Assist: The last pass to a teammate that leads directly to a field goal.

Backboard: The rectangular structure to which the basket is attached.

Backcourt: The area from the midcourt to the end line furthest from the offense’s basket.

Ball handler: The player with the ball.

Bank shot: A shot that first hits the backboard before going in the basket.

Blocked shot: The successful deflection of the ball by a defender that prevents a shot from being made.

Boxing out: A player’s positioning of his body to attempt to grab a rebound.

Center: Usually the biggest player of the five. Handles a lot of scoring, rebounding and defensive shot-blocking.

Center circle: The circular area at midcourt where jump balls take place.

Double team: When two teams join together to guard an opponent.

Dribbling: When a player repeatedly pushes, taps or bats the ball into the floor to advance up the court.

Dunk: When a player forcefully throws the ball down into the basket.

End line: The boundary line behind each basket; also called the baseline.

Flagrant foul: Unnecessary or excessive contact against an opponent.

Field goal: A two-point basket.

Free throw: A player is fouled and he takes an un-guarded, un-contested shot at the foul line.

Frontcourt: The area from the midcourt to the end line closest to the offense’s basket.

Forwards: Often the team’s highest scorers and can be counted on for rebounding as well.

Guards: The players who run the offense; usually more passers than shooters.

Incidental contact: Minor contact between two or more players.

In the paint: Being in the foul lane area.

Jump ball: When the referee determines neither player had complete control of the ball, he can toss a jump ball to determine possession.

Key: The area on each end of the court consisting of the foul circle, foul lane and free throw line.

Layup: A shot taken under the basket where the player drops the ball directly into the hoop.

Man-to-man defense: One-on-one defense. Every player guards one other player.

Out of bounds: The area outside of a court including the end lines and sidelines.

Overtime: Extra periods played after regulation time ends in a tie.

Pivot: The center position; also the foot a player must have planted or he will be called for traveling.

Possession arrow: The possession arrow signals who has control of the ball at the beginning of a period or in a jump ball situation.

Post position: A player securing his spot in the low or high post.

Quadruple-double: When a player achieves double figures in four statistical categories.

Rebound: When a player grabs a ball off the basket or backboard.

Release: The moment the ball leaves the shooter’s hands.

Rookie: First-year player.

Shot clock: A clock that limits the time a team can take to get off a shot. The team must hit the rim before the shot clock expires or possession is awarded to the opposing team.

Sixth man: The first person off the bench; usually the best non-starter on the team.

Steal: Changing possession by taking the ball from an opponent.

Starting lineup: The five players who begin the game on the floor.

Swing man: A player who can play both guard and forward.

Substitute: A player who comes off the bench to replace another player.

Three-pointer: A three-point basket is awarded when a player hits a shot behind the designated three-point arc.

Three-point play: A field goal followed by a successful free throw.

Traveling: A violation called when a player takes too many steps without dribbling.

Tip-off: A game begins with the referee tossing the ball in the air while to players try to gain possession.

Triple-double: When a player achieves double figures in three statistical categories.

Turnover: When the offensive team loses the ball.

Weak side: The side of the court away from the ball.

Zone defense: Each defender is responsible for an area on the court and must guard any man that comes into that area.