Volleyball and Basketball Terms
Loose Ball
a ball that is alive but not in possession of either team
Give and Go
a basketball maneuver; one offensive player passes the ball to another, then runs toward the basket to take a return pass
Pivot
a center; also the foot that must remain touching the floor until a ball handler who has stopped dribbling is ready to pass or shoot.
Bump
a common term for forearm passing.
Zone Defense
a defense where each defender is responsible for an area of the court and must guard any player who enters that area; compare with man-to-man defense.
Traveling
a floor violation when the ball handler takes too many steps without dribbling; also called walking.
Free Throw
a free shot from the free throw line given when someone is fouled while attempting to shoot
Box/Block Out
a player's attempt to position his body between his opponents and the basket to get a rebound and prevent the opponent from doing so
Red Card
a severe penalty in which an official displays a red card. The result of a red card may be a player is disqualified, the team loses the serve, or the team loses a point. A red card may be given with or without a prior yellow card as a warning; it is up to the official's discretion.
Bank Shot
a shot where the ball is first bounced (or banked) off the backboard at such an angle that it then drops into the basket
Foul
action by a player which breaks the rules; penalized by change in possession, or free throw opportunity
Low Post
an imaginary area outside either side of the foul lane close to the basket
Campfire
ball that falls to the floor in an area that's surrounded by two, three, four or more players. At the instant after the ball hits the floor, it appears as if the players are encircling and staring at a campfire.
Dead Ball
ball that has gone out of play
Baseline
end line
Double Dribble
illegal dribble that occurs when a player dribbles with both hands simultaneously or stops a dribble by holding the ball briefly in one or both hands
Backboard
rectangular structure to which the basket is attached
Key
the area at each end of the court consisting off the foul circle, foul lane, and free throw line
Frontcourt
the area between the midcourt line and the end line closest to the offense's basket
Perimeter
the area beyond the foul circle away from the basket, including 3 point line, from which the player takes long range shots
Backcourt
the area from the midcourt line to end line furthest from the offense's basket
Assist
the last pass to a teammate that leads directly to a field goal
Screen
the offensive player who stands between a teammate and a defender to gives his teammate the chance to take an open shot.
Weak side
the side of the court away from the ball
Spike
to jump close to the net, after a set and slam the ball hard with one hand over the net
1891
When basketball was invented
Springfield
Where basketball was invented
1 Point
For every free throw
Double hit
When a player makes contact with the ball twice in a row
Roof
A ball that when spiked is blocked by a defensive player such that the ball deflects straight to the floor on the attacker's side.
Block
A defensive play by one or more players meant to intercept a spiked ball. The combination of one or two players jumping in front of the opposing spiker and contacting the spiked ball with hands.
Pancake
A one-handed defensive technique where the hand is extended and the palm is slid along the floor as the player dives or extension rolls, and timed so that the ball bounces off the back of the hand.
Overhand pass
A pass executed with both hands open, controlled by the fingers and thumbs, played just above the forehead.
Jump Serve
A serve that is started by the server tossing the ball into the air and jumping into and hitting the ball in its downward motion.
Ace
A serve that results directly in a point. The ball hits the floor without being played by the other team.
Floater
A serve with no spin that follows an erratic path.
Rally Score
A string of unstop scores by one team
10 Seconds
A team is allowed how many seconds to get the ball across the center line after taking the ball out of bounds?
5 Seconds
A team is allowed how many seconds to put the ball in play from out of bounds?
Attack Line
Also know as the ten-foot line. A line drawn on the court to separate the front row from the back row.
Dink
Also known as tip. A legal push of the ball around or over the blockers.
Kill
An attack/hit/spike that results in an immediate point.
10 Feet
Distance from basket to floor
15 Feet
Distance from free throw line to basket
Basketball Team
Guards, Forwards, Centers
Jump Ball
How the game is started. A referee tosses the ball in the air, and one player from each team tries to jump for it, in an attempt to tip it to one of his teammates
2 or 3 (1 if the basket is made)
If a player is fouled while in the act of shooting and the basket is not made, he is entitled to how many free throws?
Dr. James Naismith
Inventor of basketball
Two 20 minute halves
Length of college basketball games
4 quarters of 8 minutes each
Length of high school basketball games
12 Minute Quarters
NBA game length
24 Seconds
NBA shot clock
5
Number of people on each basketball team
5 (6 in Professional)
Number of personal fouls allowed before being removed from the game
Side-out
Occurs when the receiving team successfully puts the ball away against the serving team, or when the serving team commits an unforced error, and the receiving team thus gains the right to serve.
Forearm pass
One of the six basic volleyball skills. It is a ball-handling skill that a players uses to legally contact the ball at a level below the waist using the forearms as the contact surface.
Dig
Passing a spiked or rapidly hit ball. Slang for the art of by an attacked ball close to the floor.
Dribble
Player bounces ball with one hand
Three Second Violation
When a player stands with both feet in the lane for 3 seconds.
Jump Shot
Released with one hand
94 feet long by 50 feet wide.
Size of basketball court
Triple Threat Position
The bent knees stance that allows the player three options:dribble, pass, or shoot.
Rotation
The clockwise movement of players around the court and through the serving position following a point.
35 Seconds
The college shot clock
Cylinder
The imaginary "cylindrical" space directly above the rim of the basket. Under NBA rules, the ball cannot be touched when it is in the cylinder
Attack
The offensive action of hitting the ball. The attempt by one team to terminate the play by hitting the ball to the floor on the opponent's side.
Mintonette
The original name of the game of volleyball, created by William Morgan.
Set
The tactical skill in which a ball is directed to a point where a player can spike it into the opponent's court.
Joust
When 2 opposing players are simultaneously attempting to play a ball above the net.
Alternate possession rule
When a player from each team has the ball at the same time, the referee will call for this rule to be utilized.
Goaltending
violation of interfering with the ball when it is on its way to the basket and it is (a) in its downward flight, (b) entirely above the rim and has the possibility of entering the basket, and (c) not touching the rim.
Wipe
when a hitter pushes the ball off of the opposing block so it lands out of bounds
Slam Dunk
when a player close to the basket jumps and strongly throws the ball down into it; an athletic, creative shot used to intimidate opponents.
Rebound
when a player grabs a ball that is coming off the rim or backboard after a shot attempt
Foul
when a player hits, bumps, slaps, trips, holds, or runs into another player.
Triple double
when a player scores double-digits in 3 categories during one game (points,assists and rebounds are most common, but it can also be blocks or steals); a sign of great versatility.
Squaring Up
when a player's shoulders are facing the basket as he releases the ball for a shot; considered good shooting position.
Field Goal
when the ball enters the basket from above during a play, worth 2 points, or 3 points if the shooter was behind the 3-point line
Double Team
when two teammates join efforts in guarding a single opponent