The Official FIBA Basketball Rules of the Game are valid for all game situations not specifically mentioned in the
3x3 Rules of the Game herein.
Art. 1 Court and Ball
The game will be played on a 3x3 basketball court with 1 basket. A regular 3x3 court-playing surface is 15m
(width) x 11m (length). The court shall have a regular basketball playing court-sized zone, including a free
throw line (5.80m), a two point line (6.75m) and a “no-charge semi-circle” area underneath the one basket.
Half a traditional basketball court may be used.
A ball determined by FIMBA shall be used in all categories.
Note: at grassroots level, 3x3 can be played anywhere; court markings – if any are used – shall be adapted to
the available space
Art. 2 Teams
Each team will consist of 5 players (3 players on court and 2 substitutes).
Note: For International Championships refer to Article 16.
Art. 3 Players
The participation of the players in the established categories will be subject to the following rule:
3.1 They must be of the age corresponding to their category or comply with it in the year of tournament, 3.2
No player may play in a category higher than his/her age,
3.3 All must have a Fimba License.
Art. 4 Game Officials
The game officials shall consist of 1 or 2 referees and time/score keepers.
Art. 5 Beginning of the Game
5.1. Both teams shall warm-up simultaneously prior to the game.
5.2. A coin flip shall determine which team gets the first possession. The team that wins the coin flip can either
choose to benefit from the ball possession at the beginning of the game or at the beginning of a potential
overtime.
5.3. The game must start with three players on the court.
Art. 6 Scoring
6.1. Every shot inside the arc shall be awarded one 1 point.
6.2. Every shot behind the arc shall be awarded 2 points.
6.3. Every successful free throw shall be awarded 1 point.
Art. 7 Playing time/Winner of a Game
7.1. The regular playing time shall be as follows: one period of 10 minutes playing time. The clock shall be
stopped during dead ball situations and free throws. The clock shall be restarted after the exchange of the ball
is completed (as soon as it is in the offensive team’s hands).
7.2. However in the categories F30 to F45 and M35 to M45, the first team which scores 15 points or more wins
the game if it happens before the end of regular playing time. This rule applies to regular playing time only (not
in a potential overtime).
7.2.1 In the categories F50 to F75 and M50 to M75, the first team which scores 10 points or more win the game
if it happens before the end of regular playing time. This rule applies to regular playing time only (not in a
potential overtime).
7.3. If the score is tied at the end of the game time, an additional time will be played. There will be a 1 minute
interval and the additional time will begin. The first team to convert 2 points in the additional time will win the
match.
7.3.1 In categories F50 in more and M50 in more, the Organizing Committee will be able to dispose at the
beginning of the tournament, omitting 7.3, a jump-off for all the matches in which it is necessary by means of
the launching of 1 free throw by each player and of alternating form . In total there would be 3 free throws per
team. This opportunity will be given to 3 players, any of the 5 players of the team that are authorized to play.
The series will begin the team that did not have the first possession of the ball.
7.3.2 If a team in 7.3.1 ends the playing time with 2 or with 1 player, said team will complete the series of 3
free throws with 2 or with 1 player. The opposing team can also if they want to complete their series with 2 or
1 player.
7.3.3 If the tie persists after the first series of free throws, a new series will be started until, after finishing a
free throw of the team that starts the series followed by a free throw by the opposing team, there is 1 point of
difference and then a winner will be declared.
7.4. A team shall lose the game by forfeit if at the scheduled starting time the team is not present on the
playing court with 3 players ready to play. In case of a forfeit, the game score is marked with w-0 or 0-w (“w”
standing for win).
7.5. A team shall lose by default if it leaves the court before the end of the game or all the players of the team
are injured and/or disqualified. In case of a default situation, the winning team can choose to keep its score or
have the game forfeited, whilst the defaulting team's score is set to 0 in any case.
7.6. A team losing by default or a tortuous forfeit will be disqualified from the competition.
Art. 8 Fouls/Free throws
8.1. A team is in a penalty situation after it has committed 6 fouls. For the avoidance of doubt, players are not
excluded based on the number of personal fouls subject to art. 15.
8.2. Fouls during the act of shooting inside the arc shall be awarded 1 free throw, whilst fouls during the act of
shooting behind the arc shall be awarded 2 free throws.
8.3. Fouls during the act of shooting followed by a successful field goal shall be awarded 1 additional free
throw.
8.4. Team fouls 7, 8 and 9 shall always be awarded with 2 free throws. The 10th and any subsequent team foul
as well as technical and unsportsmanlike fouls will be always awarded with 2 free throws and ball possession.
This clause is applied also to fouls during the act of shooting and overrules 8.2 and 8.3.
8.5. All technical fouls will always result in 1 free throw and possession of the ball; while unsportsmanlike fouls
will result in 2 free throws and possession of the ball. The match must continue with a ball exchange at the top
of the goal. of a technical or unsportsmanlike foul.
Note: There will not be free shots after an offensive foul.
Art. 9 How the ball is played
9.1. Following each successful field goal or last free throw:
- A player from a non-scoring team will resume the game by dribbling or passing the ball from inside the court
directly underneath the basket (not from behind the end line) to a place on the court behind the arc.
- The defensive team is not allowed to play for the ball in the “no-charge semi-circle area” underneath the
basket.
