MARCH MADNESS GLOSSARY
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elbowing:
it is a violation if a player vigorously or excessively swings his elbows, even if there is no contact; it is a foul if contact is made, and an automatic ejection if that contact is above shoulder level.
end line:
the boundary line behind each basket; also called the baseline.
established position:
when a defensive player has both feet firmly planted on the floor before an offensive player's head and shoulder get past him; the offensive player who runs into such a defender is charging.
fake or feint:
a deceptive move to throw a defender off balance and allow an offensive player to shoot or receive a pass; players use their eyes, head or any other part of the body to trick an opponent.
fast break:
also called the run-and-shoot offense, it begins with a defensive rebound by a player who immediately sends an outlet pass toward midcourt to his waiting teammates; these teammates can sprint to their basket and quickly shoot before enough opponents catch up to stop them.
field goal:
when the ball enters the basket from above during play; worth 2 points, or 3 points if the shooter was standing behind the 3-point line.
Finals, NBA:
the annual championship series of the NBA's post-season.
Final Four:
the 4 regional champions (West, East, Midwest and Southeast) remaining from the 64 college teams that compete in the annual NCAA Tournament; they play one another to determine the national champion.
flagrant foul:
unnecessary or excessive contact against an opponent.
floor:
the area of the court within the end lines and sidelines.
floor violation:
a player's action that violates the rules but does not prevent an opponent's movement or cause him harm; penalized by a change in possession.
forwards:
the 2 players on the court for a team who are usually smaller than the center and bigger than the guards; often a team's highest scorers.
foul:
actions by players which break the rules but are not floor violations; penalized by a change in possession or free-throw opportunities; see personal foul or technical foul.
foul lane:
the painted area 19' x 16' (12' in college) bordered by the end line and the foul line, outside which players must stand during a free-throw; also the area an offensive player cannot spend more than 3-seconds at a time in.
foul line:
the line 15' from the backboard and parallel to the end line from which players shoot free-throws.
foul shot:
see free-throw.
4-point play:
a 3-point shot followed by a successful free-throw.
franchise:
a professional team.
franchise player:
a star player around which a franchise is built.
free agent, restricted:
an NBA player whose contract has expired and who has received a "qualifying offer" from his current club which provides a salary level predetermined by the collective bargaining agreement. While this player is free to negotiate an offer from a new team, his current team has a right of first refusal to match that offer, thereby obligating him to remain with his current team.
free agent, unrestricted:
a player who has completed his 3rd NBA season (or 4th season, if his current team exercised its "option" to have him play for a 4th year) and is free to negotiate a contract with other NBA teams without his current team having a right of first refusal.
free-throw:
an unguarded shot taken from the foul line by a player whose opponent committed a personal or technical foul; it is worth 1 point.
free-throw line:
see foul line.
free-throw line extended:
an imaginary line drawn from the free-throw to the sideline to determine the location for certain throw-ins.
frontcourt:
the area between the midcourt line and the end line closest to the offense's basket.
full-court press:
when defenders start guarding the offense in the backcourt.
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