floor to the other quickly.
Reverse Pivot – a reverse pivot is performed when a player has both feet parallel, facing the same direction. The player then pivots by taking one foot off the ground and moving it behind them, essentially reversing their position.
Rim Protection – Rim protection and rim protectors refer to guarding the hoop by staying close to it so that the defender can challenge shots that are close to the hoop, thus hopefully forcing teams to play further from the hoop and thus take lower percentage shots.
Roll – to roll refers to a player who has set a pick/screen and now makes a cut in the direction of the basket to hopefully receive a pass and try and score.
Russian Corner – the Russian corner, sometimes called the short corner, is a spot along the baseline, about 12-15 feet from the hoop.
S
Safety – a safety is a player on offense who stands at the top of the key or generally beyond the three point line in order to be ready to protect his or her team’s own basket in the case of a turnover or quick change in possession.
Screen – Screen is another term used to describe a pick. In either, the terms mean for a player to plant their feet in one position and hold their ground in that position in order to allow a teammate to make a cut off of one of the screener’s shoulders in an attempt to free up that player from their defender.
Secondary Ballhandling Move – A secondary ballhandling move is a dribbling move used after a primary ballhandling move where the ball now switches hands, in so doing, the player is now changing directions. Examples of secondary moves are crossovers, through the legs dribbles and behind the back dribbles.
Secondary Help Defender – Secondary help defenders are defenders who rotate to help a teammate who is helping the defender on the ball. This refers to helping the helper. For example, if teammate A is guarding the ball and teammate B helps out teammate A, then teammate C who rotates over to help teammate B so that teammate B’s defensive assignment is not open, is the secondary help defender. Teammate C is the secondary help defender.
Setting Feet – To set a defender’s feet means to try and get the defender to stop moving their feet so that they are no longer moving. The goal of doing this is to explode past the defender because a defender can not explode backwards from a stopped position as easily as an offensive player can explode forwards from a stopped position.
Shooting Guard – the Shooting Guard is a position on a team designated to a player who usually shoots the ball very well.
Sideline – the sideline refers to the lines on a basketball court that restrict the legal playing area. There are two sidelines and two endlines. The sidelines are the longer lines that go the length of the basketball court. The team benches line up against one of the sidelines.
Skip Pass (or simply a skip) – a skip pass is when a player passes to another player but there are teammates in between them. For example, if the player beside the player with the ball is being denied by his or her defender, then the player may skip pass the ball to a player further away.
Slide (or Defensive Slide Shuffle) – a defensive slide is the act a defender makes to move laterally. In a defensive slide, the defender moves laterally by extending the foot out on the side of their body that they are moving in. Then they drag their opposite foot back into position. This is done repeatedly in any given direction. Feet are never to cross and heels should never come together. The defender’s shoulders should stay level while performing the slide.
Slip (or slipping a screen) – a slip is when an offensive player is setting a screen and before the screen is used, they dive away from where they were going to set the screen. Most often players slip a screen towards the basket when setting a ball screen but it can be done off the ball as well.
SLOB – SLOB is an acronym for SideLines Out of Bounds play.
Slot – the slot, or alley is a position on the floor in a 4 out offense. The slots, or alleys, are the two offensive positions in a 4 out offense that are beyond the three point line and just above the free throw line.
Small Forward – A Small Forward is a position on a team designated to a player who does not quite have the skill set of a typical point guard, shooting guard, power forward or center, but does a little of everything well. They are also usually taller in stature than point guards and shooting guards.
Snapping at the wrist – Snapping at the wrist refers to when a player is shooting the ball, they flex their wrist down quickly when releasing the ball. This is often referred to as their follow through as well.
Spot up – to spot up is to get in a set position for a pass that will allow the player spotting up to get a shot off following the pass.
Stack – a stack play is a play, usually an out of bounds play, where the players on the floor line up one behind the other.
Staggered Screen – A staggered screen is two screens set a part from each other but that both send the receiver of the screens in the same direction.
Stop – a stop in basketball is a term that describes when the defensive player of team does not allow the offensive player or team to score on a possession.
Stretch the Defense – to stretch the defense refers to players on offense spreading out to cover more of the basketball court so that the defense has to guard more space and can’t get away with having a defender in one position able to guard more than one player on offense at the same time.
Strong Side – The strong side is the side of the floor where the ball is.
Square up – To square up refers to a player who has caught the ball. Squaring up means to turn into a position where the player will be facing the hoop.
Swim Move – a swim move is a move where a player rotates their arm over another player’s arm in order to get position in front of that player. A swim move can also be executed by moving a player’s arm under another player’s arm and lifting and rotating it back so as to step in front of the player.
Swing – (or swinging, or swinging the ball) refers to the ball being moved from one side of the floor to the other on offense.
