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Get yourself familiar with the terms of basketball

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Picking up a new hobby often results in a learning curve, especially when it comes to learning the lingo surrounding the activity. Basketball is no different.

Before your child takes the court for the first time, make sure they're familiar with these basic terms all players should know.

A

Airball: A shot at the basket that misses everything and doesn't touch the rim, backboard or net.

Alley-Oop: When one player jumps and catches a pass from another player and simultaneously dunks the ball or shoots it in before landing.

And One: When a player gets fouled while shooting and the ball goes in. The player then gets one free throw.

Assist: A statistic that occurs when a player passes the ball to someone who scores after receiving the pass. The passing player earns an assist in the stat sheet.

B

Backboard: The rectangular piece of wood or fiberglass the rim is attached to.

Backdoor: An offensive action in which a player without the ball cuts behind a defender and toward the basket.

Bank Shot: When a player shoots the ball and it bounces off the backboard and into the hoop.

Block (action): A statistic that occurs when a defensive player stops an offensive player from making a shot by blocking the ball with his or her hand(s).

Block (area of court): The area just outside of the key in which the rectangular blocks are painted. Also referred to as the post.

Box Out: When a shot goes up, players use this technique, which involves widening their stance and arms and using their body as a barrier to get in better rebounding position.

C

Carry: This penalty, which results in a turnover, occurs when a player holds the ball excessively at the apex while dribbling.

Charge: This penalty, which results in a turnover, occurs when an offensive player with the ball runs into a stationary defensive player and knocks him or her over.

D

Double Dribble: This penalty, which results in a turnover, occurs when a player dribbles the ball with both hands. It also occurs when a player dribbles, stops dribbling, and then begins to dribble again.

E

Elbow: The area of the court where the free throw line meets the side of the key or paint.

F

Fast Break: An offensive action where a team attempts to advance the ball and score as quickly as possible after a steal, blocked shot or rebound.

Flop: When a player attempts to draw a foul on an opposing player by acting, fabricating or over-exaggerating the extent of contact.

Free Throw: A free shot given to a player after a foul or a technical foul. The player shoots from the 15-foot free throw line while the rest of the players line up along the outside of the key.

K

Key: The painted area that makes up the free throw lane. Also referred to as the paint.

L

Lay-Up: A shot taken close to the hoop, usually when a player is moving toward the basket.

M

Man-to-Man: A defensive strategy in which each player on the defensive team guards one person on the opposing team.

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33 Basketball Terms Every Kid Should Know

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Picking up a new hobby often results in a learning curve, especially when it comes to learning the lingo surrounding the activity. Basketball is no different. Before your child takes the court for the first time, make sure they're familiar with these basic terms all players should know.

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Grab a partner and try the flash cards located here

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The security system for this website has been triggered. Completing the challenge below proves you are a human and gives you temporary access.

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#3 Association with the Greatest Of All Time Day 1

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#3 Association with the Greatest Of All Time Day 1

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There are many people who play the game, but there is only one who can be the greatest. Look over Michael Jordans Career stats and write a summary about his stats in the NBA

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Michael Jordan scored 246 points (41.0 PPG) in the 6-game 1993 NBA Finals. Can you name the 2 other players in NBA history to average 40+ PPG in the first 6 games of an NBA Finals series?

Subscribe to Stathead, your all-access pass to the Basketball Reference database, to answer more questions like this.

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Michael Jordan Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com

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Checkout the latest stats of Michael Jordan. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, draft status, shoots, school and more on Basketball-Reference.com

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#4 Fundamentals in Action        Conclusion Day 1

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#4 Fundamentals in Action        Conclusion Day 1

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Watch this video on the fundamentals of basketball in action.

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Michael Jordan basics things of Basketball

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In basketball to score you have to know how to shoot, study these steps to shooting the basketball

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It's often said that great shooters have a place on any team.

Even if you aren't blessed with tremendous speed, strength or athleticism, great shooting is one of the surest ways you can stand out on the basketball court.

If you spend the time developing and practicing your shot, it will pay off in:

Making the team

Getting more playing time

Scoring consistently

Feeling confident and having fun every time you step on the floor

Now, let me start with some good news!

