SlamBall Slang

Catching the ball mid-air to score a basket in one motion before landing

A set of poses at altitude to develop aerial awareness

Using one’s back to bounce from the springbed back to the feet

The glass rectangle positioned behind the basket used to assist in scoring points in a match

Using the back to bounce and launch yourself in the air with a ball in hand from the springbed to attempt a shot at the rim

A safety movement in SlamBall that players use to protect themselves when falling in the springbeds

A skill in SlamBall used to retrieve a loose ball near the glass or in the springbed by using one of the techniques taught in the training program; example: approaching the loose ball with the player’s body turned perpendicular to the glass, allowing for the player to safely trap the ball against the barrier with an outstretched hand; also see: springbed ball trap.

This refers to an area of a SlamBall court located behind the backboard near the surrounding barrier/glass. Players utilize the space behind the goal like hockey to create additional scoring angles.

The act of launching from a springbed to land on one’s back, springing up to score the basket or make an associated play

A 360 degrees spin in one direction while simultaneously taking the ball behind your back and back to the front of your body before landing into the springbed or dunking the ball

(also see: Scoring Tramp) – The springbed that is directly under the basket on each end of the SlamBall court. This is one of the four springbeds that make up the slamzone or quad also referred to as the scoring tramp/springbed.

(also see: Shakedown) – The act of bouncing the ball off a springbed ahead of the player to recollect the ball IN BETWEEN THE BOUNCES and legally transfer to another springbed or to score at the basket.

An action consisting of multiple players bouncing in the same springbed on opposite rhythm to gain more fine motor control over bounce amplitude

(behind the back) – An aerial position taking the ball around your back before landing into the springbed or scoring the ball

(between the legs) – An aerial position, taking the ball between the legs before scoring or making another type of play

(also see: Blender) – A backflip in the air before landing into the springbed or scoring the ball

Refers to two players bouncing in the same springbed on opposite rhythms and then lowering both of their bounces as low as possible while keeping opposite rhythms while maintaining a bounce.  This is a core SlamBall training technique.

A test and evaluation of a player’s skills in a modular format

Releasing the ball on the bounce in a forward motion to recollect the ball BETWEEN the first and second bounce to legally allow the player to transfer tramp to tramp

A linear bounce in the top springbed directly to the bottom springbed in a straight line towards the baseline

A play that results in two successive alley oop passes before a scoring attempt.

Scoring the ball into the basket in a downwards motion with force. The player must touch the hoop in the motion to be defined as a dunk.

Multiple players move up and down opposite sidelines of the court from the side springbeds to the game floor to the side springbeds on opposite ends of the court, while making cross court passes back and forth from one player to the other in a controlled manner

Refers to a penalty situation in the sport of SlamBall. The fouler and the foulee match up one-on-one with the foulee at mid court, having the ball and launching him or herself off any outside springbed to attempt a dunk or shot. Foulee has three attacking options (center or either side). Fouler has the option to defend from either side in the center attack. Foulee choosing a side forces the fouler to the opposite side to defend. There are different advantages to all three options.

Maneuver where attacking player in a perimeter tramp fakes as if he’s bouncing the ball off the springbed, signaling intent to transfer to the scoring tramp. At the last moment, the player retains control of the ball instead of bouncing the ball, taking off directly from the perimeter springbed to attack the hoop.

A bounce from the side or top springbed into the bottom springbed and then back out to any side spingbed or the top springbed. Usually used to force the Stopper into the springs to “mark” the incursion, usually with no intention of attempting a score. Offense has more options to exploit with the Stopper in the springbed.

A continuous motion of actions a coach will refer to when calling a play for his/her team. Also called a “break set.”

A derisive term in the SlamBall community referring to a member catching their foot under the padding surrounding any of the springbeds. Designed to encourage players to collectively focus on the details of their training.

(also see: Self-Pass) – A skill set that allows the player to avoid bounce penalties while moving around the slamzone and keeping control of the ball. Allows for actions releasing the ball away from the player’s body to recollect IN BETWEEN the bounces. Fertile space for creative expression when executed properly.

The action of a member bouncing in the springbed onto the frontside/chest of the body and then within the same bounce rhythm back to the feet under control

An aerial maneuver where a player executes a front flip with a full 360 either in successive movements or at the same time

The action of a member bouncing in a springbed or multiple springbeds moving forward on one bounce and backwards on the next bounce in a controlled manner (example: in front of and behind a center marking) while maintaining control and rhythm

Full contact, full court 4 on-4 SlamBall scrimmage competitions

A bounce, in which the player leaves the springbed facing forward, and does a back somersault while traveling forward, before landing into the springbed or attempting a shot at the rim

(also see: The Wood) – The area of a SlamBall court that has a hard surface designated for running, dribbling, shooting the ball and court movement from the offense and defense.

The middle-padded area of the slamzone of a SlamBall court positioned directly in between the four tramps. Designed as a substitute for a low post passing area. Players can access the Island to attract a pass from a teammate, freestyle into the island with a self-pass, and use that internal positioning to redirect passes in attempt to outmaneuver the defense

A skill set in the sport of SlamBall used to stop the bounce in the springbed by quickly bending knees on contact with the tramp, causing a deceleration and dispersal of vertical energy by the tramps

A two-point shot attempt made by bouncing from an outside or scoring springbed, using one hand to bounce the ball directly into the hoop or off the backboard into the basket

Starting from the baseline of the SlamBall court, a bounce from the bottom springbed, and transfer to the side springbed out onto the game floor. Use the game floor to travel up the sideline to the opposite slamzone. Bounce into the side springbed, transfer to the bottom springbed, and then out to the baseline. Repeat this action using the opposite sideline of the court while returning to the starting position to complete one Linear Side Loop.

