Basketball IQ

Playbook language.

The game slows down when a player can name what they see. This page turns playbook words into reads kids can use on the court: where to cut, when to screen, how to space, and how to adjust after a mistake.

See Connections Jump to Glossary

Coach T teaching point

Effort matters more when it has direction. A growth mindset on the court means a missed read is not just a mistake. It is information. Learn the word, see the pattern, rep it again.

156

Terms

Groups

A-Z

Index

Connected language

The words talk.

Basketball terms are not flash cards. They help players see the floor together. Read what is happening, adjust with your teammates, then go make the next play.

RAG on the court

Read

What is the defense giving us?

Adjust

Where should I move for my teammate?

Make the simple play with confidence.

Live possession map

Follow how one read leads to the next play.

Connected

Pressure release

Cutting answers denial.

Overplay -> Cut -> Finish

Read the defender cheating the pass. Adjust with a hard cut behind them. Go finish or fill the open space.

Selected concept

Backcut

A cut behind the defender toward the rim when the defender overplays the passing lane.

Two-player engine

Screens create decisions.

Screen -> Read -> Roll or Pop

Read how the defense guards the screen. Adjust the angle, pace, or spacing. Go attack the advantage together.

Selected concept

Ball Screen

An on-ball screen set for the player with the ball.

Weakside punishment

Help opens the next pass.

Drive -> Help -> Kick

Read the help defender. Adjust by spacing where they left. Go make the pass before the defense recovers.

Selected concept

Hammer

A weakside backscreen or flare for a corner shooter, often while the ball drives baseline.

Defensive chain

Coverage is team language.

Ball -> Help -> Recover

Read the ball and your teammate. Adjust with help, a switch, or a closeout. Go back to your job after the stop.

Selected concept

Closeout

A controlled defensive sprint to contest a shooter without giving up a straight-line drive.

Time and score

Situation changes the call.

Clock -> Call -> Shot

Read the clock and score. Adjust the spacing and pace. Go get the cleanest shot for that moment.

Selected concept

ATO

After timeout. A play or action called by the coach after a timeout to attack a specific matchup, coverage, or late-game situation.

Early offense

Run before the defense settles.

Rebound -> Run -> Attack

Read whether the defense is set. Adjust by running wide, advancing the ball, or screening early. Go before they match up.

Selected concept

Outlet

The first pass after a defensive rebound that starts transition.

A

5 terms

Action: A coordinated offensive or defensive movement, read, or set play.
Angle: The direction and body position of a screen, cut, drive, or pass that creates the best lane.
Attack: To put pressure on the defense by driving, cutting, passing ahead, or going at a matchup.
Attack the Rim: Drive or cut straight to the basket for a layup, dunk, foul, or close finish.
Away: A high cross screen from the top player for a weakside teammate cutting toward the ball.

B

12 terms

Backcut (Backdoor): A cut behind the defender toward the rim when the defender overplays the passing lane.
Ball Reversal: Moving the ball from one side of the floor to the other to shift the defense.
Ball Screen: An on-ball screen set for the player with the ball.
Baseline: The end line of the court, and any action or spacing that happens along it.
Baseline Out of Bounds (BLOB): An inbound play run from under the basket.
Big: A frontcourt player, usually a power forward or center.
Block: The low post area near the basket, or a defensive shot rejection.
Box: A defensive alignment or the painted key area.
Box-and-1: A hybrid defense with four players in a zone and one defender denying a key scorer.
Brush: A light screen or brief contact that helps free a teammate.
Bubble: A cut or spacing move that briefly opens a pocket of room in the offense.
Bump: A defensive redirection of a cutter or controlled contact through a screening action.

C

14 terms

Chase: A defensive technique where the defender trails a cutter over or around a screen.
Chase Screen: A screen designed to make the defender trail and recover from behind.
Chin: A weakside backscreen or UCLA-style cut that often flows into a ball screen.
Clear: Move players out of an area to open space for a drive, post-up, or isolation.
Closeout: A controlled defensive sprint to contest a shooter without giving up a straight-line drive.
Contest: Challenge a shot attempt with body control and hands without fouling.
Corner: The area where the baseline meets the 3-point line.
Cover: A defensive assignment, responsibility, or rotation.
Crash: Attack the glass aggressively, usually for offensive rebounds.
Cross: A horizontal cut or screen across the floor.
Cross Screen: An off-ball screen that lets a teammate cut across the lane or court.
Curl: A cut around a screen that bends toward the basket.
Cut: A quick off-ball movement to create space, pressure, or a passing window.
Cutter: The player making the cut.

