Basketball words · Intermediate

The words that make the commentary make sense. They build on the beginner words.

I · Intermediate · 55 words · Step 2 of 2

3x3 basketball

The court

Free-throw line

The line 5.80 m from the basket. A free-throw shooter stands behind it and must not step on it or enter the restricted area before the ball touches the ring or passes through.

No-charge semi-circle

The semi-circle of 1.25 m radius under the basket. After a made basket or last free throw, defenders may not play on the ball inside it. Actively defending there is listed among the technical fouls for delaying the game.

See also: Free throw

Restricted area

The area in front of the basket where a player of the team in control may stay no longer than three consecutive seconds while the game clock is running.

Starting and ending the game

Overtime

If the score is tied when regular time ends, there is a one-minute break and then overtime, in which the first team to score two points wins. Fouls after the end of regular time count as having occurred during the break.

Coin flip

A coin flip decides which team gets the first check-ball. The winner may choose to have the ball at the start of the game or at the start of a possible overtime.

Forfeit

In FIBA 3x3 official competitions a team loses by forfeit if it does not have three players ready on the court at the scheduled start (a short delay may be allowed). A team that forfeits twice in the pool phase, or does not show up, is disqualified from the event.

Scoring

Foul on a shooter

If a shooter is fouled and scores, the basket counts and there is one extra free throw; if the shot is missed there is one free throw from inside the arc or two from behind it. From the seventh team foul there are two free throws in each case.

See also: Free throw

Play terms

Delay of game warning

A defender who spoils a check-ball, for example by throwing the ball out of reach, handing it over or swiping at it before the attacker has control, first earns a warning for the team. A repeat by the team is a technical foul.

Jump ball situation

In a held-ball situation there is no jump. The ball goes to the defensive team, which is the team that did not have the last possession.

Dribbling

Moving with a live ball by throwing, tapping, rolling or bouncing it on the floor. A player may not start a second dribble after ending the first, unless control was lost through a shot, an opponent touching the ball, or another player touching a pass or fumble.

Challenge

A team's request to review a decision, for example whether a shot was released before the shot clock, or which player caused the ball to go out of bounds. A challenge is granted at once and a time-out does not start until the review ends.

See also: Out of bounds, Shot clock, Time-out

Violations

Three seconds

A player of the team in control may not stay in the restricted area for more than three consecutive seconds while the game clock is running. There is leniency if the player is leaving it, if the player or a teammate is shooting, or if the player is dribbling to shoot after fewer than three seconds.

Five seconds

A player with a live ball who is closely guarded, within one metre by an opponent in an active legal guarding position, must pass, shoot or dribble within five seconds.

Back to the basket

After the ball is cleared, an attacker may not dribble for more than three consecutive seconds inside the arc with their back or side to the basket. Facing the arc is legal.

The ruleCan a 3x3 player back a defender down towards the basket?

No-clear violation

Releasing a shot before the ball has been cleared. The basket does not count and the opponents get the ball by check-ball.

Goaltending and interference

Touching a shot while it is above the ring on its way down or after it hits the backboard is goaltending, and touching the basket or backboard while the ball is on the ring is interference. If an attacker does it the basket does not count. If a defender does it, the attackers are credited with the points.

The ruleWhen is it illegal to touch a shot on its way to the basket?

Fouls and penalties

Offensive foul

A foul by an attacker gives the opponents the ball by check-ball.

Technical foul

A foul without contact, such as ignoring a referee's warning, disrespect, taunting, delaying the game, or a defender's goaltending on the last free throw. It gives the opponents one free throw and counts as a team foul. A player is not disqualified for two technical fouls.

See also: Free throw

Unsportsmanlike foul

A contact foul that is excessive, hard or dangerous, and sometimes holding a ball handler. The first gives two free throws, the second two free throws and the ball. A player with two is disqualified, and each counts as two team fouls.

Disqualifying foul

A flagrant unsportsmanlike act. The player must leave the court, two free throws are given (to the fouled player if there was contact) with the ball, and it counts as two team fouls.

Double foul

Two opponents committing contact fouls on each other at about the same time. No free throws are awarded. Play restarts by check-ball for the team in control or entitled to the ball, or for the opponents of a team that has just scored, or as a jump ball situation if neither team had control.

Game management terms

Time-out

Each team gets one 30-second time-out, usable only when the ball is dead before a check-ball or free throw, and the unused one can carry over to overtime. In competitions that use them, two TV time-outs are given at the first dead ball after 6:59 and 3:59 on the clock.

See also: Overtime, Free throw, Check-ball

Substitution

A substitute may enter when the ball is dead and the clock stopped, without notifying the referee or table, by entering from behind the end line. A free-throw shooter who is injured or disqualified is replaced by the substitute, who shoots.

Basketball

Fouls and violations

Disruptive foul

Illegal contact that is not flagrant but disrupts the flow of the game, for example an unnecessary contact to stop a fast break, or to stop the clock at the end of a quarter, or from behind on a player progressing to the basket. It gives 2 free throws and a frontcourt throw-in.

