Basketball 3x3 (FIBA) — Official Rules

3x3 (read "three-ex-three") is played by two (2) teams of three (3) players each on one half-court with a single basket. A team may also have one (1) substitute, so each team consists of a maximum of four (4) players. The objective is to score in the one basket the teams share while preventing the opponents from scoring. 3x3 is FIBA's official discipline and an Olympic sport.

The game is a single period of a maximum of ten (10) minutes of running time (with the game clock stopped on dead-ball and free-throw situations). The winner is the first team to score 21 points or more, provided this happens before the end of regular playing time; otherwise the team leading at the end of the 10 minutes wins. A game cannot end in a tie: if the score is level at the end of regular time, the game goes to overtime (see Art. 1.3).

If the score is tied at the end of regular playing time, overtime is played. There is a break of one (1) minute before overtime begins. First possession in overtime goes to the team entitled to it by the coin toss (Art. 5.1): the coin-toss winner who took possession at the start of the game does not get it, so it goes to the team that did not take the opening possession (unless the coin-toss winner had reserved its first possession for overtime). There is no fixed length: the first team to score two (2) points wins the game. Overtime is therefore a "first to 2" decider.

The game is played on a 3x3 court with one (1) basket. A regular 3x3 playing surface is 15 m in width by 11 m in length, with a regular basketball-sized scoring zone that includes a free-throw line (5.80 m), a two-point line defined by an arc of 6.75 m radius from the basket, and a "no-charge semi-circle" area underneath the basket. A 3x3 court can be set up on half of a traditional basketball court. The basket rim height is 3.05 m.

The official 3x3 ball is a size 6 ball (circumference of 72.4 cm / 28.5 in, the size used in women's 5x5) but with the weight of a size 7 ball (approximately 580-620 g). This combination gives 3x3 its distinctive feel and is used at all official FIBA 3x3 competitions.

Each team consists of a maximum of four (4) players: three (3) players on the court and one (1) substitute. A team must have three (3) players ready to play at the scheduled start time; a team that cannot do so is declared to have lost the game by default (forfeit). If during the game a team is reduced (e.g. by injury or disqualification) to fewer than three players, it may continue while it still has players able to play, subject to the competition regulations.

The game is controlled by referees (one or two on court) together with table officials (timekeeper/scorer) and, where applicable, a commissioner. Referees enforce the rules, administer the check-ball, validate scores, and manage fouls, free throws, timeouts and substitutions. 3x3's fast pace relies on quick decisions and immediate restarts.

Every successful field goal inside the arc counts for one (1) point. Every successful field goal behind the arc (the two-point line) counts for two (2) points. Every successful free throw counts for one (1) point. Note that 3x3 uses a one-point / two-point scale (not the 2/3 scale of 5x5), and the winning total of 21 reflects this scale.

A coin toss is held before the game. The winning team may choose to take possession at the start of the game OR keep the first possession for a potential overtime (it cannot take both). The game does not begin with a jump ball; it begins with the ball being checked behind the arc between the top of the arc and the centre of the back of the court.

After every dead-ball situation, play is restarted with a check-ball at the top of the arc: a defender (inside the arc) hands or bounce-passes the ball with a normal basketball pass to the offensive player who must receive the ball behind the arc. The ball becomes live when the offensive player is in possession behind the arc. There is no throw-in from out-of-bounds in 3x3 the way there is in 5x5; restarts use the check-ball.

After a made field goal or last free throw, the opposing team continues play without a referee check by dribbling or passing the ball from inside the court, directly from underneath the basket, to a place behind the arc. The scored-upon team must still take the ball back behind the two-point line (clear it) before it can attempt to score — see Art. 5.4; what is skipped here is only the referee check, so play is immediate to keep 3x3 fast. The defender may not play the ball inside the "no-charge semi-circle" area under the basket.

