A lot of my girl friends always ask me what certain terms meanwhile watching a game with me, listening to me speak about the game, or reading one of my basketball articles so that inspired me to create an article to help the girls out who just want to know a little more about the sport!
Ally-oop - a pass from a player that is high above the rim that allows another player to catch and slam dunk or drop in the ball in one motion.
Assist - a pass from one player to another player that leads directly to a basket (that is made).
Block Out/Box Out - getting your body between the player and the basket to get a rebound.
Boards - rebounds.
Carry/Palming the Ball - similar to traveling; When a player moves with the ball without properly dribbling it.
Center - usually the tallest player on the team; Should be able to post up offensively (receive the ball with his back to the basket and pivot to make a variety of short jumpers, hook shots, and dunks). Also has to know how to find the open player in the paint and grab offensive rebounds. Example: Jahlil Okafor
Chest Pass - the basketball is passed directly from the passer's chest to the receiver's chest.
Double Dribble - dribbling the ball with both hands on the ball at the same time or picking up the dribble and then dribbling again is a double dribble.
Double Team - when two teammates join efforts in guarding a single opponent.
Dunk - when a player jumps and strongly throws the ball down into the basket.
End Line - the boundary line behind each basket; also called the baseline.
Fast Break - a play that begins with a defensive rebound by a player who immediately sends an outlet pass toward midcourt to his waiting teammates; these teammates can sprint to their basket and quickly shoot before enough opponents catch up to stop them.
Field Goal - when the basketball enters the basket from above during play; worth 2 points, or 3 points if the shooter was standing behind the 3-point line.
Foul Lane - the painted area bordered by the end line and the foul line, outside which players must stand during a free-throw; also the area an offensive basketball player cannot spend more than 3-seconds at a time in.
Foul Line - the line 15' from the backboard and parallel to the end line from which basketball players shoot free-throws/foul shots.
Held ball - Occasionally, two or more opposing players will gain possession of the ball at the same time. In order to avoid a problem, the referee stops the action and awards the ball to one team or the other on a rotating basis.
Goaltending - If a defensive player interferes with a shot while it's on the way down toward the basket, while it's on the way up toward the basket after having touched the backboard, or while it's in the cylinder above the rim the shot counts. If committed by an offensive player, it's a violation and the ball is awarded to the opposing team for a throw-in.
Jump Ball - Two opposing players jump for a basketball an official tosses above and between them.
Intentional foul - When a player makes physical contact with another player with no reasonable effort to steal the ball. It is a judgment call for the officials.
Layup - a close up shot taken after dribbling to the basket.
Personal Foul - contact between players that may result in injury or provide one team with an unfair advantage.
Point Guard - Usually the shortest player on the team; Should be the team's best passer and ball handler; not primarily a shooter and is a team leader. Traditional role is to push the ball upcourt and start the offensive wheels turning. Should either take the ball to the basket or remain near the top of the key, ready to retreat on defense, and calls the plays. Example: Steph Curry
Power Forward - Must be able to catch passes and hit shots near the basket. Expected to score when given the opportunity on the baseline, much like a center, but usually has a range of up to 15 feet all around the basket. Example: Anthony Davis
Rebound - when a player grabs a ball that is coming off the rim or backboard after a shot attempt
Screen - when the offensive player stands between a teammate and a defender to give his teammate the chance to take an open shot.
Small Forward - The all-purpose player on offense; aggressive and strong; Must be able to score both from the perimeter and from inside. Example: Kevin Durant
Shot Clock - a clock that limits the time a team with the basketball has to shoot it to a given amount of time.
Shooting Guard - Generally taller than a point guard but shorter than a small forward; Normally the team's best perimeter shooter. A good shooting guard (or two guard) comes off screens set by taller teammates prepared to shoot, pass, or drive to the basket. Also tries to grab rebounds on offense. Example: James Harden
Technical Foul - A player or a coach can commit this type of foul. It does not involve player contact or the ball but is instead about the 'manners' of the game. Foul language, obscenity, obscene gestures, and even arguing can be considered a technical foul.
Traveling - when the ball handler takes too many steps without dribbling; also called walking.
Trey - A made field goal from behind the three-point arc, worth three points.
Turnover - when the offense loses possession through its own fault by passing the basketball out of bounds or committing a floor violation.
Zone Defense - a defense where each defender is responsible for an area of the court and must guard any player who enters that area.
