Terms A - C

Advancing the Ball. Moving the ball down the court by passing or dribbling.
Air. The height of a player's jump. In context: "She had a lot of air on that shot" or "There was a lot of air under his kicks". See Hops, Hangtime, Ups, Vert.
Air Ball. A missed shot that does NOT hit the backboard or rim.

Air Flick. A quick, mostly wrist-propelled pass.
Alive. The status of the ball when the game is on and when the game clock is running.
All Ball. Used to describe a clean block. It's noteworthy that the hand is considered part of the ball.
All Day. Said when a player is able to make shots consistently.
All you! Yelled to a player on fast break to let them know they are alone and to finish their attack.

Alley Oop. A shot made where the shooter receives a pass while airborne and puts it in the basket before landing.
Alternate Hand Dribble. A change of dribbling hand often caused by a required change in direction of travel. Aka Cross-Over Dribble.

Alternating-possession Rule. Where the possession arrow changes after an award of control of the ball is granted by the official.

And One. An “And One” is where a player is fouled during the execution of a shot and gets one free-throw shot as a consequence.
Arc. May be the trajectory of the ball during a shot or a term used to refer to the 3-point line.

Assist. An offensive statistic. The last pass from a team mate before a made basket. A.k.a. “Dime”. Eg. "Drop a dime".

Attack the Back. First step in a dribbling attack should be in the direction that the defender's back is facing. This requires the defender to turn their body to adjust which takes enough time to give the attacker a slight advantage.

B Side. The side of the court in which the ball is located at a given time (B Side = Ball Side). Aka. Strongside.

Baby Hook. A hook shot where the arm is not fully extended.

Backcourt. The half of the court that is not being attacked by the team in possession of the ball at a given time. The half being attacked is the Forecourt.

Back Door Cut. When a player who is on offense gets between the basket and a defender for a lob pass.

Back Door Pass. The name for a type of pass or positioning usually where a player on offense gets behind a defender and seals them to allow for a lob pass over the defender.

Back-Poke. When a defensive player catches up to an opponent who has the ball and steals the ball from behind. Aka “Getting one’s pocket picked.”. See Back Strip.

Back Strip. See Back-poke.
Balance. A player's stable stance. Also the spacing of players on the court (Floor Balance).

Ball Control. The skillful handling of the ball by an individual player or team.

Ball Hog. A player who does not pass very much and would rather shoot. Also known as a Chucker or a Gunner.
Ball Movement. How the ball is passed on offense. A team may be said to have good ball movement.
Ball's Alive. The game is starting.
Ballside. The side of the forecourt where the play is. Aka Strongside or B-Side.

Ball Up!. The game is starting (Jump Ball).

Baller. A basketball player.

Bank shot. A shot that hits the backboard before it goes into the basket. Also known as a “banker” or “shooting off the glass”.

Bar Arm. The non-ball arm extended to protect the ball. The bar arm creates a virtual plane that if crossed by a defenders hand emphasizes a reach-in violation and will more likely cause the referee to blow his whistle. Caution : See Fending off.
Baseball Pass. A pass that is thrown much like throwing a baseball. Typically a long pass.

Baseline Run. As soon as the other team scores you can grab the ball (you don’t have to wait for the ref to hand it to you like when it goes out of bounds) get behind the baseline (out of bounds) and run, without having to dribble along the baseline. You do this to get away from a defender –if there is one. Tip: Remember you only have 5 seconds to inbound the ball.

Baseline Drive. Where a player will dribble from the far corner to the paint along the baseline.

Basket Cut. An offensive move where the offensive player sneaks behind the defender running toward the basket looking for a pass.

Basketball Jones. An expression used in the 1970’s to describe a yearning to play basketball (“Jonesing” means “aching for”)

Beating to the Spot. When a defender gets to a place on the court that an opponent wants and establishes themselves.
BEEF. An acronym used to remind a player of the mechanics involved in making a shot properly. Balance, Elbow, Extension, Follow through. In some regions/countries it's Balance, Eyes, Elbow, Extension, and Follow through (thank you Steve Nash).

Behind-the-back Dribble. A kind of dribble used to change the direction of your attack where a single dribble is done behind your back. See Wrap-around.

