3x3
One half court, one basket, and three rules that do not come from 5v5.
- 12 s shot clock
- No fouling out
- One basket, half court
Source: FIBA Official 3x3 Basketball Rules.
It is not small-sided 5v5
3x3 is a separate FIBA discipline with its own rulebook. Three players plus one substitute per team, a half-court, a single basket, a dedicated ball.
Scoring: 1 and 2, not 2 and 3
Inside the arc: 1 point. Beyond the arc (6.75 m): 2 points. Free throw: 1 point. That is the first reflex a 5v5 coach has to unlearn.
One period, 10 minutes — or 21 points
A single 10-minute period, clock stopped on dead balls and free throws. But the game also ends the moment a team reaches 21 points, if it gets there before time. The 21 rule applies to regulation only: in overtime, the first team to score 2 points wins.
Shot clock: 12 seconds.
No foul-out
This is the structural difference from 5v5: players are not excluded on a number of fouls. The sanction is collective — team penalty from the 7th foul, fouls 7 to 9 giving 2 free throws, and beyond the 9th every foul becomes technical.
Check-ball and clearing the arc
Play starts and restarts with a ball exchange behind the arc. After every basket conceded, defensive rebound or steal, the ball must be taken back behind the arc before attacking. That is what gives 3x3 its particular rhythm.
3x3 is played at youth level too — the International School Sport Federation runs a U15 tournament on the same core rules.
Sources
- FIBA — Official 3x3 Rules, articles 1–12 (read in the verbatim reproduction published by Basketball Ireland; the fiba3x3.com PDFs returned HTTP 403 at the time of writing).
- ISF — Basketball 3x3 U15, Technical Rules and Regulations 2025.
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