Social sports club in Wimbledon, London

Glossary

Air ball

A badly missed shot that fails to hit the rim or backboard.

Alley-oop

A pass that is received in mid-air and dunked or laid-up before the player touches the ground.

Assist

A pass that, once received, is immediately shot and scored. Awarded to the player who passes the ball.

Bank shot

A shot that bounces off the backboard and lands in the basket.

Blocked shot

A shot that a defender prevents from scoring by deflecting the ball.

Blocking

Penalty on a defender for stepping in front of an offensive player to impede progress.

Carry over

Violation called when a player moves his hand under the ball and scoops it while dribbling.

Charging

Foul called when an offensive player runs over a defender who has established position. Results in a turnover and one personal foul.

Double dribble

A violation when a player uses both hands to dribble or stops dribbling and begins to dribble again.

Double team

A strategy in which two defenders guard one offensive player simultaneously.

Dribble

To advance with the ball by using one hand to bounce it off the court.

Drive

To cut, with or without the ball, towards the basket.

Dunk

Shot slammed through the basket from above the rim.

Fake

An offensive player uses any part of the body, including the eyes, to deceive a defender. Pretending to shoot is called a pump fake.

Fast break

Quick transition from defense to offense, in which players race to the frontcourt to score before the defense can organize.

Goaltending

When a defender blocks a shot that is descending toward the basket or if the ball is touched directly above the rim. Results in two points for the offense.

Jump ball

When possession is unclear, the referee tosses ball in the air and one player on each team jumps and attempts to tip it toward a teammate.

Jump shot

A shot in which the player jumps and is in mid-air when he releases the ball.

Lay-up

An easy, one-handed shot near the basket that bounces off the backboard and into the basket.

One-and-one

A series of free-throws in which the second free-throw attempt is awarded only if the first is made.

Press

Strategy in which the defense pressures the offense to make mistakes by guarding players closely. Often executed as a “half-court” or “full-court” press.

Rebound

Move in which a player catches the ball, often in mid-air, after a missed shot.

Screen

Move in which a player positions his body to impede a defender and free a teammate. Also called a pick.

Steal

To take possession of the ball from an offensive player who is holding, dribbling, or passing the ball.

Timeout

Teams can stop play several times per half when they have possession of the ball to strategize before resuming play.

Tip-off

A jump ball that is used to start the game.

Traveling

Violation for two or more steps without dribbling the ball.

Turnover

When possession of the ball changes, other than a rebound or following a scored point. Turnovers include: traveling, stolen ball, charging, etc.