Glossary – Page 2

Drag (Offensive Play): In offensive basketball terminology, a "drag" is a play or action where the ball handler, typically the point guard, brings the ball up the court while a…

Dribble

04/26/20230Comments

Bouncing the ball off the floor with one hand.

Drive

04/26/20230Comments

Dribbling the basketball fast and hard to the basket.

Driving line

06/09/20230Comments

Inside hand is in, keep our chest on the opponent’s shoulder. Turn and run if necessary. Eat up the airspace on the retreat dribble.

Dunk

04/26/20230Comments

Slamming the ball into the basket.

Elbow

04/26/20230Comments

Illegal contact with the elbow by an opponent.

End Line

04/26/20230Comments

Also known as "baselines"; the lines that run the width of the court behind the baskets that indicates out of bounds.

Fast Break

04/26/20230Comments

A rush down court to beat the opponent to the basket to gain an advantage before the defense sets.

Field Goal

04/26/20230Comments

A basket made while the ball is in play.

Field Goal Percentage

04/26/20230Comments

The percentage of shots taken versus the shots attempted.

Finger Roll

04/28/20230Comments

Underhand lay-up; Palm underneath and facing up, a player shoots the ball.

Fire

06/15/20230Comments

Trap isolations to get the ball out of players hands – comes from next man on loaded side.

Five-Second Violation

04/26/20230Comments

Taking longer than five seconds to pass the ball inbounds to a teammate.

Flagrant Foul

04/26/20230Comments

Excessive or aggressive contact with an opponent.

Floor

04/26/20230Comments

The basketball court including the lines on the floor.

Force Cuts Middle

06/17/20230Comments

Get into the passers body him middle and send middle after ball is fed into the post.

Form An ‘I’ On The Weakside

06/15/20230Comments

In our help defense or in our double teams, we want weakside “I” to pull in and force a skip pass and we are in our rotations – no paint…

Forward

04/26/20230Comments

Generally a player that scores, rebounds and defends on the wings on the basketball court.

Foul

04/26/20230Comments

An illegal play other than a floor violation.

Foul Line

04/26/20230Comments

The line 15 feet in front of the backboard paralleling the end-line from which free-throws are shot.

Foul Trouble

04/26/20230Comments

A player may be close to fouling out.

Free-throw

04/26/20230Comments

A free shot taken from the foul line awarded a player whose opponent committed a foul.

Free-Throw Line

04/26/20230Comments

The foul line.

Front Court

04/26/20230Comments

The offensive area running from mid-court to the end-line.

Fronting The Post

06/19/20230Comments

In the context of basketball, "fronting the post" refers to a defensive strategy where a defender positions themselves between an offensive player and the basket to deny them easy access…

Full-Court Press

04/26/20230Comments

Opponents are guarded over the full range of the court.

Goal-Tending

04/26/20230Comments

Intercepting or blocking a shot that is either in the basket, or directly above it.

Guard

04/26/20230Comments

To closely watch an opponent with intent to keep the player from gaining possession of the ball, or from making a pass or shot.

Half Court Line

04/27/20230Comments

The center line dividing the front from the back courts.

Half Court Press

06/04/20230Comments

In basketball, a half-court press trap is a defensive strategy employed by a team to disrupt the opposing team's offense and create turnovers. It involves applying pressure on the ball…

High, Active Hands

06/09/20230Comments

All defenders on the ball or off the ball should always have and maintain high and active hands.

Horn Set

06/04/20230Comments

In basketball, the "horn set" refers to a specific offensive formation or play that is commonly used by teams. It is named after the shape that the players form on…

Iverson Cut

06/04/20230Comments

The "Iverson cut" in basketball refers to a specific type of off-ball movement or cutting made famous by the former professional basketball player Allen Iverson. Allen Iverson, often referred to…