Yes, you do need very good shooting form and technique to shoot consistently well.
But it does NOT need to be "perfect".
If you watch enough great shooters, you'll see that their form varies quite a bit based on what's comfortable (and what works) for them.

But almost all great shooters follow the principles I'll explain in this article. So keep reading for (all the good stuff)!

Stationary Basketball Shooting Form and Technique

In this section, we give you the raw form and mechanics of stationary shooting.
In other words, this section does NOT address the fundamentals of shooting on the move and more advanced footwork you'll need for game situations.
Here's a quick roadmap of the stationary shooting fundamentals that we'll be covering:

GRIP

Place the air hole between the middle and index fingers.

Line up your fingertip pads parallel to the long seams of the ball, so you can monitor the back spin.

Leave space between the ball and the middle of your palm. You should be able to insert a pencil between the ball and your palm area.

Spread your fingers far enough apart to comfortably balance the ball in one hand.

The ball should sit on your finger pads.

BALANCE HAND

Your non-shooting hand should be on the side of the ball.

Your balance hand should not add force or spin to the shot.

Your non-shooting hand should not move on delivery and should ALWAYS come off the ball FIRST.

DELIVERY

The ball should start motion directly upwards from the shot pocket.

Your elbow should be positioned comfortably under the ball.

The ball stays in front of you and should not go behind your head.

Uncoil your body with your legs, core, and arm power all coordinated.

Your elbow and wrist should extend in a straight line to the basket.

Your shooting hand should extend in a straight line to the rim.

Hand position on delivery is very important. The ball should come off the hand with perfect symmetrical backspin.

As shown in the picture to the right, your guide hand stays to the side and does not influence the flight of the ball.

UPFORCE AND LANDING

Release the ball on the way up, just before the top of your jump.

Use your legs to generate upforce.

You should land in the same spot that you jumped, which shows that you have good balance on your shot.

NOTE: If youd like specially-designed workouts for shooting and scoring, download our FREE Breakthrough Shooting Workout. It includes over 30 drills you can do by yourself or with a partner all you need is a ball and a hoop! Click here to get your FREE Shooting Workout.
Related Products & Helpful Resources

Basketball Shooting Camps

Free Basketball Shooting Workouts

Basketball Workout App - Shooting Workouts, Guard Play Workouts, Post Workouts, etc.

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Proper Basketball Shooting Technique, Fundamentals, Form, Mechanics

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It's often said that great shooters have a place on any team. Even if you aren't blessed with tremendous speed, strength or athleticism, great shooting is one of the surest ways you can stand out on the basketball court.

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With some knowledge on how to shoot the basketball, you first must know how to get the ball close enough to shoot. Look over and study these basic dribbling concepts.

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Basketball Dribbling and Ball Handling Video Clips, Fundamentals, Drills, and Tips

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Most coaches use dribbling and ball handling interchangeably. Though they are linked, the 2 skills are definitely separate. Dribbling and controlling the ball is a skill that can be practiced alone and is separate from the other ball skills on the court. Ball handling, however, involves knowledge of the game and integrates dribbling, passing and decision-making.

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With knowledge of shooting and dribbling the ball, the opposing team might not always let just you have the ball. Here you will learn keys to and different ways of passing the ball

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Basketball Passing Fundamentals, Drills, and Tips

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During this recorded game watch and record the stats for one person on each team. This will not help you visually understand the game, but also allow you to put more knowledge into stats.

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1994 National Championship (Arkansas vs. Duke)

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Although shooting and scoring is very important, to win you must have a good strategy or play caller. Here are a few basic plays for the game of basketball.

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If you've ever coached young kids before, you'll understand the need to keep basketball as simple as possible.

When you overwhelm kids with information and send them out onto the basketball court, it can develop into a chaotic mess very quickly.

This is especially important when it comes to basketball plays.

When plays are too complex there is very little chance kids will be able to execute them effectively during a game.

When coaching kids you need simple basketball plays.

I don't recommend coaches run plays often (it's better to have a base decision-making offense), but there's nothing wrong with memorizing a couple of plays to draw up near the end of a game when your team desperately needs a score.

Below I'll share 7 simple basketball plays that are easy to teach, very effective, and simple for your players to execute during games.

Here we go!

1. Ghost

This play involves an up-screen for the guard leading to an open key. This can often lead to a simple pass inside and easy layup. If that option isn't available, the post player sets a screen on the wing.