The cushioned area surrounding each springbed of a slamzone on the SlamBall court

Passing the ball from the game floor in the air over a springbed to another player on the bounce.

An aerial body position in which the body is bent at the waist, the arms are extended, the toes are pointed, and the head must be positioned to look at or over the toes. Another training position for aerial skill work.

An aerial position in which the body is straight, the arms and hands are extended upward, the legs are straight, and the toes are pointed downward without any bend at the hips. Training position for aerial skill work.

A SlamBall-certified official usually having final authority in administering the game

The SlamBall term referring to the player’s foot placement inside the springbeds

The action of a player tossing or bouncing the ball off the glass/gate surrounding the SlamBall court when exiting the slamzone and recollecting the ball to maintain possession and avoid the bounce violation. This action also resets the player’s ability to dribble.

Turning the body 180 degrees while in the air before attempting a shot backward

One or more front flip rotations in the air before landing into the springbed or attempting a shot at the rim

The padded ring of the basket used as a method to score points in a SlamBall match

The action of a SlamBall player moving in a predetermined direction given for a particular flow set

The springbed that is oriented directly under the basket – used by attacking offensive players and primarily the Stopper on defense

Bouncing in the springbed on the seat area of the body and back to the feet while maintaining balance and control. Used by SlamBall players as a safety measure after a mid-air interaction.

(also see Freestyle) – an action where a player throws the ball away from their body (up in the air or down bouncing off the springbed) where the player can recollect the ball IN BETWEEN the bounces.

(also see: Bounce down) – The act of bouncing the ball off a springbed ahead of the player to recollect the ball IN BETWEEN THE BOUNCES and legally transfer it to another springbed or to score at the basket.

A sanctioned dunk routine competition in the sport of SlamBall. Timed and judged for different artistic and athletic attributes.

Either of the two lines bounding the longer sides of a SlamBall court, football field, basketball court, tennis court, or similar playing area. In SlamBall, the sidelines are captured by a barrier wall that contains the action.

A springbed that is located closest to the sideline of the SlamBall court – one of the four tramps that complete a slamzone or quad

Bouncing in the springbed from one end of the springbed to the opposite end of the springbed, keeping your body sideways while maintaining balance and rhythm – a training term

Bouncing in the springbed onto the side of the body and then within the same bounce rhythm back to the feet under control – a training term

(also see: Tramps) – The landing surface of a trampoline

(see also Springbed, Tramp) Additional name for the tramp apparatus by referencing the springs around the bed instead of the bed itself.

Taking a bounce from one perimeter springbed to transfer to another perimeter springbed without the ball, often collecting the pass in between bounces – this maneuver “stacks” the power of the first bounce on top of the power of the second bounce to gain an advantage

An aerial position resulting in a player launching themselves into the air and spreading their legs to each side at a 180-degree angle before landing back into the springbed or game floor – a training position for aerial skill work

Bouncing in the slamzone from one corner of the top springbed over the island to the opposite corner of the bottom springbed – cutting across the axis of the Stopper and forcing a disruptive adjustment by the defender can create offensive advantages

The action of two players crossing routes to replace each other’s tramp position – sometimes results in a “hand-off” type switch that the Stopper may have trouble reading (see: Switch-Out).

An aerial maneuver that involves a front flip and a between-the-legs move upside down or at some point in the flip motion

A player receives the ball on a mid-air handoff from the top springbed to the side springbed while replacing the other player’s tramp position cutting from the side springbed to the top springbed (see: Switch Up)

A player receiving the ball on a handoff from the side springbed to the top springbed while replacing the player cutting from the top springbed to the side springs

An aerial position using the bounce to launch yourself in the air, having your hips tucked under you, having one arm extended by the ear and the other arm extended downward to the side of the body before landing back into the springbed or onto the game floor – a training position for aerial skill work

The action a SlamBall player completes by bouncing direct from a perimeter springbed (side or top) to attempt a layup, floater, or dunk directly without any other bounces

The tramp that is located closest to the half court of the SlamBall playing space – one of the four springbeds that help make up the SlamZone.

To bounce from one springbed to another

(also see: Springs, or Springbed)

The defensive action of a player using physicality and defensive location to keep the offensive player out of the springbed with momentum to attack the hoop

A set play with three separate alley oop passes leading to a scoring attempt

An aerial training position using the bounce in a springbed, launching yourself in the air, bending the knees to the chest before landing back into the springbed or game floor – one of many training positions for aerial skill work

An aerial training position using a bounce into a springbed to launch yourself in the air, keep the body straight with the hips tucked under you while extending both arms out to the side of the body before landing into the springbed or onto the game floor

Moving the ball in a circular motion on the side or in front of your body before attempting the attempt at the basket

Bouncing in the slamzone from the side springbed into the lower scoring springbed underneath the basket

(also see: Game Floor) – the spring floor surface that spans the game space outside the slamzone or quads. Often has a hardwood texture. It also strategically refers to the Stopper positioned on the floor under the basket for a timing advantage, instead of committing to the scoring tramp.