What happens if a 3x3 team does not turn up, or wants to protest a result?
A · Advanced · Officials, results and differences · 6 of 6A team that does not have three players ready on the court at the scheduled time loses by forfeit, scored as w-0. A team that leaves the court, or has every player injured or disqualified, loses by default and is out of the competition. A protest is written on the back of the scoresheet and costs 200 US dollars.
How it works
- Forfeit: the team is not on the court with three players ready at the scheduled start. This is not compulsory at grassroots level.
- The score: w-0 or 0-w. The winner's game is left out of its points average. The loser's counts as zero.
- Twice, or a no-show: a team that forfeits twice in the pool phase, or does not appear, is disqualified from the competition.
- Default: the team leaves the court before the end, or all its players are injured or disqualified.
- The winner's choice: to keep the score as it stood, or to take a forfeit win.
- After a default: the losing team is disqualified from the competition.
- Grounds for protest: an error in the score, the time or the shot clock that the referees did not correct; a decision to forfeit, cancel, postpone or not resume a game; a breach of the eligibility rules.
- How to protest: a player signs the scoresheet straight after the game and writes the reasons on the back before the referees sign.
- The fee: 200 US dollars for each protest, payable if it fails.
- The decision: by the sports supervisor, before the next round begins. It is final, except on eligibility.
The glossary has the forfeit and 3x3 basketball.
Tricky cases
Can a team protest a foul call?
No. The grounds are limited to uncorrected errors of score or time, decisions about the game taking place and eligibility.
A team's fourth player is stuck in traffic. Can it start with three?
Yes. Three ready players are all that is needed.
Does a team that loses by default stay in the tournament?
No. It is disqualified from the competition.
Is the protest fee returned if the protest succeeds?
It depends on the wording. The copy read for this page says the fee is payable when the protest is rejected, which suggests it is not charged when the protest is upheld.
Why the rule exists
A 3x3 tournament runs many short games on one court in a day. A late team holds up every game after it, so the forfeit is immediate. Protests are limited to matters of fact and procedure, because a referee's judgement on the court is final.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FIBA 3x3 official competitions | Forfeit rule applies | Art. 20.1 |
| Grassroots | The forfeit rule is not compulsory | Art. 20.1 |
| Fraudulent forfeit | The team is disqualified from the competition | Art. 20.2.2 |
| Five-a-side basketball | A forfeit is scored 20 to 0 | ../5x5/ set |
From the rule book
FIBA, Official 3x3 Basketball Rules 2026 (valid as of 1 January 2026), Articles 20.1 to 20.2.3, 21.1 to 21.2.2 and 47.11, and Appendix C. Checked 14 October 2026 against a Korean-language copy; check the English text before publishing. Official document: FIBA Official 3x3 Basketball Rules (PDF).