Program Terminology

Numbering System:

#1: Point guard, primary ball handler

#2: Shooting guard, secondary ball handler

#3: Small forward, guard, third ball handler

#4: Primary post player, forward or center equivalent

#5: Bigger guard or forward

Key Terminology:

3/4 Post:

Post defense where the defender is on the top side of the offensive post and is denying the post feed pass. 

Air-Time of the Ball:

Defenders need to travel on the "air time of the ball," or sprint into positioning while the ball is moving and be in position before it reaches its destination

Angle of Approach:

The path in which you take to close out to the basketball while on defense. 

Ball Reversal:

Move the basketball side-top-side.

Ball Side:

The side the ball is on.

Banana Cut:

Angled cut the point guard makes to receive the ball in the back court.

Bengal Man:

High post man in our zone offense.

Big Step:

As a defender guarding the ball, your first step when guarding the dribble is a big step with your outside foot in the direction of the drive.

Blocker:

Designated screener in our Motion offense.

Bounce Off:

Jumping back a step or two while guarding the ball after closing out to it; giving a driver some extra space

Bump:

When a help defender makes contact with a cutter to take him off his path.

Bust-Out:

To push the ball up the floor with the dribble in a fast break situation

Chase and Space:

Defensive technique to guard flare screens; player guarding the cutter goes over the top of the screen to trail the cutter while the player guarding the screener "swags."

Choke:

After digging on the post, once the post player puts the ball on the floor the perimeter defenders who are helping further commit to the ball trying to poke it loose from the ball handler.

Cockroach:

Back screen for the point guard in the back court who is being pressured.

Contain:

Not allowing the ball handler to drive past the defender.

Corner Up:

Defensive strategy where a ball side corner shooter is denied on a drive without helping

Counter:

Cut towards half court that the point guard makes to get open while being pressured.

Cover Down:

Helping the helper, protecting the basket when a defender leaves to help on a drive.

Defensive Triangle:

While guarding off the ball and at help or gap positioning, the defender must sink below the line of the ball, forming a small triangle between the ball, themselves, and their man ("ball-you-man").

Deny:

Prevent your man from catching the ball.

Dig:

When a post threat has the ball, designated perimeter players slide towards them, about 2-3 steps away, and slap up towards the ball without fully committing to a double team.

Double Gap:

Creating space where there is an empty spot on a side of the floor to allow for a drive.

Drop:

Common defensive coverage used against ball screens where the player guarding the screener "drops" in the paint.

E.L.C.:

Players need to communicate "Early, Loud, and Often" on both ends of the court.

Extend:

Similar to a show, but stay attached to the man you’re guarding.

Face and Fight:

Defensive technique used when guarding post to post screens; player guarding the screener stays at help on the ball side block whereas the player guarding the cutter denies him man side.

Front:

Get in fully in front of the offensive post player, getting between the ball and your man.

Gap Protection:

When you’re one pass away from the basketball, you should be in the ball handler’s driving lane.

Green:

Switch screens.

Green Light:

Closeout point against great perimeter shooters; closeout all the way to the ball on the catch.

Guard Your Yard:

The defender's ability to keep the ball in front of them three feet to their right and three feet to their left.

Hedge:

A pick and roll defensive coverage where the defender guarding the screener shows high against the ball handler in a soft double team.

Helper:

Defender stopping a drive or assisting his teammate in guarding a cut.

Help Side:

The side the ball is not on.

Hunter:

Point guard designated to screen a post player in 41 or 32 Motion.

Ice (a.k.a "Down"):

Push the ball handler to the dead corner, usually when defending a ball screen.

Jump to the Ball:

Any time the ball is passed or dribbled, the defense must move in the direction of the ball.

Late Switch:

An emergency switch or switches occurring during Drop Coverage on a pick and roll, where the drop defender switches onto the ball handler. The original defender switches onto the ball screener. 

Man-Side:

Go the same side as the man your defending when navigating through a screen situation.

Monster:

Sag off your man and protect the paint; usually paired with a tag.

Nash Your Teammates:

High-five or fist-bump your teammates.

On the Catch:

Players need to close out and be in position on defense when a ball is passed and before it is caught.

Open and Thru:

Defensive technique used to guard off ball down screens; screen defender jumps to the ball and creates space for the player guarding the cutter to move between the screen and their teammate.

Outlet:

The act of converting into a transition offense attack; passing the ball up the floor.

Passing Lane:

Path ball must travel in to reach the receiver.

Peel Switch:

An emergency switch or switches occurring on a drive, where the roll defender or nearest defender switches onto the ball handler. The original defender peels to cover the open offensive player, typically on the perimeter/corner. 

Pick-Up Point:

The area in which you begin pressuring the basketball.

Plug the Gap:

Being in proper position off the ball so that there is not an open driving lane for a ball handler.

Push-Point:

While guarding the ball, the area in which you are trying to steer the offensive player.

Read Line:

If your defender is overplaying and denying you above the three point line, you should back cut. The three point line is our "read line" for back cuts. 

Red:

Double-team the basketball.

Red Light:

The closeout point against players that aren't shooting threats; closeout to a player two steps inside the 3 point line.

Rim Runner:

Player that runs to the rim in a fast break situation, usually a big.

Seal:

Moving your feet to keep your defender behind you (post up).

Shade:

To play off the helpline, a few steps closer to a shooter off the ball.

Show:

Defender who is guarding a screener must “show” or come out to help defend the cutter preventing an open jump shot.

Shrink the Court:

Getting in proper help positioning, covering open ground, protecting against driving gaps and cuts, protecting the paint.

Slot:

Area on the court where the free throw lane would extend to the volleyball lines near the top of the key/half court.

Spider:

Ball screen in the back court.

String:

When guarding the screener in a ball screen action, the defender steps up and takes the ball until the man guarding the ball handler is able to recover. This defender does not extend beyond than more than one step above the three point line.

Stunt:

Defender who jabs at the ball handler to make him think he is going to be guarded to prevent a confident shot.

Swag:

When guarding a screener, swing open and sag off your man to help defend the cutter using the screen.

Tag:

Deny your man the ball everywhere on the court (no help).

Tail:

Go man side when guarding a cutter using a screen.

Top Lock:

To push a cutter a certain direction, usually towards the baseline and away from the screen.

Trace:

Mirroring the basketball with your hands while guarding a ball handler.

Trail:

To follow the ball down the court while being behind the play on offense.

Triple Gap:

Creating space where there are two empty spots on a side of the floor to allow for a drive.

Turkey:

When a team either earns three stops in a row, or wins three straight possessions (i.e. score-stop-score).

Turn:

Forcing the ball handler to change directions (done in the backcourt only).

Wall Up:

Guarding the ball near the basket; get your chest on the offensive player and your hands straight up, moving your feet and not giving up positioning.

Weak:

Forcing the ball handler to use a ball screen going to their weak side (most often forcing them left).

Wing:

Area that is free throw line extended, one step off the three point line.

X:

Intentional foul.

X-Out:

An emergency switch on the backside of the defender when the ball is skipped and the player guarding the guy receiving the ball can't get there in time; the closeout defender closes out to the ball and the original player switches onto the help defender's match-up.

Yellow Light:

The closeout point for average to good shooters; closeout to the ball with your heels on the 3 point line.

Zinger:

The player guarding the inbounder during a BLOB, SLOB, etc.