goaltending

In basketball, goaltending refers to a rules violation in which a player interferes with a shot by touching the ball on its downward flight to the basket or while it is over, on, or within the rim of the basket.

The word goaltending can also refer to the act of being a goaltender, which in sports like ice hockey and lacrosse is another name for the goalkeeper. This is the player positioned in front of the goal whose job is to prevent the ball or puck from entering it (or crossing the goal line). (Basketball does not have a goaltender or goalkeeper position.)

In basketball, when a player interferes with the ball in a certain way, the referee will call goaltending. Goaltending is often done accidentally by a defensive player trying to keep the ball from going in the basket. When the referee calls goaltending on a play like this, the basket will be counted as if the ball had gone in, and the offensive team will be awarded points for it.

Goaltending can also be done by an offensive player who interferes with the ball in this way. In this case, the basket is not counted, and no points are awarded (even if the ball went in).

The informal verb goaltend is sometimes used in basketball to refer to the action of goaltending, as in Don’t goaltend by hitting the ball on its way down. Goaltend is also informally used to refer to an instance of doing so or to the call made by the referee, as in She just got called for a goaltend.

Example: The replay shows that he touched the ball on the way down, so they’re going to call this goaltending.

The first records of the word goaltending come from the late 1800s, but it wasn’t until the late 1930s that it was used in reference to basketball. In the earlier word goaltender, the word tender refers “someone who tends to or takes care of something” (it’s used in a similar way in the word bartender).

In a lot of sports, the object of the game is to get the ball or puck into the goal. And in most of those sports, there is someone there to guard the goal and try to prevent that from happening: the goalkeeper or goaltender. In basketball, though, there is no goalie, and all defensive players try to prevent the other team from putting the ball in the hoop. Because positioning a player under the basket to swat the ball away any time it gets near the rim would make it too difficult to score, the goaltending rule was introduced. Rules vary in different leagues, but players usually can only touch the ball on its way up, not on its way down (in college and professional basketball, instant replay is often called upon to determine whether this has happened). Goaltending can also consist of a player touching the ball when it’s inside or within the circle or the rim, or after the ball has touched the backboard and is near the rim.

When goaltending is used in the context of sports with goaltenders (like ice hockey), it’s often used in discussion of how a goaltender has performed, as in We’ve some excellent goaltending from him during this series.

What are some other forms related to goaltending?

• goaltender (noun)

What are some words that share a root or word element with goaltending? 

• goal
• goalkeeper
• goal line
• bartender

What are some words that often get used in discussing goaltending?

• basketball
• ball
• basket
• hoop
• rim
• hockey
• ice hockey
• referee
• call

Goaltending is most commonly used in the context of basketball and ice hockey, but it’s used in a different way for each sport.

Dominique Wilkins of Georgia blocks North Carolina's James Worthy in a 1982 NCAA basketball game. Nique is called for goaltending, but provides yet another incredible highlight.

UNC 66, UGA 57
February 14, 1982. pic.twitter.com/PxIDsieBbl

— NBA Cobwebs (@NBACobwebs) June 13, 2020

HBD to the late great NBA pioneer George Mikan!

He's responsible for:
Goaltending rule in the NCAA
Wider lanes & the shot clock in the NBA
Red/White/Blue ball & 3-Pointers in the ABA

Here's KG on Mikan's influence on the game pic.twitter.com/Bqxs9OXhbS

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) June 18, 2020

Goaltending is secure for the #NHLDucks with John Gibson and Ryan Miller. But what if Miller opts not to return next season? We look at some possibilities if a new backup is needed.https://t.co/nMJyWL3hKL

— Eric Stephens (@icemancometh) May 23, 2020

Is goaltending used correctly in the following sentence?

That’s just poor goaltending by the goalie.