Belly Cut. A cut to the basket from the wing position.

Belly Up. When a defender gets exceptionally close to an opponent who has the ball in order to place intense pressure on the ball. See Face Guarding, Building Out.

Bench Decorum. The behavior of those sitting on the bench. Now a technical foul if players stand, yell, wave towels.

Between-the-legs Dribble. A kind of dribble used to change the direction of your attack where a single dribble is done between your legs. This is also used to protect the ball from a defender who is playing close to you.

Big. A reference for a post player. Context: "Feeding the Bigs" (Getting the ball to the post players). 

Blind Pass. Where a player passing the ball is not looking directly at the team mate he’s trying to get the ball to. Aka. No-Look Pass.

Blind (Rear) Screen. This is only permissible if the player being screened is allowed one step backward. The screened player must make an effort to get around the screen without forcing rough or displacement contact. See Screen.
Block. Either a shot that is tipped /swatted away or the larger and hash mark along the paint and nearest the baseline..
Block-and-Trap. A phrase used to describe the mechanics of a catch where the blocking hand stops the ball's progress and the trap follows by preventing the ball's escape by the hand being on the opposite side of the blocking hand.

Blocking Foul. Bumping or getting in the way of a player from the other team who has the ball. You have “blocked” their progress to the hoop. This is a foul. If you had established position where your feet were not moving, your elbows were in, and you were not leaning into the player with the ball AND the player with the ball runs into you then the foul is against the player with the ball. You can’t hold, push, trip, or stop an opponent’s progress by extending your arm, shoulder, hip, or knee or by bending your body into an abnormal position. You also can’t use any unreasonably rough tactics to stop your opponent’s progress.

Blow-By (noun). When a player with the ball decisively beats a defender while driving to the hoop.

B.O.B. Baseline Out-of-Bounds inbound play.
Body-up. To body-up is to get very close and physical on defense. See Belly Up, Face Guarding or Building Out.

Bomb. A long distance shot often a three-point shot.
Bonus. Where a team has accumulated enough team fouls to allow the opposing team one or two shots at the foul line. Often after seven team fouls the non-fouling team will get one freethrow and after ten team fouls will get two freethrows. Referred to as a Bonus Situation.
Bounce Pass. A pass that is bounced off the floor and to a player from your team.

Boxing out. Where you get between a player from the other team (who does not have the ball) and the basket. You are trying to stop them from getting to the basket for a rebound. See Butt-to-Gut or Turd Sandwich.

Box Inbound. An inbound play where thr offensive set creates a square or box formation.

Break Out! Direction from coach or team mate to get into a fast break after a rebound (see Transition).

Brick. A missed shot.
Brush Screen. When an offensive player is able to drive his defender into fellow player JUST enough to slow up the defender.

Bucket. Made basket.

Bunny. An easy, uncontested shot, usually a lay-up.

Build-out. Widen your body perceptually by extending your arms horizontally and bellying up on the ball on defense.

Bumping-the-Cutter. All offensive cutters who attempt to penetrate the paint need to be met and legally bumped by a defender. Accomplished by beating the offensive player to a spot and establishing position (basically getting in their way).

Bury a Shot. Make a basket.

Bust In. When a post player who is being three-quarter denied suddenly will bring both their arms up to knock the defender’s arms away as the ball arrives.
Butter. A shot that is made without seemingly little effort and goes in without touching the rim or backboard. Short for "As smooth as butter". (Thanks Derek Vanat - Lamoille HS Boys Varsity 2010).

Butt-to-Gut. Boxing out.

Buzzer Beater. The last shot of a quarter, half, or game that is made just prior to the scoreboard buzzer sounding off.

Cager. Old name for a player when games were played in a wire-cage protected court. The cage kept the fans away from the players.

Camper. An offensive player who is in the paint longer than three seconds.

Carry. A violation where the dribbler’s hand goes below the equator of the ball while dribbling or where the player carries the ball for a few steps without dribbling.
Catch Fake. Where a player who realizes that their defender doesn't see the ball pretends there's been a pass to them in order to freeze their defender and take them out of the play.

