Tap the court to see what each part is called

端线Endline

Also called底线 · Baseline

15 m wide

The short boundary at each end. The line itself is out of bounds, so touching it puts you out. After a made basket the throw-in comes from behind it, and the thrower can move anywhere along the endline.

边线Sideline

28 m long

The two long boundaries. Like the endline, the line itself is out of bounds. Court dimensions are measured between the inner edges.

中线Centre line

Also called中场线 · Half-court line

14 m from each endline

Splits the court into frontcourt and backcourt, and extends 15 cm past each sideline. The centre line counts as backcourt, so a ball-handler touching it is still in the backcourt. That is where most backcourt-violation arguments come from.

三分线Three-point line

Also called三分弧 · The arc

6.75 m · 6.60 m in the corners

A 6.75 m arc drawn from the point below the ring centre, straightening into lines parallel to each sideline in the corners. The line counts as two-point territory, so a shooter touching it scores two.

罚球线Free-throw line

5.80 m out · 3.60 m long

Parallel to the endline, 5.80 m from its inner edge and 3.60 m long. The line painted on the floor runs all the way out to the lane lines, but the rulebook only means that middle 3.60 m.

限制区边线Lane line

5.80 m long

Runs from the endline to the free-throw line extended, down each side of the lane. The line is part of the restricted area, so standing on it still counts as inside. To reset three seconds, both feet have to land fully outside.

发球线Throw-in line

8.325 m from the endline

A short mark outside each sideline, 8.325 m from the endline. In the last two minutes of the fourth quarter and of each overtime, a backcourt timeout or throw-in restarts from here.

限制区Restricted area

Also called三秒区 / 油漆区 · The paint / The lane / The key

4.90 × 5.80 m

The rectangle formed by the endline, the lane lines and the free-throw line extended. It is usually painted a solid colour, which is where "the paint" comes from. While your team has the ball and the clock is running, an offensive player cannot stay inside for more than three seconds.

合理冲撞区No-charge semicircle

Also called无撞人半圆区 · Restricted area (NBA)

1.25 m radius

A 1.25 m semicircle under the basket. It protects a driving player who is already in the air and shooting or passing: contact with a defender who has a foot inside the arc is not a charge. Contact made with both feet on the floor is not covered, and pushing, holding, elbows and leg contact are fouls either way.

罚球圈Free-throw circle

1.80 m radius

Centred on the middle of the free-throw line, 1.80 m radius. The half nearer the basket falls inside the lane, so it is dashed. The shooter has to release from inside this circle, behind the line.

中圈Centre circle

Also called跳球圈 · Jump circle

1.80 m radius

A 1.80 m circle in the middle of the court, used for the opening jump ball. Held balls after that are not jumped; the alternating possession arrow decides who gets it.

前场 / 后场Frontcourt / Backcourt

14 × 15 m each

Split at the centre line: the half you attack is your frontcourt, the half you defend is your backcourt. You get eight seconds to move the ball into the frontcourt. Once it is there, touching it last in the frontcourt and first in the backcourt is a violation.

弧顶Top of the key

Just outside the top of the arc, straight out from the basket. You can see the whole half court from here, so most pick-and-rolls start there.

侧翼Wing

Outside the arc on either side, roughly level with the free-throw line. Close enough to shoot and to drive, so it is where most off-ball cuts end up catching the ball.

底角Corner

Also called底角三分 · The corner three

0.90 m of standing room

The narrow strip outside the arc where the sideline meets the endline. It is the shortest three on the floor at 6.60 m, but there is only 0.90 m to stand in, so a small drift puts a foot on the line.

肘区Elbow

The two right angles where the free-throw line meets the lane lines. A standard spot for mid-range jumpers and hand-offs.

罚球线中点The nail

The exact middle of the free-throw line. Many floors have a fixed stud there, which is where the name comes from. A defender standing on it can help at the rim and still recover to either side, so it anchors a packed-in defense.

高位High post

The part of the lane up near the free-throw line. A big who catches there can pass, face up and attack, or set a screen from a standstill.

低位Low post

Beside the lane, close to the basket. The usual place to back a defender down, and the best spot to go up for an offensive rebound.

低位方块The block

Also called第一位置区 · First lane space

1.75 m from the endline

The solid 0.85 m mark on the lane line, 1.75 m out from the endline. Players line up on these spaces for free throws, and coaches use it to describe how deep a big should post up.

