Basketball 101: Lingo

Basketball 101 is back with info to help sharpen your basketball minds during the Liberty's off-season. Below are some words that will help keep you in a basketball state of mind while anxiously anticipating the 2004 Liberty season.

Parts of the Court:

Backcourt and Frontcourt - The names for the half-court areas in which the two teams play defense and offense respectively. One team�s frontcourt is the opposing team�s backcourt.

Baseline - The out-of-bounds line at either end of the court under each basket.

Inbounds - The playing area of the court. A ball is passed inbound after a field goal or any time after the ball goes out of play.

The Key (or Paint) - The court area made up of the free-throw lanes, the free throw line, and the free-throw circle.

Perimeter (or Three-point Line) - The semicircle line on the court enclosing the basket and key. Field goals made from beyond this line are worth three points.

Backboard (or Glass) - The wooden or glass board on which the basket hangs. It is used for bank shots.

Misc. Terms:
Air Ball - Describes an outside shot that completely misses everything: the backboard, rim and net.

Field Goal (or Basket) - A shot through the hoop (other than a free throw). A basket scores either two or three points.

Tari Phillips shoots a field goal from the baseline. Ray Amati WNBAE/Getty Images

Bounce Pass - A pass made by skipping the ball off the court to a teammate.

Double Dribble - Once a player stops dribbling, he or she must pass or shoot the ball before dribbling again. Also, players may not have two hands on the ball at the same time while dribbling. Either violation of this rule results in a turnover.

Fast Break - When the team on offense quickly moves the ball up the court before the opposing team can set up in their defensive position.

Give-and-Go - An offensive maneuver, in which a player passes to a teammate, then moves quickly past his or her defender to receive a return pass and shoot a lay-up.

Help Side - Opposite the ball.

Hook Shot - Offensive set shot during which the player turns his or her body sideways and arcs a ball in the air toward the basket. Usually done by a forward or center.

Jump Ball (or Tip-off) - Starts the game at center court. The referee tosses the ball up between the two centers who jump to tip it toward a teammate. A jump ball is also called when two opposing players have simultaneous possession of the ball. In some leagues the ball is then given to teams in alternating sequence.