5 should be a post player or the best screener on the team.

2 should be the player you want dribbling in a pick-and-roll.

1 should have the ability to finish at the rim with pressure.

Setup: The play begins in a 4-out 1-in formation with the 4 perimeter players above or in-line with the free-throw line.

1. The play starts with the point guard (1) making the pass to 2 on the wing.

2. As this pass is made, 5 sprints up and sets a strong screen on the back of 1's defender as 1 cuts off the screen towards the rim.

3. If this pass is open, 2 will make the pass inside the key to 1 for the layup.

4. If the layup isn't available, 1 clears out to the weak-side corner.

5. 5 will then immediately set an on-ball screen for 2 on the wing.

6. 2 attacks the rim off 5's screen as 5 rolls to the rim looking to create an opportunity to score.

7. As 2 is driving to the rim, 3 and 4 slide up and into open passing lanes for the potential open shot and also to play safety.

It's crucial that 5 'hunts' for the 1's defender and then sets a strong screen if there's going to be a chance for the pass inside and open layup.

1 can cut ball-side or weak-side of the screen and should direct themselves towards the ball-side block looking to receive the basketball.

2 must be able to make smart decisions out of the wing spot.

A quick play to catch the defense off-guard give the wing player an opportunity to attack the baseline. Also involves the opposite post flashing to the key to counter the defense stepping across to help.

The player who first receives the basketball on the wing (2) should be the player you want attacking the rim.

4 can be any player as long as they can set a strong screen.

Setup: The play starts in a 5-out formation with the post players in the corners.

1. The play starts with the point guard (1) passing to either wing. In this case, passing to 2.

2. As soon as this pass is made, the corner steps up and sets a strong screen on the wing player's defender.

3. 2 immediately rips the basketball through and attack the baseline.

4. If the defense is set up correctly, 5's defender will be in help position. To take advantage of the help, 5 flashes into the key and creates an angle for the correct pass.

5. 2 should either finish the drive or drop the pass to 5 for the score inside. 3 will be open on the perimeter if the defense rotates down correctly.

It's incredibly important that 4 steps up to set the screen as soon as the pass is made to the wing. The timing of this screen is very important.

The angle of the screen that 4 sets is very important too. If the screen is set too high, 2's defender can easily slip under and prevent the drive. The screen must be set on the backside of 2's defender.

This can be an easy play for the opponent to pick up on if ran too many times, but it's great for a quick score when your team needs one occasionally.

This play involves isolating your best mismatch on the low post and then keeping the 4 other offensive players active above the free-throw line to keep the defense busy. Great play against youth teams as most players don't understand help defense and will stay with their player.

5 should be the player you want to isolate inside.

Setup: Players start in a 4-out 1-in formation with the 4 outside players above the free-throw line on the wings and in the slots.

1. The play begins with the basketball being passed either wing. For this example, 1 passes the basketball to 3 on the ball-side wing.

2. 5 immediately flashes to the basketball to take advantage of their mismatch inside.

3. When the pass is made into the low post, the wing players both screen up for the slot players and they both replace each other. This keeps the defenders occupied.

4. 5 can back down in the post or face up and attack to the middle or baseline.

This play can be used to take advantage of any mismatch in the post. This doesn't necessarily mean a post player and can even be your point guard if they have a favorable mismatch inside.

This is a great play to use against a player who is in foul trouble. Put their match up on the block and have your offensive player attack them off the dribble and they'll likely foul.

Unless it's completely open, players should refrain from passing into the post from the slot position as this can be easier for the defense to deflect or steal.

This is the perfect play to achieve a basic pick-and-roll with good spacing on the floor. The simplicity allows the play to be run effectively by teams of any age.

The player who will have the screen set for them (3) will be the first player to receive a pass on the wing. Ensure this is who you want in the pick-and-roll.

The screener (4) will always be the post player on the opposite block.

Setup: The play starts in a 3-out 2-in formation.

1. The play begins with the point guard (1) making a pass to either wing. Preferably to the player who you want to be the dribbler in the pick-and-roll (3).

2. 1 will immediately cut through to the opposite corner after making the pass to the wing.