短角Short corner

Also called短底角 · Dunker spot

The two-point area along the endline, between the lane and the corner. Standing there keeps you out of the three-second count and one step away from a finish or a tip-in.

篮板Backboard

1.80 × 1.05 m

A 1.80 × 1.05 m transparent panel. Its lower edge is 2.90 m off the floor and its face sits 1.20 m in from the endline. The top of the inner square is level with the ring, which is what you aim at on a bank shot.

篮圈Ring

Also called篮筐 · Rim / Hoop

45 cm across · 3.05 m high

A solid orange ring 45 cm across, 3.05 m off the floor and 15 cm clear of the backboard. A ball wedged between the ring and the backboard is a held ball and restarts on the possession arrow. A ball merely sitting on the ring is still live, and touching it there is interference.

篮网Net

40 to 45 cm long

The white net under the ring, 40 to 45 cm long. It slows the ball on its way through so officials can see that it really went in.

篮球架Backstop unit

Also called篮架 · Stanchion

The whole structure holding up the board and ring, padding included. In official games the base has to sit at least 2 m back from the endline, with padding in a contrasting colour.

比赛用球Game ball

Size 7 / Size 6

Size 7 (749 to 780 mm) for men's competition, size 6 (724 to 737 mm) for women's and for boys under 15. To check the pressure, drop it from 1.80 m: it should bounce back to between 1.20 and 1.40 m.

24 秒计时器Shot clock

24 s / 14 s

Shows how long the attacking team has left. A fresh possession starts at 24 seconds, and an offensive rebound resets it to 14. On a frontcourt throw-in to the team that already had the ball, anything above 14 drops to 14, while anything below it simply keeps running.

记录台Scorer's table

The officials' desk outside the centre line, where the scorer, timer and shot-clock operator sit. Substitutions and timeouts are requested here, and the possession arrow sits on it.

运球Dribble

Bouncing the ball with one hand while you move. The dribble ends as soon as the ball comes to rest in your hand or both hands touch it. Starting another one after that is a double dribble.

传球Pass

Getting the ball to a teammate. The common ones are the chest pass, the bounce pass and the overhead pass.

投篮Shot

An attempt at the basket. Releasing it in the air is a jump shot. If you are fouled after the shooting motion has started, you get free throws.

上篮Layup

Taking the ball to the rim and finishing with one hand, off the glass or straight in. You normally use the outside hand and keep your body between the defender and the ball.

篮板球Rebound

Grabbing the ball after a missed shot. At the basket you are attacking it is an offensive rebound; at the one you are defending, a defensive rebound.

盖帽Block

Legally getting a hand on a shot while it is still on the way up. Once the ball is completely above ring level, touching it on its way down is goaltending, and so is touching it any time after it has hit the backboard. Below ring level, swatting it away is still legal.

抢断Steal

Taking the ball straight off an opponent's pass or dribble. The other team is charged with a turnover at the same time.

助攻Assist

The pass that leads straight to a made basket. Only the last pass counts, and a dribble or two on the way to the rim does not cancel it. But if the scorer catches, hesitates and then creates the shot alone, no assist is credited.

掩护Screen

Also called挡人 · Pick

Using your body to block a defender so a teammate can get free. At the moment of contact you have to be still with both feet down, otherwise it is a moving screen.

空切Cut

An off-ball player changing pace to get to the basket or to open space. Passing and cutting straight away is the classic give and go.

中枢脚Pivot foot

The foot that stays planted once you stop with the ball; the other one is free to step. To start a dribble the ball has to leave your hand before that foot comes up, or it is travelling.

卡位Box out

Sealing an opponent behind you once a shot goes up, so you own the space to rebound. It is about position and timing, not shoving with your hands.

快攻Fast break

Pushing the ball up straight after you get it, before the defense is set. With a numbers advantage it becomes a 3-on-2 or a 2-on-1.

失误Turnover

Losing the ball without getting a shot off. Bad passes, steals, travelling and other violations all count.

犯规Foul

Illegal contact with an opponent. Under FIBA rules five personal fouls put a player out of the game; the NBA allows six. Once a team has four team fouls in a quarter, every defensive foul after that gives two free throws.