Skip to content
Insporta Book
en

Basketball · Level 3: Pre-Intermediate · Sub-level 3.1

Positions and Roles

10 tests · 100 facts · updated 22 October 2026 · markdown

The five positions and their numbers, the point guard, the shooting guard, the small and power forward, the centre, combo players, the bench, role players and leaders.

Each test below is ten questions on Insporta. The list under a test is what the questions check: one fact per question, with the source it was written from. Read it before the test, or come back from a wrong answer.

Test 1The five positionsTake a test

  1. Five players, one per position: point guard to centre.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  2. Positions are numbered 1 to 5 from the point guard.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  3. The centre is the 5.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  4. Point guard and shooting guard.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  5. Power forward and centre are usually the tallest.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  6. Shooting guards and small forwards often start on the wings.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  7. The 4 is the power forward and the 1 the point guard.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · applied

  8. 1 point guard, 2 shooting guard, 3 small forward, 4 power forward, 5 centre.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · applied

  9. Guards are usually smallest, centres tallest.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · applied

  10. The centre is the 5.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · applied

Test 2The point guardTake a test

  1. He brings the ball up and starts the plays.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  2. He calls plays and organises team-mates.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  3. He must find team-mates and choose well.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  4. Ball-handling up the floor is his job.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  5. He feeds the open man.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  6. He creates for others first.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  7. Usually the point guard should handle the ball up the floor.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · applied

  8. Up, call, set, pass.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · applied

  9. Beat, read help, find, pass.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · applied

  10. He runs the offence.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · applied

Test 3The shooting guardTake a test

  1. The 2 is often the team's best shooter.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  2. He spots up on the perimeter.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  3. Shooters run off screens to get free.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  4. He swings between shooting guard and small forward.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  5. Defenders must stay out to guard them, opening the lane.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  6. He usually matches up with the other 2.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  7. Quickness beats a slower defender on the drive.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · applied

  8. Wait, run, catch, shoot.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · applied

  9. Block, elbow, then the arc.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · applied

  10. A catch-and-shoot player who starts on the wing is a typical 2.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · applied

Test 4The small forwardTake a test

  1. The 3 scores, guards and rebounds a bit of everything.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  2. He can post up, drive and shoot.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  3. Positions often match up with each other.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  4. He handles and passes like a point guard.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  5. Their size helps on the glass.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  6. A size edge is used near the basket.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · applied

  7. A speed edge is used on the drive.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · applied

  8. See, post, seal, score.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · applied

  9. 1 handles, 3 does a bit of all, 5 protects the rim.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · applied

  10. An all-round wing who scores and guards.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · applied

Test 5The power forwardTake a test

  1. The 4 is a strong player who works inside.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  2. He 'stretches' the defence out to the arc.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  3. Space opens in the lane for drives.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  4. Bigs often catch at the elbow or the free-throw line.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  5. Post players work on the block near the rim.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  6. A big body blocks defenders well.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  7. Strength wins close to the rim.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · applied

  8. Screen, drive, roll, finish.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · applied

  9. The block is closest, the high post furthest.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · applied

  10. A power forward who shoots threes.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · applied

Test 6The centreTake a test

  1. The 5 is usually the biggest.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  2. He blocks or changes shots near the basket.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  3. Height and position near the rim win rebounds.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  4. Like a stretch four, he pulls a big away from the rim.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  5. He runs hard to the basket on the break and on rolls.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  6. Post play uses the body to shield the ball.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  7. He scores and protects best near the rim.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · applied

  8. Drive, step, block, run.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · applied

  9. Screen, turn, run, finish.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · applied

  10. Rebounding, protecting the rim and screening.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · applied

Test 7Combo players and line-upsTake a test

  1. He can run the offence and score.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  2. Skills matter more than a fixed position.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  3. Switching is easier when players can guard anyone.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  4. A passing big can find cutters from the post.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  5. Smaller line-ups are quicker but give up size.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  6. Less size means fewer rebounds and less rim protection.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · recall

  7. A big restores size on the glass.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · applied

  8. Shooter, space, drive, kick.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · applied

  9. From small to big.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · applied

  10. He brings the ball up, scores and plays the 1 and 2.

    Source: General basketball reference, positions · applied

Test 8Starters and the benchTake a test

  1. A strong sixth man keeps the level up when the starters rest.

    Source: General basketball reference, roles · recall

  2. The starting five tip off the game.

    Source: General basketball reference, roles · recall

  3. Coaches use a set group of players most nights.

    Source: General basketball reference, roles · recall

  4. Fresh legs and different skills help.

    Source: General basketball reference, roles · recall

  5. It shows how much the bench adds.

    Source: General basketball reference, roles · recall

  6. He changes the game's mood quickly.

    Source: General basketball reference, roles · recall

  7. Fresh legs restore energy.

    Source: General basketball reference, roles · applied

  8. Start, tire, sub, minutes.

    Source: General basketball reference, roles · applied

  9. Starters, then the sixth man, then the deep bench.

    Source: General basketball reference, roles · applied

  10. The sixth man leads the bench unit.

    Source: General basketball reference, roles · applied

Test 9Role playersTake a test

  1. Shooting and defence make him valuable without the ball.

    Source: General basketball reference, roles · recall

  2. A team works when each player does his part.

    Source: General basketball reference, roles · recall

  3. He does the small things that help others.

    Source: General basketball reference, roles · recall

  4. He takes on the toughest defensive matchup.

    Source: General basketball reference, roles · recall

  5. Role players cover the gaps around the stars.

    Source: General basketball reference, roles · recall

  6. Diving for loose balls and taking charges show effort.

    Source: General basketball reference, roles · recall

  7. A stopper fills the missing job.

    Source: General basketball reference, roles · applied

  8. Defend, rebound, run, shoot.

    Source: General basketball reference, roles · applied

  9. Stars shoot, stoppers guard, role players screen.

    Source: General basketball reference, roles · applied

  10. Shoots threes and guards well.

    Source: General basketball reference, roles · applied

Test 10Leaders on courtTake a test

  1. He is the voice of the team on the floor.

    Source: General basketball reference, roles · recall

  2. A calm captain keeps the team's voice respectful.

    Source: General basketball reference, roles · recall

  3. Players follow what a leader does.

    Source: General basketball reference, roles · recall

  4. Support helps the next play go better.

    Source: General basketball reference, roles · recall

  5. Players must organise themselves in live play.

    Source: General basketball reference, roles · recall

  6. He calls out plays and keeps everyone together.

    Source: General basketball reference, roles · recall

  7. A calm leader turns attention to the next play.

    Source: General basketball reference, roles · applied

  8. Gather, calm, plan, play.

    Source: General basketball reference, roles · applied

  9. Warm-up, time-out, handshake.

    Source: General basketball reference, roles · applied

  10. He leads and talks to team-mates.

    Source: General basketball reference, roles · applied

Sources

FIBA/WABC Coaches Manual Level 3 and general coaching references; original questions authored, nothing reproduced. Numbered FIBA rules belong to the Rules category.

  • General basketball reference, positions70
  • General basketball reference, roles30