A:

Airball: When a goal is shot but the ball misses the hoop and the backboard completely.

Alternating Possession rule: A game rule that ensures the teams take turns possessing the ball after stopped plays.

Assist: A pass to a teammate that sets up a goal.

And-one: A free throw that is awarded to a shooter after they are fouled while scoring.

B:

Backboard: The surface that the hoop is mounted to.

Backcourt: Area of the court that is furthest away from the offensive team’s goal.

Ball Hog: A player who continues to hold onto the ball and not pass it to their teammates.

Ball Fake: A movement made by the player with the ball intended to trick the defender to move one way so that they can pass the ball in another direction unobstructed.

Ball reversal: When the ball is passed from one side of the court to the other.

Ball Side: The half of the court where the ball is currently in play.

Bank Shot: A shot that hits the backboard before going into the hoop.

Baseline: The line that marks the boundary of the court at either end (aka end line).

Basket: The goal (aka the net, or hoop).

C:

Carrying: A violation of the rules which occurs when a player holds the ball in their hand momentarily while dribbling and then continues to dribble (a.k.a. palming).

Center: A player position in the game of basketball. A center is generally the tallest player and is mainly responsible for scoring, rebounding and defense near the goal.

Charge: A foul which occurs when a player runs into a stationary defender.

Cherry Picking: A gameplay strategy where one player decides not to play defense and instead remains near the opponent’s goal to make it easier to receive the ball for their team.

Chest Pass: A pass where a player passes the ball from their chest with both hands to another players chest.

Circus Shot: A shot that is taken while the shooter is off balance or out of control, these shots are rarely successful.

Crossover: When a player dribbles the ball from one hand to the other hand and changes direction.

D:

Dead-ball Rebound: When the ball is rebounded but is not counted in the team's total rebounds.

Dribble: To continuously bounce a ball with one hand. Dribbling is used in basketball to take steps while in possession of the ball.

Dunk: A score that is made by putting the ball straight into the net with one or both hands (a.k.a. slam dunk)

E:

Elbow: Illegal contact where a player strikes another player with their elbow.

F:

Fake: A move made by an offending player in order to confuse the defense.

Fast Break: When a player rushes down the court to beat the opponent to the goal.

Field Goal: A shot that is made from anywhere on the court.

Fishhook Cut: When a player quickly changes direction.

Forwards: A player position in the game of basketball. Forwards are positioned along the free-throw lane.

Flagrant Foul: A foul that is committed when there is excessive or aggressive contact between opponents.

Floor: The area of the court.

Foul: An illegal play.

Foul Line: The line from which free-throws are shot.

Free-throw: A shot that is awarded to a player when their opponent commits a foul.

Free-throw circle: A circular area of the court with a 1.8m radius designated for free-throws.

Free-throw lane: The area of the court that is designated for free-throws.

G:

Goal-tending: A violation that is committed by intercepting a shot that is either in the basket or about to enter it.

Guard: To closely watch a chosen opponent in hopes of preventing that player from receiving the ball or making a pass or shot.

H:

Hand Check: When a defender uses their hand on the ball-handler with the intent of impeding their movement.

Held Ball: When two players gain possession of the ball at the same time.

Help Side: The half of the court that the ball is not on (a.k.a. weak side)

Holding: When a player uses their hands to hinder an opponent’s movement.

Hook Shot: A shot that is made with a single hand swinging over the head or shoulders into the basket.

I:

Incidental Contact: Normal contact between the players that is legal.

Inside Cut: When an offensive player passes the ball to their teammate then rushes towards the goal to receive the ball back immediately.

Inside Shot: A shot that is made from in front of or beside the basket.

Intentional Foul: When a defending player commits a foul in order to stop the clock.

J:

Jump Ball: The ball is tossed into the air by the referee between one player from each team to start the game.

Jump Shot: A shot that is taken from overhead while jumping.

Jump Stop: When a player jumps off one foot and lands on both feet to stop moving.

K:

Key: The area of the court that consists of the free-throw lane and the free-throw circle

L:

Lay-in: A shot made from close-range using one hand to tip the ball over the rim into the goal.

Lay Up: When a player moves close to the basket and uses one hand to bank a shot off the backboard and into the goal.

Live Ball: Refers to the ball in play.

Ledgie: When the ball becomes stuck on the ledge between the goal and the backboard (a.k.a. Wedgie).

Low Post: The area of the court that is close to the goal.

M:

Man-to-man Defense: A defense where opponents guard each other one-on-one.

Mid-court Line: The line in the center of the court, diving the court into two halves- front and back.

N:

Net: The mesh that hangs from the goal rim.

NBL: National Basketball League- the pre-eminent professional men’s basketball league in Australia and New Zealand.

O:

Offense: The team with possession of the ball.

Offensive Rebound: A rebound taken by a player on the offensive team.

Open: A defending player is said to be ‘open’ when they are unguarded.

Out-of-bounds: When a player or a ball goes outside of the court's boundaries.

Overhead Pass: A two-handed pass that is thrown from overhead.

Overtime: Extra time that is given when a regulation game is tied.

P:

Palming: Another term for ‘carrying’.

Pass: When a player throws or bounces the ball to another player.

Personal Foul: Contact towards a player in a way that might injure them.

Possession: When a player or team has the ball.

Post: The area on either side of the free-throw lane.

Power Forward: A strong player who is strategically positioned close to the goal.

Pocket Pass: A pass that is made through a narrow gap in the defense.

Pivot: When a player picks up one foot to spin on the other.

Q:

Quadruple Double: When a player earns double-digit figures in four out of five offensive categories during one game.

R:

Rebound: When a player gains possession of the ball after a missed shot.

Rim: The circular edge of the goal.

Rimshot: A toss that hits the basket rim.

Restricted Area: Another term for the free-throw lane.

Rejected: When a players shot is blocked.

Reverse Pivot: When a player turns on the pivot foot to take a step back.

S:

Screen: A strategy used where a teammate will stand in the defender’s way to allow an offensive player to remain unguarded and take a shot.

Shot: To throw the ball toward the basket in attempt to make a goal.

Shooter: The player who takes a shot.

Set Shot: When a player takes a shot without jumping.

Sidelines: The lines on either side of the court that define the boundary.

Steal: When a defending player gains possession of the ball from the opposition.

Starting Lineup: The five players who start the game.

Strong Side: The side of the court where the ball is in play.

T:

Timeout: When an official suspends the game temporarily due to an injury.

Tip Off: A jump that commences the game.

Transition: When a team switches from defense to offense or vice versa.

Three Point Field Goal: A shot that is taken from behind the three-point line with both feet on the ground. If the shot is successful it is awarded three points. A.k.a. three-pointer.

Three Point Line: A line on the court that is shaped in an arc around the goal.

Three Second Violation: A violation that is committed when an offensive player is in the free-throw lane for longer than three seconds.

Travel: To move with the ball illegally.

U:

Up and Down: A travelling violation that happens when a player jumps with the ball and does not pass it before landing.

Underhand Lay-up Shot: When a player shoots the ball from overhead with the palm underneath the ball facing up towards the goal.

Up-court: To move up-court, is to move towards the team’s offensive goal.

V:

V-cut: To switch from one direction to the other quickly in order to make a shot.

Violation: To break a rule of the game, other than a foul like traveling.

W:

Walking: The same as traveling- moving illegally with the ball.

Weak Side: The side of the court where the ball is not currently in play.

Wedgie: If the basketball gets stuck between the rim of the basket and the backboard it is refered to as a wedgie (a.k.a. Ledgie).

Z:

Zone Defense: A defensive strategy where a defender carefully guards a specific area of the court.