9.2. Following each unsuccessful field goal or last free throw: -
-If the offensive team rebounds the ball, it may continue to attempt to score without returning the ball behind
the arc.
- If the defensive team rebounds or steals the ball, it must return the ball behind the arc (by passing or
dribbling).
9.3. Possession of the ball given to either team following any dead ball situation shall start with an exchange of
the ball (between the defensive and the offensive player) behind the arc at the top of the court.
9.4. A player is considered to be “behind the arc” when neither of his feet are inside nor step the arc.
9.5. In the event of a jump ball situation, the defensive team shall be rewarded the ball.
Art. 10 Stalling
10.1. Stalling or failing to play actively (i.e. not attempting to score) shall be a violation.
10.2 All teams will have 15 seconds to make an attempt to basket.
10.2.1 In the categories F30 to F45 and from M35 to M45 the clock will start as soon as the ball is in the hands
of an offensive player after the check-ball or as soon as a team player who has not scored takes the ball.
10.2.2 In the F50 over and over M50 categories the clock will start as soon as the ball is in the hands of an
offensive player after the check-ball or as soon as a team player who has not scored is placed with the ball
“behind the arc”.
Art. 11 Substitutions
Any team can do substitutions when the ball becomes dead, prior to the check-ball. The substitute can enter
the game after his teammate steps off the court and establishes a physical contact with him. Substitutions can
only take place behind the end line opposite the basket and substitutions require no action from the referees
or table officials.
Art. 12 Time-outs
12.1 In the categories F30 to F45 and M35 to M45 a one 30-second time-out is granted to each team. A player
can call the time-out in a dead ball situation.
12.2 In the event there is production of TV, the organizer may apply two times-outs of TV awarded at the next
dead ball after 6:59 clock and 3:59.
12.3 In the categories F50 to F60 and M50 to M60, a one 30-second time-out is granted to each team. There
will be a mandatory 60-second time-out, which will be awarded to the first dead ball after the game clock has
been marking the 6:00 minutes played.
12.4 In the categories F65 and over and M65 and over, a one 30-second time-out is granted to each team.
There will be two mandatory 60-second time-outs, which will be awarded to the first dead ball after the game
clock has marked the 4:00 minutes played and 8:00 minutes played.
12.5 Time-outs are not cumulative.
Note: the times dead reckoned and substitutions may only be ordered in situations where the ball is declared
dead and may not be called while the ball is alive, in compliance with 9.1.
Art.13 Protest procedure
In case a team believes its interests have been adversely affected by a decision of an official or by any event
that took place during a game, it must proceed in the following manner:
1. A player of that team shall sign the score sheet immediately at the end of the game and before the referee
signs it.
2. Within 30 minutes, the team should present a written explanation of the case, as well as a security deposit of
200 USD to the Sports Director. If the protest is accepted, then the security deposit is refunded.
3. Video materials may be used only to decide if a last shot for a field goal at the end of the game was released
during playing time and/or whether that shot for a field goal counts for 1 or 2 points.
Art. 14 Standings of teams
Both in pools and in overall competition standings, the following classification rules apply. If teams are tied
after the first step, refer to the next one – and so on.
1. Most wins (or win ratio in case of unequal number of games in inter-pool comparison);
2. Head-to-head confrontation (only taking win/loss into account and applies within a pool only);
3. Most points scored in average (without considering winning scores of forfeits).
If teams are still tied after those three steps, the one(s) with the highest seeding win(s) the tie-breaker.
Art. 15 Disqualifications
A player committing two unsportsmanlike fouls will be disqualified from the game by the referees and from the
event by the organizer. Independent thereof, the organizer will disqualify the player(s) concerned from the
event for acts of violence, verbal or physical aggression, tortuous interference in game results, a violation of
FIBA’s Anti-Doping rules (Book 4 of the FIBA Internal Regulations) or any other breach of the FIBA Code of
Ethics (Book 1, Chapter II of the FIBA Internal Regulations) or FIMBA rules. The organizer may also disqualify
the entire team from the event depending on the other team members' contribution (also through non-action)
to the aforementioned behavior.
II. Special Rules for International Championships
Art. 16.- Coach and auxiliary extras
16.1 All teams may have a coach (non-player) and credit in the tournament up to two (2) extras (non-players).
16.2 There must be 5 seats in each team bank. The equipment banks will be separated by the control table.
Substitutes should sit in the two places closest to the control table.
16.3 In cases where the control table should be located behind a lateral line, said table and the benches should
be placed 2 meters from the lateral line. The bank of team B will be located immediately near the final line
opposite the basket.
16.4 Only the coach may remain standing during the game and may verbally address his players without
entering the field.
16.5 The coach is responsible for the sporting behavior of the people sitting in the bank. In case the bank has
been sanctioned with 2 technical fouls, the coach must withdraw from the stadium (applies 8.5).
Art. 17.- Teams
The teams may be composed of players from the same or different countries. Teams with players from the
same country will be identified with the name of the country.
The different teams of the country in the same category will be identified as A, B, C, etc.
Teams with players from different countries will be identified as FIMBA team of the category in which they
participate.
The different FIMBA teams in the same category will be identified as A, B, C, etc.
Art. 18.- Branches
The FIMBA 3x3 championships can be male, female and mixed.