Players per team on court: 5
Point guard: The ball handler who runs the offense
Shooting guard: A guard who scores, especially from outside
Small forward: A versatile player who scores and defends
Power forward: A strong player who plays near the basket
Center: The tallest player, who plays near the basket
Field goal: A shot made during play
Free throw: An uncontested shot from the foul line, worth 1 point
Two-pointer: A basket made inside the three-point line
Three-pointer: A basket made from behind the three-point line
Layup: A shot made close to the basket off the backboard or rim
Dunk: Putting the ball directly through the hoop from above
Jump shot: A shot taken while jumping
Hook shot: A shot made with a sweeping arm motion over the head
Bank shot: A shot that bounces off the backboard into the basket
Alley-oop: A pass thrown near the rim for a teammate to catch and score
Rebound: Getting the ball after a missed shot
Offensive rebound: A rebound taken by the team that shot
Defensive rebound: A rebound taken by the defending team
Assist: A pass that leads straight to a score
Steal: Taking the ball from an opponent
Block: Stopping a shot by hitting the ball
Turnover: Losing the ball to the other team without a shot
Double-dribble: Dribbling with two hands or stopping and starting again
Traveling: Taking too many steps without dribbling
Carrying (palming): Turning the hand under the ball while dribbling
Three-second violation: An offensive player stays in the lane for over three seconds
Five-second violation: Holding the ball closely guarded without moving it for five seconds
Shot clock violation: The team fails to shoot within the shot clock time
Backcourt violation: Taking the ball back over the midcourt line after crossing it
Out of bounds: Outside the court lines
Foul: An illegal contact with an opponent
Personal foul: A foul for illegal contact
Technical foul: A foul for bad conduct, not for contact
Flagrant foul: A hard, unnecessary foul
Charging: An offensive player runs into a set defender
Blocking foul: A defender moves into a player's path illegally
Fouling out: Being removed after too many fouls (6 in the NBA, 5 in many other leagues)
Bonus (one-and-one): Free throws awarded after a team has too many fouls
Jump ball: A toss between two players to start or decide possession
Tip-off: The jump ball that begins the game
Timeout: A short stop to rest or plan
Overtime: Extra time when the score is tied
Quarter length (NBA): 12 minutes
Half length (college men): 20 minutes
Shot clock (NBA): 24 seconds
Rim height: 10 feet above the floor
Free throw line distance: 15 feet from the backboard
Backboard: The board behind the hoop
Key (lane): The painted area under the basket
Paint: The painted lane area
Perimeter: Area away from the basket, outside the key
Post: The area near the basket
Fast break: A quick attack before the defense sets
Pick and roll: A screen set for the ball handler, then a roll to the basket
Screen (pick): A player blocks a defender to free a teammate
Man-to-man defense: Each defender guards a specific opponent
Zone defense: Defenders guard areas of the court
Full-court press: Defense that pressures the ball over the whole court
Dribble: Bouncing the ball while moving
Crossover: A quick change of dribbling hand to fool a defender
Pivot: Turning on one foot while keeping the other planted
Double-double: Double-digit totals in two stats, like points and rebounds
Triple-double: Double-digit totals in three stats
James Naismith: Invented basketball in 1891 in Massachusetts
NBA: National Basketball Association, founded 1946
WNBA: Women's National Basketball Association, began in 1997
March Madness: The NCAA college basketball tournament
Michael Jordan: Hall of Famer who won six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls
Sue Bird: Hall of Fame point guard who won four Olympic gold medals

Free flashcards from Peabody at peabody.kids/flashcards/sports-basketball-rules-terms