Basketball Rulebook

3 vs 3 Basketball

(2024)

THE PLAYING FIELD

  1. The game of 3×3 is played on a half court with one basket.

EQUIPMENT

  1. A size 6 basketball.

TEAMS

  1. A team consist of a minimum of (3) and a maximum of (6) players.  A team is permitted to substitute at any time during the game, but at no time may there be any more than 3 players on the court during game play.
  2. A Substitute must report to half-court and request entrance to the game.
  3. No substitute will be permitted to enter the game after a made basket by either team unless a time out is granted.

GAME OFFICIALS

Each team must provide one ref.  Responsible for clock management, calling fouls, and keeping score.  Teams playing the 2nd hour in the schedule will provide refs for the 1st hour of scheduled games.  Teams playing the 1st hour in the schedule will provide refs for the 2nd hour of scheduled games.

GAME PLAY

A coin flip shall determine which team gets the first possession. The team that wins the coin flip can either choose to benefit from the ball possession at the beginning of the first half or second half.

The game must start with three players on the court.

Scoring

  1. Every successful shot inside the arc shall be awarded 1 point.
  2. Every successful shot behind the arc shall be awarded 2 points.
  3. Every successful free throw shall be awarded 1 point.

PLAYING TIME

  1. The regular playing time shall be as follows: 20 minutes halves; clock shall be continuous during dead ball situations and free throws.
  2. No overtime in league play. Overtime is permitted during playoffs. Additional 5 minutes in overtime.
  3. A team shall lose the game by forfeit if at the scheduled starting time the team is not present on the playing court with 3 players ready to play.

FOUL/FREE THROWS

  1. A team is in a penalty situation after it has committed 6 fouls.
  2. After a team has reached 9 team fouls, any subsequent foul will be considered technical. For the avoidance of doubt, players are not excluded based on the number of personal fouls.
  3. Fouls during the act of shooting inside the arc shall be awarded 1 free throw, whilst fouls during the act of shooting behind the arc shall be awarded 2 free throws.
  4. Fouls during the act of shooting followed by a successful field goal shall be awarded 1 additional free throw.
  5. Team fouls 7, 8 and 9 shall always be awarded with 2 free throws.
  6. The 10th and any subsequent team foul as well as technical and unsportsmanlike fouls will be always awarded with 2 free throws and ball possession.
  7. Possession is kept after the last free throw derived from an unsportsmanlike or technical foul and the game shall continue with an exchange of the ball behind the arc at the top of the court.

HOW THE BALL IS PLAYED

Following each successful field goal or last free throw:

  1. A player from a non-scoring team will resume the game by dribbling or passing the ball from inside the court directly underneath the basket (not from behind the end line) to a place on the court behind the arc.
  2. The defensive team is not allowed to play for the ball in the no-charge semi-circle area underneath the basket.

Following each unsuccessful field goal or last free throw:

  1. If the offensive team rebounds the ball, it may continue to attempt to score without returning the ball behind the arc.
  2. If the defensive team rebounds or steals the ball, it must return the ball behind the arc (by passing or dribbling).
  3. Possession of the ball given to either team following any dead ball situation shall start with an exchange of the ball (between the defensive and the offensive player) behind the arc at the top of the court.
  4. A player is considered to be behind the arc when either of his feet are inside or stepping on the arc.

In the event of a jump ball situation, the defensive team shall be awarded the ball.

STALLING

  1. Stalling or failing to play actively (i.e. not attempting to score) shall be a violation.
  2. A team must attempt a shot within 12 seconds. The clock shall start as soon as the ball is in the offensive players hands (following the exchange with the defensive player or after a successful field goal underneath the basket).

Note: If the court is not equipped with a shot clock and a team is not sufficiently trying to attack the basket, the referee shall give them a warning by counting the last 5 seconds.

SUBSTITUTIONS

  1. Substitutions can be done by any team when the ball becomes dead, prior to the check-ball. The substitute can enter the game after his teammate steps off the court and establishes a physical contact with him.
  2. Substitutions can only take place behind the end line opposite the basket and substitutions require no action from the referees or table officials.

TIME OUT

One 30-second time-out is granted in each half. A player can call the time-out in a dead ball situation.

Disqualification

A player committing one unsportsmanlike foul will be disqualified from the game by the referees. Independent thereof, the organizer will disqualify the player(s) concerned from the event for acts of violence, verbal or physical aggression, tortuous interference in game results.

Player will be asked to leave the facility or location.  If they decide not to leave the team will receive an automatic forfeit.

TEAM STANDINGS

  1. Points will be awarded to teams as follows:
    1. Win = 1, and a Loss = 0, Tie = 0.5
  2. Team standings will determined by the team with the highest amount of points.
  3. Tie breakers will be:
    1. Head-to-Head
    2. Least Number of Points Against (PSA)
    3. Most Number of Points For (PSF)