3. The post player on the ball-side low block (5) will step out to the corner dragging the post defender out of the key.

4. 4 will then sprint off the weak-side low block and set a screen on the correct angle for 3.

5. 3 attacks the rim looking to score and 4 rolls to the hoop.

6. 2 slides to the top of the key for safety.

The main scoring options will be for 3 to finish at the rim, pass to 4 rolling to the hoop, or kick out to 1 in the corner if their defender helps.

4 must sprint off the low block before setting the screen. It's important for 4 to create separation between themselves and their defender.

3 should attack the rim looking to score first as that's the option that will most often be open.

If possible, put the player who you want to dribble off the screen on the correct side so that they'll be attacking and finishing with their dominant hand.

An incredibly simple play that often leads to an open layup under the basket. Involves a cross-screen at the top of the key and then two players attacking the rim.

1 should be the team's best passer.

4 and 5 should be players with the ability to finish at the rim under pressure.

Setup: The play begins in a box formation with the two bigs on the elbows and the two guards on the low blocks.

1. 1 slaps the basketball to star the play and the 2 and 3 immediately flash out to the corners calling for the ball to drag their defenders out.

2. The post player on the ball-side (5) sets a cross screen for 4.

3. 4 immediately flashes towards the ball-side low block calling for the basketball.

4. After screening, 5 seals off 4's defender and then flashes to the basketball on the opposite side of the rim calling for the basketball.

5. 1 reads the defense and makes the correct pass in for the layup.

5 must set the screen on the correct angle that doesn't allow 4's defender to slip under the screen and beat 4 to the rim. The screen should be set on the back hip.

The post players must have target hands where they want the basketball as they're flashing towards the rim.

3 can cut to the top of the key and receive the lob pass over the top if the pass to 4 or 5 isn't available.

This simple basketball play begins in a box formation and is designed to get the basketball to either of two post players cutting off up-screens to the basket for a layup.

5 and 4 should be the players most capable of finishing at the rim with tight defense and will most likely be the post players of the team.

2 and 3 must be able to set strong screens and will most likely be the guards.

Setup: The play starts in a box formation with the bigs on the elbows and guards on the low blocks.

1. The play begins with 2 and 3 stepping up and setting screens for 4 and 5.

2. 4 and 5 both immediately cut to the outside of the screen and explode to the basket.

3. 1 will make the pass to 4 or 5 for the finish.

4. If the pass in unable to be made to 4 or 5, 3 cuts to the wing and receives the pass for the midrange shot or to bring the basketball back out and set up.

The two players on the low blocks planning to set screens should not start the play facing the direction they're going to screen. Instead, they should face each other in order to not give away that play the team is in.

The screeners must seek out the defenders and set strong screens. The screen should be the only thing on the screener's mind.

4 and 5 must do their best to stay to their own sides when cutting to the rim. If they get too close, one defender will be able to deflect a pass to either offensive player.

A quick sideline out of bounds play that begins in a box formation and ends with a ball-screen at the top of the key with good spacing.

2 should be the player you want as the dribbler in the pick-and-roll.

5 should be the player you want as the screener in the pick-and-roll.

Setup: The play starts in a box formation.

1. The play begins with the post players (4 and 5) setting down screens for the guards (2 and 3).

2. 2 cuts to the top and receives the basketball while 3 pops out to the weak-side wing.

3. After making this pass, 1 steps inbounds to the wing.

4. 5 immediately sprints up and sets an on-ball screen for 2 who attacks the rim.

5. 2 can either finish at the basket or drop the pass down to 4 for the finish if 4's defender helps on the drive.

5 must set the screen on the correct angle to prevent 2's defender from slipping under the screen.

5 should also aim to create as much separation as possible between themselves and their defender by exploding out to set the screen. This prevents their defender from hedging.

2 must be a good decision maker when attacking. If 4's defender steps up to help, pass. If they don't, finish at the rim.

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7 Simple Basketball Plays for Kids | Basketball For Coaches

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If you've ever coached young kids before, you'll understand the need to keep basketball as simple as possible. When you overwhelm kids with information and send them out onto the basketball court, it can develop into a chaotic mess very quickly. This is especially important when it comes to basketball plays.

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Put your knowledge to the test.

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Individual players do 1 lap per question missed. Coaches do 1 lap for each percentage point the entire group scores above 90. Game On!