What is a technical foul in 3x3?
A · Advanced · Violations and fouls · 4 of 6A foul for behaviour and not for contact: disrespect to officials or opponents, taunting, faking a foul, delaying the game or talking to a coach. The other team gets one free throw, and then the team that had the ball keeps it. A player is not sent off for technical fouls, however many they collect.
How it works
- What it is: a foul without contact. The list in the rules is not complete.
- Behaviour: ignoring a referee's warning; being disrespectful to referees, the supervisor, table officials or opponents; language or gestures likely to offend or incite spectators; baiting and taunting.
- Unfair play: waving a hand near an opponent's eyes; swinging elbows excessively; pretending to be fouled or exaggerating contact.
- Delay: after a basket, deliberately touching the ball or stopping the new attacking team from taking it; not taking the ball at once when nothing prevents it; defending actively inside the semi-circle after a basket; getting in the way of a check-ball or free throw.
- Coaching: any communication between players and coaches during the game.
- Goaltending on a last free throw: by a defender.
- The penalty: 1 free throw, taken at once by any player of the other team.
- Then: a check-ball for the team that had the ball or was entitled to it when the foul was called.
- Team fouls: it counts as one.
- No disqualification: a player is not sent off for two technical fouls.
The glossary has the technical foul, team fouls and the free throw.
Tricky cases
A defender holds on to the ball after conceding a basket. Is that a foul?
Yes. Deliberately interfering with the ball after a basket is a technical foul for delay.
Can a referee warn a player first?
Yes. For minor points that are plainly unintentional and do not affect the game, the referee may warn before calling a technical foul.
Team A has the ball when its own player is called for a technical foul. Who has the ball afterwards?
Team A. After the free throw, the team that had the ball keeps it. The shot clock carries on from where it was.
Does a second technical foul send a player off?
No. In 3x3 a player is not disqualified for two technical fouls.
Why the rule exists
Games without coaches or a long bench depend on the players keeping order themselves. The technical foul prices bad behaviour at a point without removing a player from a team that has only four. The delay clauses protect the quick restart after a basket, which is what keeps 3x3 moving.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FIBA 3x3 rules | 1 free throw, no disqualification for two | Art. 36.2.2; Art. 36.3 |
| Video review | A technical foul may be upgraded to an unsportsmanlike or disqualifying foul | Art. 47.5 |
| Five-a-side basketball | A player with two category 1 technical fouls is disqualified | ../5x5/ set |
From the rule book
FIBA, Official 3x3 Basketball Rules 2026 (valid as of 1 January 2026), Articles 29.2.3, 36.1 to 36.3 and 43.2.2. Official document:FIBA Official 3x3 Basketball Rules (PDF).