Center. A player position, usually the tallest. Also referred to as the #5 or a “big”.

Channeling. Where a defense is able to guide or Funnel the ball to the sideline or corner.

Change-of-pace dribble. Varying the height, speed, or rhythm of a dribble to keep a defender off balance.

Charity Stripe.  The Freethrow line.

Charge. An offensive foul in which an offensive player with the ball runs into or knocks down a defender who has established position.

Cherry Picking. Where a player will linger away from the action and near the basket in the backcourt in order to get a long pass and easy shot. See Garbage Picking.

Chest Pass. A pass thrown straight out from the chest ideally to a team mate’s chest.

Chinning the Ball. Upon a defensive/offensive rebound a post player should hold the ball chin height with elbows fully extended while looking for an outlet pass or to execute an attack move.
Chucker. A player who always shoots and rarely passes. See Ball Hog, Gunner.

Clear-out. When a mismatch is detected in man-to-man defense, four of five offensive players will move out to the 3-point line to allow for a one-on-one contest. Also known as a 4-out set. A second meaning is what a coach will yell to prompt his team to get out of the backcourt in a B.O.B. trap situation.

Closely Guarded. When a defender stays within six feet of an opponent who has the ball for five seconds and the opponent doesn’t pass or shoot the ball the ref will call a violation and possession will go to the defender’s team.

Close out. Getting to the receiver of a pass (to defend against them) as the ball arrives to them or to an attacking/dribbling player.
Court General. The playmaker on a team- usually the point guard so called because they will often direct other players as to where they need to be or what they need to be doing.

Coast-to-Coast. When a player dribbles a ball from under the basket they are defending to the one they are attacking and making the shot.

Come to the Ball. When a pass is made to a player they should hop to the ball as it arrives thereby reducing the flight -time of the ball and avoiding interception. See Jumping to the Ball.

Containing. Keeping dribble penetrations out of the paint usually by closing out, hedging, or help-and-recovery. Generally means to control an individual offensive player's/team's attack through good defense.

Continuation. When you start a lay-up and continue toward the hoop even though you were fouled on the way. If you got the ball in the hoop it counts AND you get a free shot. This is also called an“And One" situation because of the extra shot.

Continuity Offense. A type of offense that relies on motion, screening, and filling patterns that creates patterns that are cyclical. The pattern causes constant resets so that the offense continues to move seamlessly.
Control Dribble. A moderately-paced dribble used when a player engages the defense and is characterized by a lowered body stance with bar arm out.
Controlling the Boards. Where a team gets most of the rebounds on offensive or defense.

Convert. Making a free-throw.

Court Vision. The ability to see and understand what is happening and anticipate what is about to happen on the court. This includes locations of players, knowing their positions and capabilities, and the relative motion of the game. Aka Seeing the Floor or Court Awareness.

Crashing the Boards. Going up hard for a rebound usually anticipating where the ball will be after bouncing off the rim or board.
Cross-Court Pass. A pass from a player on one side of the court to the other often in the form of a n overhead, skip pass.

Crossover Move (low post). Offensive move where a post player pivots toward the middle with a shot fake and then crosses over and steps through.

Crossover Dribble. A dribbling move that switches the ball from one hand to the other in front of the body. It’s used to change a dribbler's direction with the ball usually to avoid a defender.
Crossover Step. A change in direction move where a player with the ball will make his first step cross in front of him. Example; Stepping to the left with the right foot.
Crow's Hop. A quick, two-footed jump shot.

Curl. A cutting pattern that semi-circular in shape and usually brings the cutter around a screener.

Cutting. A method of suddenly moving into position to receive a pass while getting away from the player from the other team who is guarding you. There are those named after the letter pattern they create such as “L”-cuts, “V”-cuts, “I”-cuts, and  Belly, Zipper, and Backdoor cuts.
Cutter ! Yelled by defensive players to their team mates to warn them of a cutting offensive player that is out of the field of vision of their team mates.
Cut-and-Fill. An attacking teams movement pattern used in a continuity or motion offense where the gap created by an offensive player is always filled by a team mate.

Cylinder. Slang term for the basket. See Rack, Hole, Hoop.