{"id":5575,"date":"2024-07-27T18:06:42","date_gmt":"2024-07-27T18:06:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/findyourrightfit.com\/?page_id=5575"},"modified":"2025-09-12T21:34:08","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T21:34:08","slug":"basketball-terminology","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/findyourrightfit.com\/index.php\/basketball-terminology\/","title":{"rendered":"Basketball Terminology"},"content":{"rendered":"
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”BASKETBALL TERMINOLOGY” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:30|text_align:center|color:%23242ee5″ google_fonts=”font_family:PT%20Serif%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=””]
<\/div><\/div>[vc_single_image image=”6309″ img_size=”700×400″ alignment=”center” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”To become a student of basketball, you have to understand and know its terminology… backwards and forwards, inside and out!” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:18|text_align:center|color:%23000000″ google_fonts=”font_family:PT%20Serif%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1757712719746{padding-right: 170px !important;padding-left: 170px !important;}”]
<\/div><\/div>[vc_separator color=”sky” style=”double” border_width=”3″ el_width=”40″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1757544042518{padding-right: 80px !important;padding-left: 80px !important;}”]\n

Audible: <\/strong>This is when the quarterback decides to change the offensive play being used at the line of scrimmage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Backfield:<\/strong> The area of the football field behind the line of scrimmage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Backs:<\/b> Football players which stand behind the line of scrimmage. For a legal formation the offensive team must have 4 backs. They usually include the quarterback, running back, and full back.<\/span><\/p>\n

Blitz: <\/strong>In a blitz, multiple defensive players rush to sack the quarterback at once.<\/span><\/p>\n

Blocking:<\/b> What the offensive team does to prevent a defensive player from tackling the player with the football.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bump-and-run:<\/b> When a defender hits a receiver and then goes into pass coverage. This defensive play is used to slow down the receiver and mess up any timing on the offensive play.<\/span><\/p>\n

Carry: <\/strong>This is when a player tries to run with the ball in their hands<\/span><\/p>\n

Cover: <\/strong>Defensive players who cover an offensive player are trying to get between them and the quarterback, hoping to keep them from being able to catch the ball if it’s passed to them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cut block: <\/strong>A cut block occurs when an offensive player blocks a defensive player below the waist to get them to fall over. It is legal, but the rules restrict it to certain situations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dead ball: <\/strong>This is when all play stops and the ball is no longer in play.<\/span><\/p>\n

Down:<\/strong> A down is a play opportunity for the offensive team. The team has four downs in which to either score or advance 10 yards down the field; if they do neither, the other team gets the ball wherever they were stopped.<\/span><\/p>\n

Drive: <\/strong>A drive is a series of possessions of the ball by one team as they move down the field toward the end zone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Eligible receiver:<\/b> The football players on the offense that are allowed by the rules to catch a forward pass.<\/span><\/p>\n

Encroachment: <\/strong>This happens when a defensive player crosses the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped and makes contact with an opponent. The penalty for this is usually a loss of five yards.<\/span><\/p>\n

End zone:<\/b> The area at the end of the football field where the offensive team must have possession of the football to score a touchdown.<\/span><\/p>\n

Extra point:<\/strong> After a team scores a touchdown, they are allowed to attempt to kick the ball so that it goes between the goal posts. If they succeed, they get one more point.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fair catch:<\/b> By signaling with a wave, the football player making a kick return can choose to catch the football and take possession of the ball where he made the catch. He will not get tackled, but he also will not be allowed to run with the football.<\/span><\/p>\n

Field goal:<\/strong> A field goal is an attempt to kick the ball so that it goes between the goal posts in the end zone. If the kick is successful, it’s worth three points.<\/span><\/p>\n

Free kick: <\/strong>In NFL, this is the kick that starts play as a kickoff or after a safety. It puts the ball back into play.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fumble: <\/strong>When the person carrying the ball drops it, this is called a fumble.<\/span><\/p>\n

Interception:<\/strong> An interception is when the defending team catches a thrown ball meant for an offensive player.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hail Mary: <\/strong>A Hail Mary means a long and usually unsuccessful pass made out of desperation. It usually happens near the end of a game.<\/span><\/p>\n

Handoff: <\/strong>This term refers to handing the ball to another player.<\/span><\/p>\n

Holding:<\/b> A penalty where a football player grabs an opponent.<\/span><\/p>\n

Intentional grounding:<\/b> A penalty called when the quarterback purposely throws an incomplete pass just to avoid a sack.<\/span><\/p>\n

