Basketball Terms Every Player Should Know

New players hear a lot of words in practice that nobody explains. This glossary covers the terms our coaches use most, in plain language.

Basketball Terms A to Z

• And-one: a made basket while being fouled, plus one free throw.
• Assist: a pass that leads straight to a teammate’s basket.
• Backcourt: the half of the court your team defends.
• Box out: using your body to keep an opponent away from the basket so you can get the rebound. Turn, make contact, stay low and then go get the ball.
• Carrying: letting the ball rest in your hand while you dribble. It is a violation.
• Double dribble: dribbling with both hands at once, or stopping your dribble and starting again. It is a violation, not a foul, and the other team gets the ball.
• Fast break: pushing the ball up the court quickly to score before the defense gets back.
• Free throw: an uncontested shot from the free throw line after a foul. Each one counts for 1 point.
• Man-to-man defense: each defender guards one player.
• Pick and roll: a player sets a screen for the ball handler, then rolls toward the basket for a pass.
• Rebound: getting the ball after a missed shot.
• Screen: standing still in a defender’s path to free a teammate. Moving while setting it makes it an illegal screen.
• Shot clock: the time limit for a team to shoot.
• Traveling: taking too many steps without dribbling.
• Triple-double: 10 or more in three stat categories in one game, such as points, rebounds and assists.
• Triple threat: holding the ball in a stance where you can shoot, pass or dribble.
• Turnover: losing the ball to the other team without taking a shot.
• Zone defense: each defender guards an area of the court instead of one player.

Learn the Terms on the Court

Words stick when you use them. In our group sessions and camps in Gaithersburg, MD, players hear these terms in every drill, from boxing out to running the fast break.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a double dribble a foul?

No. A double dribble is a violation. The other team gets the ball, but it does not count as a personal foul.

What does box out mean in basketball?

Boxing out means putting your body between an opponent and the basket after a shot, so you are in position to get the rebound.