D

16 terms

Deep: Positioning close to the basket, in the post, or near the short corner.
Delay: An action that slows the pace and lets the offense read the defense before attacking.
Denial: Defensive positioning that prevents an easy pass to a player or area.
Dig: A quick help move into the paint or post to bother the ball and recover.
Dive: A hard cut to the rim, often by a screener after setting a ball screen.
Double: Two screeners working together, or two defenders trapping one offensive player.
Double Drag: Two consecutive ball screens, often used in transition or early offense.
Double Screen: Two offensive players screen together for one cutter.
Double Team: Two defenders converge on one offensive player to force a pass or mistake.
Down: Short for a down screen or pindown.
Down Screen (Pindown): An off-ball screen that brings a player up from the baseline toward the perimeter.
Drag: A ball screen set in early offense, usually before the defense is fully matched.
Drive: Attack the basket with the dribble.
Drop: Pick-and-roll coverage where the big defender stays back near the paint.
Duck In: A quick seal into the post to receive the ball with inside position.
DHO (Dribble Hand-Off): One player hands the ball directly to a teammate moving past them.

E

6 terms

Early: Actions run before the offense settles into a full half-court set.
Elbow: The area where the free-throw line meets the lane line.
Elevator (Gate): Two screeners open like doors for a cutter, then close the gap behind the cutter.
Empty: No offensive player is in the corner nearest the ball screen.
Even Front: An offensive alignment with balanced spacing across the top and wings.
Exchange: Two or more players swap spots through cuts, screens, or coordinated movement.

F

11 terms

Fake: A deceptive movement that makes the defender react the wrong way.
Fill: Move into an open spot after a teammate cuts, drives, or passes.
Five-Out: Spacing with all five offensive players on the perimeter.
Flare (Fade): An off-ball screen that sends a shooter away from the ball along the 3-point arc.
Flash: A quick cut to an open area, often the high post, to receive a pass.
Flex: A continuous offense or cross-screen action that creates cuts near the basket.
Float: A soft floater shot, or a floating cut into open space.
Flow: Continuous read-based movement that keeps the offense connected.
Freeze: Hold or pause an action to create a read, timing advantage, or defensive hesitation.
Front: Defensive positioning directly in front of a post player to deny the entry pass.
FIST: A common call for a horns-style set or action family; exact meaning can vary by team.

G

3 terms

Ghost (Ghost Screen): Fake a ball screen, then slip or pop away before making solid contact.
Give-and-Go: Pass to a teammate and immediately cut to the basket for a return pass.
Guard: A perimeter player, usually a point guard or shooting guard.

H

7 terms

Hammer: A weakside backscreen or flare for a corner shooter, often while the ball drives baseline.
Hedge (Show): The screener's defender steps out to slow the ballhandler before recovering.
Help: A defensive rotation that supports a teammate who has been beaten.
High: Positioning near the top of the key or high post.
Hook: A hook pass, hook shot, or post move using the body to shield the defender.
Horns: An alignment with two players at the elbows, a ballhandler up top, and wings or corners spaced.
Hustle: Aggressive effort on loose balls, rebounds, transition, and defensive plays.

I

4 terms

In: Cutting, passing, or attacking toward the paint.
Inside: Playing or positioning in the paint or post area.
Isolation (Iso): Clear space for one player to attack a defender 1-on-1.
Iverson (Iverson Cut): A wing-to-wing cut across the elbows, named after Allen Iverson.

J

2 terms

Jam: Physical defensive contact to disrupt a cut, catch, or finish without fouling.
Jet: A fast transition cut or speed-based action; exact meaning can vary by team.

K

2 terms

Kick: Pass the ball out to a shooter after drawing help with a drive.
Knife: A sharp, direct cut through a gap in the defense.

L

5 terms

Late Clock: The part of a possession when the shot clock is low and decisions must be fast.
Lob: A high pass thrown to a teammate cutting or jumping near the rim.
Load: Shift players or the ball to one side to prepare an action or create pressure.
Loop: A curving cut or repeated looping movement through the offense.
Low: Positioning near the low post, dunker spot, or baseline level.

M

4 terms

Miami: A Zoom variation that often combines a dribble hand-off with a ball screen.
Middle: The center of the floor, or an attack that drives through the middle.
Mismatch: An advantage created by size, speed, skill, strength, or defensive assignment.
Motion: A read-based offense built on constant spacing, cuts, screens, and decisions.

N

1 terms

North-South: Attacking vertically toward the basket instead of drifting side to side.

