Power forward
The power forward plays near the basket in basketball, using strength to rebound, score inside, and defend the paint.
Overview
The "four" traditionally operates close to the basket, battling for rebounds and scoring on post-ups and put-backs. Many modern power forwards also step out to shoot from range, stretching the defence.
Physical and mobile, the power forward sets screens, protects the rim, and provides a strong presence at both ends of the floor.
Responsibilities
- Rebounds strongly at both ends of the court.
- Scores inside on post-ups, put-backs and cuts.
- Sets screens to free up teammates.
- Defends the paint and helps protect the rim.
- May stretch the floor with outside shooting.
Where it’s used
Sports that use power forward:
Related positions
Point guard
The point guard is basketball’s primary ball-handler and playmaker, running the offence and setting up teammates to score.
Shooting guard
The shooting guard is a perimeter player whose main role is to score, especially from mid-range and beyond the three-point line.
Small forward
The small forward is a versatile wing player in basketball who can score inside and outside while also defending multiple positions.
How it connects
The meaning-bearing relationships that place Power forward in the wider knowledge graph — each one with the reason it exists.
Frequently learned together
Taught side by side in the same stage of a learning path.
- Point guardBoth are taught in the “Find your position or role” stage of the Basketball learning path.
- Shooting guardBoth are taught in the “Find your position or role” stage of the Basketball learning path.
- Small forwardBoth are taught in the “Find your position or role” stage of the Basketball learning path.
- CenterBoth are taught in the “Find your position or role” stage of the Basketball learning path.
- PlaymakerBoth are taught in the “Find your position or role” stage of the Basketball learning path.
Explore across the knowledge base
Follow the threads that connect Power forward to the rest of SocialSportHub.
Player roles
- PlaymakerThe playmaker is a team's creative hub — the player who orchestrates attacks, controls the tempo and distributes the ball so teammates can score.
- Last line of defenceThe final barrier between an attack and a score — the goalkeeper, sweeper or last-ditch defender whose job is to stop what the rest of the team has let through.
- Target playerA target player is a focal attacker who receives, holds up and links play for others, often physically strong and good in the air or with the hands.
- FinisherA finisher is the attacking outlet in a team sport whose main job is converting chances into points — the striker, goal shooter or go-to scorer.
- SweeperA covering defender who plays behind the main defensive line, free of a fixed marking job, to read danger and clean up attacks that slip past teammates.
Skills
Tactics
- Zone defenceA defensive system where each player guards an area of the court rather than a specific opponent.
- Man-to-man markingA defensive tactic where each defender is assigned a specific opponent to track and contain.
- Fast breakPushing the ball up court at speed after a turnover or rebound to score before the defence sets up.
- Pick and rollA two-player basketball action where one player screens for the ball-handler, then rolls to the basket.
- High pressA football tactic where a team hunts the ball high up the pitch to win it back close to the opponent’s goal.
Rules
- GoaltendingA basketball violation for interfering with a shot while the ball is on its downward path to the basket or above the rim.
- TravelingA basketball violation for moving illegally with the ball without dribbling it.
- Double dribbleA basketball violation for dribbling with two hands at once, or for dribbling again after picking up the ball.
- Shot clockA timing rule that requires the attacking basketball team to attempt a shot within a set number of seconds.
- LetA call that stops a point and has it replayed without penalty, used across several racket sports.
Facilities
- GymAn indoor facility equipped with free weights, machines and cardio equipment for strength training and general fitness.
- Sports hallA large indoor hall with multi-sport line markings, used for court sports like basketball, volleyball and badminton.
- Basketball courtA rectangular hard-surfaced court with a raised hoop and backboard at each end where basketball is played.
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How this page is maintained
- Content type
- Position
- Provenance
- Tier A — evergreen educational
- Verified external sources
- 0
- Content updated
- 2026-07-09
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