Slam dunk
A basketball shot where a player jumps and pushes the ball directly down through the hoop with one or both hands.
Definition
A slam dunk, often just called a dunk, is a high-percentage basketball shot in which a player leaps up close to the basket and forces the ball down through the rim from above. Because the hand is at or above the level of the hoop, the shot is very difficult to defend.
As well as scoring two points, a slam dunk is often seen as an emphatic, crowd-pleasing play. It requires enough jumping reach to get a hand to the rim, so it is more common among taller players or those with a strong vertical leap.
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Rules
- GoaltendingA basketball violation for interfering with a shot while the ball is on its downward path to the basket or above the rim.
- Double dribbleA basketball violation for dribbling with two hands at once, or for dribbling again after picking up the ball.
- Out of boundsThe rule that a ball or player leaving the marked playing area is out of play and possession is decided at the boundary.
Skills
- ShootingThe skill of striking or releasing the ball toward the goal or basket to score.
- JumpingThe skill of leaping powerfully and with timing to reach or contest the ball in the air.
- ReboundingThe basketball skill of gaining the ball after a missed shot — positioning and timing decide it far more often than pure jumping height.
Techniques
- LayupA close-range basketball shot taken while moving toward the basket, laying the ball softly off the backboard or over the rim.
- Volleyball SetAn overhead pass using the fingertips of both hands to place the ball accurately for a teammate to attack.
- Chest PassA two-handed pass thrown directly from chest height in a straight line to a teammate, the most basic pass in basketball and netball.
- Flip TurnA fast turn in freestyle where the swimmer somersaults at the wall, pushes off on their back and rotates to continue swimming.
- The cricket driveCricket's foundational attacking stroke, played straight down the ground or through the off side — the cover, straight and on drive, and the length that makes each one available.
Tactics
- Pick and rollA two-player basketball action where one player screens for the ball-handler, then rolls to the basket.
- Fast breakPushing the ball up court at speed after a turnover or rebound to score before the defence sets up.
- Zone defenceA defensive system where each player guards an area of the court rather than a specific opponent.
- Doubles formationHow a pair positions itself on court — one up, one back, or both at the net — to control space in doubles.
- Court coverage and rotationVolleyball positioning where players rotate through positions and cover the court as one coordinated unit.
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- Content updated
- 2026-09-01
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