*Swinging can also refer to a player who has the ball and is literally swinging their elbows about, while holding onto the ball with two hands. This is a foul.
Switching – Switching refers to a defensive tactic whereby defenders switch who they are guarding, usually when the two players are in close proximity to each other.
T
T Screen – A “T screen” refers to two players setting a screen for a player without the ball. In a T screen one player who is screening sets their feet perpendicular to the other player’s feet so that the two players’ feet form a T. For example: one player may be facing the sideline while setting the screen, while the other player helping to set a T screen would be straddling the first player’s feet while facing the baseline.
Tomahawk Dunk – a tomahawk dunk is a forceful dunk whereby when the dunker jumps up to dunk the ball they hold onto the ball with both hands and lift the ball over their head, bending at their elbows, and pulling the ball back behind their head before forcefully dunking the ball through the rim.
Top Of The Key (or Top) – The top of the key (or simply the top) refers to the space within the width of the free throw line, beyond the free throw line and usually limited in distance from the hoop to being at or before the three point line.
Trailer – A trailer is a player that is behind the play and is coming into it late purposely. A trailer may come into a play late for a shot or another possibility is as a reversal player. Trailers normally stay behind the three point line but there are scenarios where they will cut to different spots.
Trail Pass – a trail pass is a pass made to a trailer. It is essentially a backwards pass made to a player closer to half court than the ball is.
Transition – Transition often refers to a team that is moving from an offensive/defensive position to the opposite position. For example, once a team gets a defensive rebound they will get out in transition, referring to the change from defense to offense. Sometimes transition is used synonymously with fastbreak.
Trap – a trap refers to a defensive play whereby two or more defenders attempt to contain the player with the ball and not allow them to get away from the defenders. Sometimes defenses will be designed to set up traps in specific areas of the floor like the corners of the halfcourt.
Trees – Trees are another term that describe tall, post players. For example, a player can be said to be in amongst the trees.
Trey – is a term that refers to a three point basket made or attempted.
Triple Double – A triple double is a statistical occurrence when a player has achieved 10 or more in three statistical categories, such as 15 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
Triple Threat – triple threat refers to a player having the position a player is in when they catch the ball before they do anything else. The triple in triple threat refers to the possibility of the player dribbling, shooting or passing the ball.
Turnover – a turnover is when a basketball player or team makes a bad play that results in the other team getting the ball, either in live play or out of a deadball situation.
U
UCLA cut – A UCLA cut is essentially a give and go cut where the player that makes the pass, fakes like they are cutting in the opposite direction from the ball and then changes direction and cuts to the hoop in the plan to receive the ball back in a give and go type of sequence.
Up Screen – an up screen refers to a screen being set where the screener starts closer to the hoop and moves away from the hoop in order to set the screen.
V
V-Cuts – a V-Cut is a cut a player makes in order to free themselves up for a pass by first misdirecting a player by taking them in the opposite direction of where they want to receive the ball only to then change their direction and return in the direction they came only slightly closer to the ball. For example: A typical V-Cut is one where a wing player walks their defender down from the three point line (starting about 45 degree from the baseline) to the first block on the key and then sprints back in the direction they came from towards the three point line to try and receive the pass.
Window – the window refers to the backboard because most regulation backboards are rectangular and see through. For example, a coach may tell a player to use the window when shooting which simply means to shoot the ball off of the backboard to try and score.
W
Walking – walking can refer to two possible actions. The first is literal, meaning a player is walking while the ball is in play. For example: The point guard walked the ball up the court; or, the player walked his defender down before coming off the screen.
The second way the term walking can refer to is the action of traveling. When a player travels they can be said to be walking with the ball.
Weak side – The weak side refers to the side of the floor opposite to where the action with the ball is taking place.
Wing – the wing refers to the area on the court beyond the three point line, directly out to the sides from the free throw line. For example, “he caught it on the wing before beating his man”.
X
X-Cuts – X-Cuts refer to two players who make cuts across the key, passing each other before they finish their cut. For example: a team may have a player lined up on one block and another player on the same side of the key at the elbow. The two players would then cut towards the opposite outside of the key with the player who started on the block cutting towards the opposite elbow while the player who started on the elbow cutting across the key towards the opposite block.
Y
Z
Zebras – Zebras is a slang term for referees that refers to the traditional black and white striped top referees wear.
Zipper Cut – a zipper cut is a cut that a player makes from a low block area straight up towards the three point line. Usually a zipper cut is used with a down screen being set on the defender of the player making the cut.
Zone Defense – zone defense refers to an approach to team defense where each defender is assigned to guard any player that lies in a certain area. Defenders are not restricted to guarding only one player in a zone defense.