3x3 basketball rules rules, for watching
Start with the rules you see all the time, then the ones that change results.
Checked 14 October 2026
Settling an argument? Search all 20 rules
- How do you win a game of 3x3 basketball?
- How many points is a basket worth in 3x3?
- How big is a 3x3 basketball court?
- How many players are in a 3x3 team, and is there a coach?
- How does a 3x3 game start, and what is a check-ball?
- Why do 3x3 players run out behind the arc before they shoot?
- How long does a 3x3 team have to shoot?
- How many time-outs does a 3x3 team get?
- What are the violations in 3x3, and what do they cost?
- Can a 3x3 player back a defender down towards the basket?
- Two players are both holding the ball. Who gets it in 3x3?
- When is it illegal to touch a shot on its way to the basket?
- What happens when a shooter is fouled in 3x3?
- What changes when a 3x3 team has committed a lot of fouls?
- What is a technical foul in 3x3?
- What gets a player thrown out of a 3x3 game?
- Can a 3x3 team challenge a referee's call?
- What happens if a 3x3 team does not turn up, or wants to protest a result?
- How are teams ranked in a 3x3 pool?
- Is 3x3 the same as half-court basketball?
Where these rules come from
| Tag | Document |
|---|---|
| Art. plus number | FIBA, Official 3x3 Basketball Rules 2026, valid as of 1 January 2026, approved by the FIBA Central Board on 4 December 2025. Read for this set: Articles 1 to 5, 8 to 32, 34 to 39, 41 to 43, 45 and 47 |
| Appendix C, D, E | The same book: C protest procedure, D classification of teams, E adaptation to under-12 categories |
| ../5x5/ set | The five-a-side pages in this repo, which were checked against the FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026 |
| R | "Why the rule exists", or a point reasoned from the rule, not stated in it |
| C | Common usage or general knowledge, not a rule |
All checked on 14 October 2026.