basketball glossary
What is a Check ball in Pickup Basketball?
A check ball is when you pass the ball to an opponent at the start of a possession to confirm both teams are ready. The opponent passes it back, and play resumes. Used in pickup basketball when there's no referee.
Example in a match
You take possession after a basket. You pass the ball to the defender, they pass it back. Check ball — play resumes.
Pickup Basketball scoring with Volley
Volley scores pickup basketball with all the standard rules built in. Pick the sport at match setup, name your sides, and tap to score. Volley applies the rules from there — including the ones that involve "Check ball".
Free on iOS and Android. Multi-sport scoring across 9 sports with proper sport-specific scoring engines, ELO rating tracking, and tournament running.
Frequently asked questions
What is a check ball in pickup basketball?
A check ball is when you pass the ball to an opponent at the start of a possession to confirm both teams are ready. The opponent passes it back, and play resumes. Used in pickup basketball when there's no referee.
Does Volley handle check ball automatically?
Yes. Volley's pickup basketball scoring engine handles every standard rule including check ball. You don't have to track it manually — pick the sport at match setup and Volley applies the rules.
Where can I learn more pickup basketball terms?
The full Pickup Basketball glossary is at /basketball-terms-glossary, with 20 of the most common terms explained.