Airball: A shot that misses the rim, net and backboard.
Alley oop: A ball thrown towards the basket, which a
teammate grabs in mid-air and puts through the hoop, usually with a dunk.
Bank shot: A shot that bounces off the backboard before
going through the hoop.
Boards: A term used for rebounds.
Box out: A rebounding tactic in which a player positions
himself or herself between the basket and an opposing player in an attempt to
get the rebound.
Brick: Slang for a hard shot that bounces off the rim or
backboard without going through the hoop.
Centre: The position usually played by the tallest
player.
Dead ball: The ball is considered dead when out of play.
Double dribble: A violation called when a player dribbles
the ball after stopping the original dribble or dribbles the ball with both
hands simultaneously; results in loss of possession.
Dunk: A basket scored by a leaping player who forces the
ball into the basket from above with one or two hands. Includes such stylistic
variations as the windmill, the 360 and the reverse. Also called a slam or
jam.
Fast break: Quick movement of the ball up the court by the
offensive team, often after a turnover.
Free throw: A shot worth one point taken from the free throw
line, usually by a player who has been fouled. Also called a foul shot.
Free throw line: The line at the top of the key from which
the player shoots free throws.
Full-court press: An aggressive defensive formation with the
defence stretched the length of the court to put pressure on the offensive
team.
Goaltending: Called when a defending player touches the ball
on its downward flight to the basket or a ball directly above the basket.
Touching a ball while it is on the rim is also goaltending in the NBA and WNBA,
but not in international competition.
High post: An offensive position near the top of the
key.
Hook shot: A one-handed shot in which the shooting hand is
stretched above the head and the player is turned sideways from the basket.
Jump shot: A shot released by the shooter at the height of
his or her jump.
Key: The area bordered by two angled lines between the free
throw and end lines, indicated by a colour distinct from rest of the floor. The
international key widens at the bottom. Also known as the "lane" or the
"paint."
Lay-up: A shot made by a player who is driving towards the
basket and released while in the air close to the hoop.
Low post: An offensive position at the bottom of the key
underneath the basket.
Personal foul: A violation called when a player makes
illegal contact with an opposing player, such as hitting the player's arms or
bumping the player.
Pick: A play in which a player impedes a teammate's defender
from behind while standing still, allowing the teammate to run past the
defender.
Pick-and-roll: A play in which an offensive player sets a
pick and then goes towards the basket looking for a pass. In a pick-and-fade or
pick-and-pop play, the player who set the pick floats towards the perimeter
instead, looking for an open outside shot.
Point guard: Usually the smallest player on the team or the
player with the best passing and ball-handling skills.
Power forward: Similar to the centre: tall and usually the
strongest player.
Rejection: Slang for a blocked shot.
Screen/screen-and-roll: Similar to a pick, except in a
screen, the player blocking attempts to stand in between a teammate and the
teammate's defender, rather than between the defender and the basket. Rather
than allowing the teammate to run or dribble past the defender, the screen
allows the teammate to shoot an outside shot. Also has a roll variation.
Shooting guard: A skilled offensive player who is usually
taller than a point guard.
Shot clock: The clock that counts down from 30 seconds, the
amount of time that the offence can maintain possession before shooting the
ball. In international play, a shot clock violation occurs if the clock expires
before the ball touches the rim, regardless of when the shot left a player's
hand. If the ball goes through the hoop, however, there is no violation.
Small forward: Usually not as tall as the power forward or
centre, but able to shoot, pass rebound and defend. Small forwards who can also
play shooting guard are often called "swing men."
Ten-second violation: A violation called when the offensive
team fails to cross the centre line within 10 seconds of taking possession of
the ball. The violation results in loss of possession.
Three-point line: Arc-shaped line that extends 6.25 metres
from the end line. Shots behind this line are worth three points.
Three-second violation: A violation called when offensive
player stands in the key for more than three seconds; results in loss of
possession.
Travelling: A violation called when a player takes more than
two steps without dribbling the ball or moves his or her pivot foot when holding
the ball; results in loss of possession.
Trey: Slang for a three-point shot.