On every change of possession — a defensive rebound, steal, block, or restart after a made basket/last free throw — the team gaining the ball must "clear" (take back) the ball behind the arc before it can attempt to score. Clearing means both the ball and the player's feet are behind the two-point line. A team that scores without clearing first does not count the basket and loses possession. (Exception: if the offensive team grabs its own rebound after a missed shot or missed last free throw, it may continue to attempt to score without clearing.) This "take it back" requirement is a defining feature of 3x3.

A team in possession must attempt a shot within twelve (12) seconds. The shot clock starts as soon as the offensive player gains control of the ball (after a check-ball, or as soon as the ball is at the disposal of a player in play). A shot is valid if the ball leaves the player's hand(s) before the shot-clock signal sounds. Failure to attempt a shot in time is a shot-clock violation and the ball is awarded to the opponents.

A player fouled in the act of shooting inside the arc is awarded one (1) free throw. A player fouled in the act of shooting behind the arc is awarded two (2) free throws. If the shot is made despite the foul, the basket counts and the player is awarded one (1) additional free throw. Free throws are taken from the free-throw line (5.80 m) and each made free throw is worth one (1) point.

Fouls on a player not in the act of shooting result in a check-ball for the fouled team (i.e. they retain possession) — until the team-foul penalty applies. A team enters the penalty as follows:

• Team fouls 7, 8 and 9 are penalised with two (2) free throws.
• Team foul 10 and every subsequent team foul are penalised with two (2) free throws PLUS possession of the ball. This penalty overrides the act-of-shooting and unsportsmanlike-foul provisions but is not applied to technical fouls. Team fouls are not reset during the single 10-minute period.

A technical foul (e.g. unsporting behaviour, disrespect) is penalised with one (1) free throw, after which the team that had control (or was entitled to it) resumes with a check-ball. An unsportsmanlike foul is penalised with two (2) free throws (and possession for a second such foul). Unsportsmanlike and disqualifying fouls each count as two (2) team fouls. A player is disqualified for the remainder of the game upon committing two (2) unsportsmanlike fouls, or one (1) disqualifying foul.

Free throws are administered immediately at the free-throw line. The shooter must release the ball within five (5) seconds of receiving it. After the last free throw, if the team that was awarded the free throws is not also awarded possession, the opposing team rebounds/continues play; if the last free throw is made and no possession is awarded, the opponents restart from underneath the basket (as after any made basket).

Each team is entitled to one (1) timeout of thirty (30) seconds during the game. A timeout may be requested by any player only when the ball is dead and the game clock is stopped. In televised events there may additionally be one broadcast/TV timeout managed by the organiser. The game clock is stopped for the duration of the timeout.

Substitutions are free and unlimited in number but may only take place when the ball is dead and the game clock is stopped, and only behind the endline opposite the basket. The substitute may enter without any notice to the officials or table officials: the player going out and the player coming in must make physical contact behind the endline, after which the substitution is complete. No interruption of play by the officials is required.

Stalling or failing to play actively (e.g. not attacking the basket) is a violation when no shot-clock pressure forces play. A team that keeps the ball without attacking the basket may be warned and then penalised with loss of possession. The 12-second shot clock and the active-play requirement together keep 3x3 continuous and attacking.

A team that believes its interests were adversely affected by a decision may file a protest under the FIBA 3x3 competition regulations, immediately after the game. The official scoresheet and digital records (managed via FIBA's 3x3 software) determine the result. Arena Metrics mirrors this with an immutable event log and a full audit trail of every score, foul, free throw, timeout and substitution.

Key 3x3 distinctives: 3 players (not 5); one basket on a half court; scoring of 1 and 2 points (target 21, or leader after 10 minutes); 12-second shot clock (not 24/14); check-ball restarts behind the arc (no out-of-bounds throw-ins); the "take it back" clearing requirement; one 30-second timeout; unlimited substitutions behind the endline on dead balls; and team-foul penalties beginning at the 7th team foul, with 2 free throws + possession from the 10th. Overtime is first to 2 points.