See also: Basket, Quarter, Goal, Throw-in, Fast break

Flagrant foul

Illegal contact that is not a legitimate basketball play, or is reckless, violent or dangerous, or an excessive hard contact. It gives free throws and a throw-in, and two flagrant fouls, or one flagrant and one category 1 technical, mean the player is disqualified.

Disqualifying foul

A flagrant unsportsmanlike act by a player, substitute, coach or other bench member, including violence. The offender must leave to the dressing room or the building for the rest of the game.

Cylinder principle

The space an imaginary cylinder around a player occupies on the court, including the space above. A player may jump straight up within it. A player who leaves it and causes contact with an opponent who had already established theirs is responsible for the contact.

Also called: cylinder

Legal guarding position

A defender is in it when facing the opponent with both feet on the court. It extends vertically above the player, who may raise the arms or jump straight up but must stay inside the cylinder.

The ruleIs it a charge or a block?

No-charge semi-circle

A semi-circle of 1.30 m radius under each basket. Contact by an airborne attacker who has control of the ball and shoots or passes, with a defender inside it, is not called a team control foul unless the attacker illegally uses the hands, arms, legs or body.

Basket interference

Touching the basket or backboard while the ball is on the ring, reaching up through the basket from below to touch the ball, or touching the ball while it is in the basket, so it cannot pass through. An offensive violation means no points; a defensive one awards the points.

See also: Basket, Backboard, Goal, Violation

The ruleWhat is goaltending in basketball?

Fake being fouled

Any action to pretend to be fouled, or theatrical exaggerated movement to create the impression of a foul. It is a category 1 technical foul.

Also called: flop, faking being fouled
See also: Technical foul

Time and possession rules

5 seconds

A closely guarded player, with an opponent within 1 m, must pass, shoot or dribble within 5 seconds. A thrower-in and a free-throw shooter also have 5 seconds to release the ball.

Last two minutes

Special rules apply when the game clock shows 2:00 or less in the fourth quarter and each overtime: after a time-out in the backcourt the head coach can choose to throw in from the frontcourt, and a team that has just scored cannot take a time-out or make a substitution.

See also: Quarter, Substitution, Overtime, Time-out

Forfeit and default

A team forfeits if it cannot field five players ready 15 minutes after the scheduled start, and the game is awarded 20 to 0. A team defaults if it has fewer than two players ready on the court during the game.

Correctable error

A mistake in applying the rules that referees can correct, for example awarding or missing free throws, a wrong shooter, a scoring or clock error. It can be corrected only within set limits, generally before the ball goes live after the first stoppage in the last two minutes.

Offensive terms

Pick and roll

A play where one player sets a screen for a teammate with the ball, then moves toward the basket to receive a pass.

Isolation

A play where one player is given space to attack their defender one on one, with teammates spacing out of the way.

Spacing

How players position themselves around the court to keep enough room for dribbling and passing lanes.

Backdoor cut

A quick move where a player without the ball cuts behind the defence toward the basket for an easy pass and score.

Fadeaway

A jump shot where the shooter leans backward away from the defender while shooting.

Alley-oop

A pass thrown near the basket that a teammate catches in the air and finishes with a dunk or layup.

Defensive terms

Help defence

When a defender leaves their assigned player briefly to support a teammate being beaten by the ball handler.

Full court press

A defensive strategy applying pressure across the entire court rather than just the defensive half.

Box out

Positioning the body between an opponent and the basket to gain better rebounding position.

Switch

When two defenders swap who they're guarding during a screen, rather than fighting through it.

Charge

Illegal contact, with or without the ball, by pushing or moving into an opponent's torso. Contact with an airborne attacker under the basket is not judged a charge if the defender is inside the no-charge semi-circle.

See also: Basket, Goal, No-charge semi-circle

Stats and analysis terms

Field goal percentage

The share of shot attempts a player successfully makes.

Plus-minus

A stat showing how much better or worse a team performs while a specific player is on the court.

Efficiency rating

A combined statistic used to summarize a player's overall contribution using multiple stat categories.

Pace

How many possessions a team uses per game, reflecting how fast or slow they like to play.

Usage rate

A measure of how often a player is involved in ending their team's possessions through shots, turnovers or trips to the free throw line.

See also: Free throw

Game management terms

Team foul penalty

A team is in the team foul penalty situation after committing 4 team fouls in a quarter. Every further personal foul on a player who is not shooting then gives 2 free throws instead of a throw-in. Fouls in overtime count as fourth-quarter fouls.

Also called: bonus
See also: Quarter, Personal foul, Throw-in, Shot, Overtime

And-one

When a player is fouled in the act of shooting and the goal is made, it counts and the player also gets 1 free throw.

Garbage time

The final stretch of a game that's already decided, often when both teams bring in reserve players.

Fast break points

Points scored quickly off a steal or turnover before the defence can set up properly.