Interception:<\/b> A pass that is caught by a football player on the defense.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lateral: <\/strong>A lateral pass is thrown backward or sideways across the field, rather than being thrown forward. A team can make as many backward passes as they want during a play but can only make one forward pass.<\/span><\/p>\n

Line of scrimmage: <\/strong>This is a line that marks where the next play will start.<\/span><\/p>\n

Linemen:<\/b> The offensive and defensive football players who start each play at the line of scrimmage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Neutral zone: <\/strong>The neutral zone is an area along the line of scrimmage that’s as wide as the length of the ball.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nickel defense:<\/b> When the defense brings in a 5th defensive back to help cover the pass play.<\/span><\/p>\n

Offside:<\/b> A penalty that occurs when any part of a football player’s body is beyond his line of scrimmage when the football is snapped.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pass protection:<\/b> Blocking by the offensive football players to keep defenders away from the quarterback to give him time to throw the football.<\/span><\/p>\n

Play-action pass:<\/b> When the quarterback fakes handing off the football and then attempts a pass.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pocket:<\/b> The place where the quarterback stands just behind the center. Here he is protected from the pass rush by his blockers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pump fake: <\/strong>A pump fake is when the quarterback pretends to make a pass but instead keeps hold of the ball.<\/span><\/p>\n

Punt:<\/strong> Often, if the offensive team fails on their first three downs, they’ll use the fourth down to punt, kicking the ball farther down the field rather than letting the opponent get possession of the ball where they were.<\/span><\/p>\n

Quarterback:<\/b> This is the football player that starts each play. He takes the snap from the center and either runs with it, hands off the football to another player, or passes it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Receivers:<\/b> The football players who catch the football.<\/span><\/p>\n

Red zone: <\/strong>The red zone is the area between the 20-yard line and the end zone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rush:<\/b> When the football player runs with the football. Also, when a football player tries to tackle the quarterback while in the pocket.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sack: <\/strong>This is when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage by a defensive player.<\/span><\/p>\n

Safety:<\/b> When a football player is tackled in his own end zone. The defense gets 2 points and the possession of the football from a free kick.<\/span><\/p>\n

Scrambling:<\/b> When the quarterback runs around trying not to get sacked with the football.<\/span><\/p>\n

Snap: <\/b>Also called the hike, the snap starts the football play. The center hands or passes the football between his legs to a player standing behind him (usually the quarterback).<\/span><\/p>\n

Special teams:<\/b> These are the football players who are involved in the kicking plays.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tackle:<\/b> When a football player causes the player carrying the ball to touch the ground such that they are considered down. The end of the play.<\/span><\/p>\n

Touchdown:<\/strong> When the offensive team gets the ball into the end zone, it’s a touchdown, and they get six points.<\/span><\/p>\n

Turnover: <\/strong>This is when the team in possession of the ball loses the ball to their opponents.<\/span><\/p>\n

Two-minute warning:<\/strong> When there are two minutes left in the game, play stops to let both teams plan their final strategies.<\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Navigate Back To…” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:22|text_align:center|color:%230B0C47″ google_fonts=”font_family:PT%20Serif%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_btn title=”Basketball Resource Page” style=”outline-custom” outline_custom_color=”#110000″ outline_custom_hover_background=”#242EE5″ align=”center” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Ffindyourrightfit.com%2Findex.php%2Fbasketball-resource-page%2F|title:Basketball%20Resource%20Page”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_btn title=”Home Page” style=”outline-custom” outline_custom_color=”#0B0C47″ outline_custom_hover_background=”#242EE5″ align=”center” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Ffindyourrightfit.com%2F|title:Home”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_btn title=”Sports Resource Page” style=”outline-custom” outline_custom_color=”#0B0C47″ outline_custom_hover_background=”#242EE5″ align=”center” css=”” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Ffindyourrightfit.com%2Findex.php%2Fsports-resource-page%2F|title:Sports%20Resource%20Page”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”BASKETBALL TERMINOLOGY” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:30|text_align:center|color:%23242ee5″ google_fonts=”font_family:PT%20Serif%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=””][vc_single_image image=”6309″ img_size=”700×400″ alignment=”center” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”To become a student of basketball, you have to understand […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5575","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/findyourrightfit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5575","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/findyourrightfit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/findyourrightfit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/findyourrightfit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/findyourrightfit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5575"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/findyourrightfit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5575\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12908,"href":"https:\/\/findyourrightfit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5575\/revisions\/12908"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/findyourrightfit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5575"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}