O

6 terms

Off-Ball: Movement, screens, cuts, and reads by players who do not have the ball.
Oklahoma: A team-specific action name; coaches may use it for a local set, cut, or coverage call.
On-Ball: An action directly involving the player with the ball.
Out: Passing, cutting, or spacing away from the paint toward the perimeter.
Outlet: The first pass after a defensive rebound that starts transition.
Over: Going over a screen on defense, or a team-specific hand-off variation.

P

13 terms

Pass: Move the ball to a teammate.
Pick-and-Pop: The screener steps out for a jumper after setting the ball screen.
Pick-and-Roll (PnR): The ballhandler uses a screen while the screener rolls to the basket.
Pinch: A tight defensive squeeze or an angled screen that narrows space.
Pindown: A down screen that brings a player up from the baseline toward the perimeter.
Pivot: Footwork that lets a player change direction while keeping one foot anchored.
Pop: Step out to the perimeter after screening, usually for a catch-and-shoot look.
Portugal: A team-specific set or action name; meaning depends on the playbook.
Post (Post-Up): Receive the ball near the paint with the back to the basket and a defender behind.
Post Double: Send a second defender to trap or bother a post player.
Post Double Teams: A defensive plan for doubling the post, including where the second defender comes from.
Pull: Pull up for a jumper or move the defense out of position.
Punch: A strong entry pass, aggressive drive, or direct post touch.

Q

1 terms

Quick: A fast action, quick hitter, or transition play meant to attack before the defense is set.

R

9 terms

Ram (Ram Screen): An off-ball screen that frees a player to immediately set a ball screen.
Read: React to what the defense does instead of running a movement blindly.
Rejection: Reject a screen by changing direction before using it.
Relocate: Move to a new spot after passing, driving, cutting, or drawing help.
Reverse: Change the direction of the ball or action.
Rip: A forceful move through a defender's reach, or a hard cut across the body.
Rocket: A fast cut, release, or team-specific action built on speed.
Roll: The screener cuts to the basket after setting a ball screen.
Run: Transition offense or a specific called action.

S

17 terms

Screen: A legal position set by an offensive player to free a teammate.
Shadow: A shadow cut or defensive shadow technique that mirrors an offensive movement.
Shadow Defense: A defensive technique where a player mirrors or tracks an opponent through action.
Shoot: Take a shot attempt.
Short: Short corner positioning, or a shortened version of an action.
Shuffle: A continuous cutting offense or a shuffle-style cut.
Side: A side of the court or a side ball screen.
Slip (Slip Screen): Fake a screen, then cut to the basket before contact.
SLOB: Sideline out-of-bounds play.
Spain (Spain PnR): A pick-and-roll with an extra backscreen on the rolling screener.
Specials: Special situation plays for time, score, opponent, or end-of-clock moments.
Stack: Players aligned vertically, common in inbounds and screening actions.
Stagger: Two or more off-ball screens set in sequence for one cutter.
Step-Out: Adjust outward to create spacing, passing angle, or defensive pressure.
Step-Up: A big steps up to set a ball screen, often from below the ballhandler.
Strongside: The side of the floor where the ball is located.
Switch: Defenders exchange assignments, usually on a screen.

T

3 terms

Through (Thru): Cutting or screening directly through an area of the floor.
Twist: A twisting cut, rescreen, or defensive rotation.
Two-Out: An offensive alignment with two players positioned on the perimeter.

U

4 terms

UCLA: A backscreen for a player to cut from the slot to the basket after passing to the wing.
Under: Defender goes under a screen, or a guard screens for a big in an inverted action.
Up: Movement or screening upward toward the top of the floor.
Utah: A team-specific action or defensive call; exact meaning depends on the playbook.

V

1 terms

Veer: A ball screen that flows immediately into an off-ball screen, or a defensive veer technique.

W

7 terms

War Cutters: A team-specific weakside cutting series built on aggressive off-ball movement.
Weak: A coverage or call that pushes the ballhandler toward the weak hand or weak side.
Weakside: The side of the floor away from the ball.
Weakside I: A help-side alignment where two defenders stack in an I shape away from the ball.
Wedge: An angled backscreen that often frees a big to cut to the low block.
Wide: Another name for Away, a high cross screen for a weakside teammate.
Wing: The area between the corner and top of the key.

X

1 terms

X-Cut: A crossing cut where players exchange paths in an X shape.

Z

2 terms

Zipper: A down screen that brings a player from the low block up to the slot or perimeter.
Zoom: A three-player action that combines a screen and a dribble hand-off.