and
Slovenia in
Bucharest (September, 2014) FIBA releases from time-to-time a supplement to its official basketball rules specifically for 3x3. The rules state that regular FIBA rules apply to all situations not specifically addressed in the FIBA 3x3 rules. The current set, both in an abbreviated version and longer format, was published in August 2019. The current rules depart from
regular full-court basketball in the following ways.
Teams Each team consists of three players and one substitute. Each team must have three players on the court when the game begins.
Basketball court and ball The game is played on a half-court with one basket. The official court is wide (the same as FIBA's standard for the full-court game) by in length (compared to FIBA's standard half-court distance of ); however, the rules specifically state that half of a standard FIBA full court is an acceptable playing area for official competitions. The American NBA & WNBA standard half-court distance is wide & long. The
ball is the size of a size 6 basketball ()
Gameplay A
coin toss is held immediately before the game, and the winning team of the coin flip can choose to take possession of the ball at the start of the game, or take the first possession of a potential
overtime period. In turn, this means that if the game goes into overtime, the first possession goes to the team that started the game on defense. The game begins with the defensive team passing the ball to the offensive team to signify the start of the game. All offensive players must begin outside of the arc (the opposite side of the arc of the net), and the defensive team must begin inside of the arc. Once the offensive team receives the ball, the clock starts. This exchange is also used to restart the game from any dead ball situation. The game is a single period of a maximum 10 minutes and the winner is the first team to score 21 or the team with the higher score at the end of the 10 minutes; scoring 21 points immediately ends the game. Every successful shot inside the arc, including free throws, is awarded one point, while every successful shot outside of the arc ("downtown") is awarded two points. After a made goal or free throw (except for technical or unsportsmanlike fouls and team fouls 10 or more; see
below), play restarts with a player from the non-scoring team taking the ball directly under the basket and then dribbling or passing it to a point behind the arc. The defense is not allowed to play for the ball inside the
block/charge semi-circle under the basket. In any held-ball situation, the defensive team is granted possession. The offensive team must attempt a shot for a goal within 12 seconds. An offensive player may also not dribble inside the arc with their back or side to the basket for more than 3 consecutive seconds. For either violation the defensive team is granted possession. There is a
Trent Tucker Rule in which with up to 0.2 seconds left in regulation or on the shot clock, a high lob, or tip-in must be made.
Overtime A tie in regulation time leads to an untimed overtime period, after a one-minute intermission. Whichever team began the game as the defensive team, begins overtime as the offensive team. The first team to score two points wins the game. Note: if a game is tied at 20 at the end of regulation, a team scoring their 21st point in overtime does not end the game.
Substitutions and timeouts Substitutions can occur only in a dead-ball situation; a substitute can only enter from behind the end line opposite the basket, and the substitution becomes official once the player leaving the game has "tagged up" by making physical contact with the substitute. Each team is allowed one 30 second
time-out per game.
Fouls Each personal or technical
foul counts as one team foul, while each unsportsmanlike or disqualifying foul counts as two team fouls. Personal fouls during the act of shooting inside the arc are awarded one free throw, while fouls during the act of shooting behind the arc and the shot is unsuccessful are awarded two free throws. Team fouls 7, 8 and 9 are awarded two free throws, and all team fouls thereafter are awarded two free throws and possession of the ball. The "bonus" rule specifically supersedes the normal rule for fouls in the act of shooting. The un-timed overtime period is considered extension of regulation for purpose of team fouls. The first unsportsmanlike foul against a player results in two free throws. A second unsportsmanlike foul, or a disqualifying foul, results in two free throws and possession. A player who commits two unsportsmanlike fouls is disqualified. A team loses the game by default if all of its players are disqualified. All technical fouls result in one free throw, with possession going to the team that was entitled to possession at that time. If a foul is committed that results in the non-fouling team retaining possession, i.e. a technical or "unsportsmanlike" foul, the non-fouling team will receive the exchange outside of the arc. Offensive fouls, if not technical, unsportsmanlike, or disqualifying, never result in free throws, regardless of the number of team fouls. In the case of a double foul, no free throws are awarded to either team, regardless of team foul count or whether the double fouls were unsportsmanlike. ==Development==