All rules are adapted from FIBA Basketball guidelines.
If you are unaware of what these are, you can click the link below to go over the rules. It may even be worth having the players refer to rules if there is something that they are not sure on. FIBA Official Basketball Rules.
Housekeeping Rules
Signing in: All players must sign in with the table officials before entering the hall for the game.
Game Kit: Players must wear dark coloured (navy or black preferred) shorts/bottoms for the game. Players will be given a basketball top to wear, This must be returned to the coaches after the game. Please have an idea of what your childs size will be before arriving, as we will not be able to swap these around during or after the sign in process. (Sizes range from Extra Small Youth – XXL Adult, please see the size guide for basketball tops here: https://www.magichoops.co.uk/sizechart/)
Spectator Expectations: Upon arrival, the players will need to go to the team bench & stay with the team for the duration of the game. If they have a drink or any equipment for the game, they must take that with them and place it behind their seating.
Seating: Players & coaches will sit by the scorers table on one side of the court, spectators will sit on the other side of the court. At no point during the game should spectators go across to the team bench to interact with the players, scorers or coaches.
Cheering & Supporting: Please support the teams! Cheer, be loud and have fun! But be courteous. Players could be playing their first game ever, and sometimes referees will make mistakes. We do not expect anyone involved in the game to come under any kind of abuse. If a referee or coach feels like you are acting inappropriately, they will ask you to leave until the end of the game.
Transition from one game to the next: The players/families arriving for the next game should not enter until the game previously has finished the game & left the venue. Unless players are related & are sitting watching their respected family the players must wait outside the court to avoid overcrowding in the sports hall.
Exiting the Hall: A different door will be used to exit the hall (that will take you into the car park) once the game has finished, to help us and the Leisure Centre staff with the flow of people.
Adaptations
For fairness but also in the spirit of the 3×3 game we have adapted some of the rules, so the children get more in-game playing time with the bonus of being able to make more errors without being penalised as much.
3×3 Basketball game: 3×3 Basketball game is played on 1 hoop by 2 teams of 3 players and maximum of one substitute each. The aim of each team is to score in the basket and to prevent the other team from scoring. The game is controlled by up to 2 referees, table officials and a sports supervisor, if any.
Half length: Each half is 10 minutes long, with a running clock, making 20 minutes in total. The clock stops on dead balls and free throws.
Injuries: Injuries will be seen to by the referee & the coaches. When the referee blows the whistle to stop play, the coach will come onto the floor to assist the injured player. When a player is injured whether they are treated or untreated they must be subbed out.
Playing time: Each player is guaranteed at least one full half of playing time, either in the 1st or 2nd half. If we have more than 3 players available, the 4th player will rotate with the players from the first half. Rotations can only be made after the first 3 minutes of the half.
Clearing the Ball: After a successful basket or a defensive rebound/stealing inside the arc, the offensive team must “clear” the ball by passing or dribbling it completely outside the arc before they can attempt to score.
Check-Ball: Play starts or restarts (after fouls, out-of-bounds, or blocked shots) with a “check-ball”—a brief exchange of the ball between the defensive and offensive player behind the arc.
No Halftime Break: Play is continuous immediately after a score; there are no lengthy timeouts or pauses.
Tied Game: At the end of regulation time, if the game is tied, the game will start with the team who’s turn it is to inbound the ball and it will be the next points win. One basket, regardless of score, will win the game.
Unsportsmanlike fouls/Technical fouls: A team is in a penalty situation after it has committed 6 fouls. Players are not excluded based on the number of personal fouls subject to Art. If the foul is committed on a player in the act of shooting, that player shall be awarded a number of free throws.
Unsportsmanlike and disqualifying : Fouls are counted as 2 fouls for team fouls purposes. The first unsportsmanlike foul of a player shall be penalized with 2 free throws, but no ball possession. All disqualifying fouls (including the second unsportsmanlike of a player) shall be penalized with 2 free throws and ball possession.
