a missed shot that fails to touch the rim, net, or backboard
alley-oop
a quick-score play in which a high, arching pass is made to a teammate near the basket, who leaps up and in midair drops it into the basket
backboard
a board or other flat vertical surface to which the basket is attached
backdoor play
an offensive tactic whereby a player breaks away from a defender to receive a pass near the baseline in order to make a quick layup
bank shot
a shot into the basket, made by rebounding the ball off the backboard
center jump
a jump ball between the centers of the opposing teams, held in the circle at the center of the court, as at the beginning of each period
double dribble
when a player uses both hands to dribble or when a player holds the ball momentarily, resulting in loss of possession of the ball
dunk shot
a shot made by a player near the basket by jumping with the ball to thrust it through the basket with one hand or both hands held above the rim
fast break
a play that brings the ball from one end of the court to the other quickly in an attempt to score before the defensive team can get into position
foul shot
a throw from the foul line, given a player after a foul has been called against an opponent, or a score of one point made on this throw
free throw lane
the rectangular area extending from behind each backboard to the foul line and along the sides of which players line up during a foul shot
full-court press
close-guarding defense in which a team pressures the opponent man-to-man the entire length of the court in order to disrupt dribbling or passing
goaltending
a violation occurring when a player interferes with a shot by touching the ball on its downward flight to the basket
hook shot
a shot with one hand in which a player extends the shooting arm to the side and brings it back over the head toward the basket
intentional foul
a foul deliberately committed by a defensive player to stop play, causing the fouled player to attempt a score in return for possession of the ball
jump ball
a ball tossed into the air above and between two opposing players by the referee in putting the ball into play
jump shot
a shot with one or both hands in which a player leaps into the air and shoots the ball at the basket on reaching the highest point of the leap
lay-up
a shot with one hand from a point close to the basket, in which a player shoots the ball toward the basket, often off the backboard
rim
when the ball rolls around the rim of the basket and does not go in
tap
to strike a ball in the air in the direction of a teammate or of the basket
rebound
a ball that bounces off the backboard or the rim of the basket
pick-and-roll
an offensive maneuver, a player is between a teammate with the ball and a defender, then cuts quickly to the basket for a pass from the same teammate
pivot
the act of keeping one foot in place while holding the ball and moving the other foot one step in any direction, so as not to be charged with walking
point guard
the player who directs the team's offensive play
push shot
a shot with one hand from a point relatively distant from the basket, in which a player shoots the ball from shoulder level or above
set shot
a shot with two hands from a point relatively distant from the basket, in which a player stands still and shoots the ball usually from chest level
sixth man
a team's best substitute
slam dunk
a particularly forceful, often dramatic dunk shot
technical foul
a foul committed by a player not involving physical contact with an opponent called for unsportsmanlike conduct that gives the opposing team free throws
three-point play
a play in which a player sinks the free throw that was awarded when the player was fouled while scoring a basket
three-pointer
a field goal worth three points, made from behind a specified line the three-point line
tipoff
a jump ball that begins each period
fence
to defend; protect; guard
stint
a limited, prescribed, or expected quantity, share, rate, etc.
con man
confidence man.
baitfish
any small fish as a minnow or shiner, used as bait
air ball
a missed shot that fails to touch the rim, net, or backboard
alley-oop
a quick-score play in which a high, arching pass is made to a teammate near the basket, who leaps up and in midair drops it into the basket
backboard
a board or other flat vertical surface to which the basket is attached
backdoor play
an offensive tactic whereby a player breaks away from a defender to receive a pass near the baseline in order to make a quick layup
bank shot
a shot into the basket, made by rebounding the ball off the backboard
center jump
a jump ball between the centers of the opposing teams, held in the circle at the center of the court, as at the beginning of each period
double dribble
when a player uses both hands to dribble or when a player holds the ball momentarily, resulting in loss of possession of the ball
dunk shot
a shot made by a player near the basket by jumping with the ball to thrust it through the basket with one hand or both hands held above the rim
fast break
a play that brings the ball from one end of the court to the other quickly in an attempt to score before the defensive team can get into position
foul shot
a throw from the foul line, given a player after a foul has been called against an opponent, or a score of one point made on this throw
free throw lane
the rectangular area extending from behind each backboard to the foul line and along the sides of which players line up during a foul shot
full-court press
close-guarding defense in which a team pressures the opponent man-to-man the entire length of the court in order to disrupt dribbling or passing
goaltending
a violation occurring when a player interferes with a shot by touching the ball on its downward flight to the basket
hook shot
a shot with one hand in which a player extends the shooting arm to the side and brings it back over the head toward the basket
intentional foul
a foul deliberately committed by a defensive player to stop play, causing the fouled player to attempt a score in return for possession of the ball
jump ball
a ball tossed into the air above and between two opposing players by the referee in putting the ball into play
jump shot
a shot with one or both hands in which a player leaps into the air and shoots the ball at the basket on reaching the highest point of the leap
lay-up
a shot with one hand from a point close to the basket, in which a player shoots the ball toward the basket, often off the backboard
rim
when the ball rolls around the rim of the basket and does not go in
tap
to strike a ball in the air in the direction of a teammate or of the basket
rebound
a ball that bounces off the backboard or the rim of the basket
pick-and-roll
an offensive maneuver, a player is between a teammate with the ball and a defender, then cuts quickly to the basket for a pass from the same teammate
pivot
the act of keeping one foot in place while holding the ball and moving the other foot one step in any direction, so as not to be charged with walking
point guard
the player who directs the team's offensive play
push shot
a shot with one hand from a point relatively distant from the basket, in which a player shoots the ball from shoulder level or above
set shot
a shot with two hands from a point relatively distant from the basket, in which a player stands still and shoots the ball usually from chest level
sixth man
a team's best substitute
slam dunk
a particularly forceful, often dramatic dunk shot
technical foul
a foul committed by a player not involving physical contact with an opponent called for unsportsmanlike conduct that gives the opposing team free throws
three-point play
a play in which a player sinks the free throw that was awarded when the player was fouled while scoring a basket
three-pointer
a field goal worth three points, made from behind a specified line the three-point line
tipoff
a jump ball that begins each period
fence
to defend; protect; guard
stint
a limited, prescribed, or expected quantity, share, rate, etc.
con man
confidence man.
baitfish
any small fish as a minnow or shiner, used as bait
Flash Cards
