Basketball
All you need to know about basketball – the game in which a player must aim to be the best player for the team, not
the best player on the team.
The Basics
The History
Basketball Glossary
Airball
An airball is when a player takes a shot and it misses everything - the hoop, the net, the backboard
Alley-Oop
An attacking play where a player takes control of the ball in the air and finishes in the hoop with a layup or dunk
before returning to the floor
Assist
A player gets an assist when their pass is directly scored by a teammate
Basket
Aside from the physical basket, the term basket can also be used to denote a score - if a player scores once then they
have one basket for instance
Blackboard
The rectangular board which the hoop is attached to. Players will use the backboard to rebound shots into the basket
Bounce Pass
This is when a player passes to a teammate by bouncing the ball, rather than simply throwing the ball
Charging
Charging is a type of foul in basketball where an offensive player runs into an opposing defensive player who has
already established a position
Chest Pass
A chest pass is thrown directly from one player’s chest to another, hence the name. It is the fastest of the passes
Court
The playing area of a basketball game is called the court. It is rectangular in shape with two end lines and two
sidelines. The basket at each end is the target for the two teams
Dribbling
In basketball, dribbling is where one player retains control of the ball and moves around the court by continuously
bouncing the ball against the floor. If they do not bounce the ball, it is a foul
Dunk
A dunk is when a player jumps toward the hoop and pushes the ball hard down into the net to score
Free Throw
An uncontested shot from 15 feet as a result of a player being fouled
Lay Up
This is another close range score where a player is extremely close to the basket and pops the ball into the net usually
off the backboard
Man-to-Man Defence
A defensive tactic where each player on the team is designated a specific opponent to defend against when their team is
out of possession
NBA
The National Basketball Association. The NBA is the biggest basketball league in the world by some distance and features
30 teams from North America
Offense
The team who has the ball and so are looking to attack and score in the basket
Pivot
When a player has the ball, they are allowed to move one foot as long as the other stays on the ground at all times. The
player will use this to turn around, hence the name pivot
Rebound
A rebound in basketball is when a player gains control of the ball after a shot has deflected off the board or rim
Steal
A steal is when a player gains control of the ball directly from an opponent by taking the ball off them or intercepting
their pass
Zone Defence
A tactic of defending where each player in a team has an area of court designated for them to defend and try to prevent
the opposition scoring from there
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