Airball - A basketball shot that misses everything; net, backboard, and rim.

Ally-oop - A pass high above the basketball rim that allows a player to catch and slam
dunk or drop in the ball in one motion.

Assist - A pass to another basketball player that leads directly to a made basket.

Backboard - The rectangular piece of wood or fiberglass that the rim attaches to.

Bench - The substitute basketball players. 

Block Out or Box Out - Getting your body between the basketball
player and the basket to get a rebound. 

Blocked Shot - When a defensive basketball player makes contact with

the basketball while another player is shooting the ball. 

Bounce Pass - In this pass, the basketball bounces about two-thirds

of the way from the passer to the receiver. 

Brick - A poor shot that bounces hard off the rim or backboard. 

Carry the Ball - similar to traveling. When a basketball player

moves with the ball without properly dribbling it. 

Charging - an offensive foul which occurs when an offensive

basketball player runs into a defender who has established
position. 

Chest Pass - the basketball is passed directly from the passer's

chest to the receiver's chest. This has the advantage that it takes
the least time to complete, as the passer tries to pass as directly
straight as possible. 

Court - the area bounded by 2 sidelines and 2 end lines containing a

basket at each end, in which a basketball game is played. 

Defense - the act of preventing the offense from scoring; the

basketball team without the ball. 

Double Team - when two basketball teammates join efforts in guarding

a single opponent. 
Dribbling - the act of bouncing the basketball continuously. 

Dunk - when a player close to the basket jumps and strongly throws
the ball down into it. 

End Line - the boundary line behind each basket; also called the
baseline. 

Fast Break - a basketball 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. 

Forwards - the two basketball players on the team that are

responsible for rebounding and scoring close up to the basket. They
are usually taller than the guards. 

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. 

Guards - the two basketball players who usually handle setting up

plays and passing to teammates closer to the basket. 

Jump Ball - Two opposing basketball players jump for a basketball an

official tosses above and between them. 
 Layup - a close up shot taken after dribbling to the basket. 

Offense - the team with possession of the basketball. 

Personal Foul - contact between basketball players that may result

in injury or provide one team with an unfair advantage; players may
not push, hold, trip, hack, elbow, restrain or charge into an
opponent. 

Rebound - when a basketball player grabs a ball that is coming off

the rim or backboard after a shot attempt; see offensive rebound and
defensive rebound. 

Screen - when the offensive basketball player stands between a

teammate and a defender to give his teammate the chance to take an
open shot. 
Shot Clock - a clock that limits the time a team with the basketball
has to shoot it to a given amount of time. 

Traveling - when the ball handler takes too many steps without
dribbling; also called walking. 

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.

PERSONAL FOULS 

HOLDING
When a player uses their hands to grab their opponent to impede or prevent them
from moving or advancing with or without the ball.
ILLEGAL OR “MOVING” PICK/SCREEN
When a player fails to maintain a set position while setting a screen or pick. Screens
must be performed in a standstill manner.
HAND CHECK
When a player continually uses their hands on an opposing player. This foul is
typically called on defenders at the perimeter to keep a safe distance between the
ballhandler and the basket.
ILLEGAL HAND USE OR “REACHING IN”
Similar to holding, this is when a player uses their hands in a fashion that referees
deem illegal, typically in the form of touching a shooter’s arm or hand through their
release or touching after an attempted steal.
TRIPPING
When a player uses their leg or foot to throw off their opponent’s balance.
ELBOWING
When a player excessively swings their elbows and hits another player.
CHARGING
When an offensive player makes contact with a defender who has established
position in front of an offensive player with or without the basketball and is not
moving. Some courts, especially those used for youth basketball, make this call
easier to identify by having a “charge circle” marked below the basket. If a defender
is outside the circle with their feet planted, it is a charge.
BLOCKING
When a defender makes contact with an offensive player without establishing
position, without giving proper space or is in the charge circle.
TECHINCAL FOUL
When a player or coach displays unsportsmanlike behavior, such as foul language,
obscene gestures or arguing. Two technical fouls will result in ejection from the
game.
FLAGRANT FOUL
When a player performs an act of violence that can seriously injure or harm others on
the court. This can be unintentional or deliberate. Flagrant fouls can also result in
player ejections at the referee’s discretion.
VIOLATIONS 

TRAVELING
When a player takes more than two steps between dribbles or without dribbling the
basketball. Traveling can also occur when a player who has picked up the dribble
switches his or her pivot foot.
PALMING
When a player dribbles the basketball in a manner that has their palm too far to the
side or underneath the basketball.
DOUBLE DRIBBLE
When a player picks up their dribble to establish their position and then restarts their
dribble, or when a player dribbles the basketball with two hands at the same time.
HELD BALL
When two players gain possession of the ball and a brief battle for the basketball
occurs. The referee will award possession to one team, alternating which team gets
the ball each subsequent time it occurs.
BACKCOURT OR “OVER & BACK”
When an offensive player brings the basketball over the half-court line and then
retreats back over mid court during their possession.

KICKING
When a player kicks the basketball.
FREE THROW VIOLATIONS
Every player must remain in place until the ball is shot by the free throw shooter. If
the offense travels into the free throw lane prior to the shooter’s release of the ball,
then the shot does not count. If the defense ventures into the free throw lane too
early, then another shot attempt is awarded to the shooter, if they miss.
VARIOUS TIME RESTRICTIONS

 3-Second Violation: Offensive players cannot stand in the key for more than
three seconds.
 5-Second Violation (Inbounding): A player must inbound the basketball within
five seconds after the referee hands it to them to avoid a turnover.
 5-Second Violation (Offensive): An offensive player must pass, shoot or
dribble the basketball within five seconds if being guarded by a defensive player who
is within arm’s reach.
 10-Second Violation: Players must advance the basketball over the mid-court
line within 10 seconds to avoid a turnover.
A better understanding of these fouls a