3 ON 3 BASKETBALL RULES

THE GAME 

3 on 3 basketball is a half court game played by two teams of three players each, including a maximum of one substitute.  A team must have three players on the court, ready to play, in order to avoid a forfeit.  Undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to compete.  PLEASE NOTE:  Members of the college varsity basketball teams and any student regularly practicing with the intercollegiate basketball team are ineligible.  Any student who has previously played on his/her varsity team, but is no longer on the team, must sit out one semester before becoming eligible to compete. 

Playing time consist of two halves of 8 minutes running clock, with a one-minute intermission.  A tie score at the end of regulation time shall, whenever possible, result in a 2 minute overtime period, with ball possession determined by a coin toss.  If the score remains a tie after the overtime, the game will be determined by free throws.  Each team will pick one player to shoot a free throw.  The team that makes their free throw after the opposing team misses will be determined the winner.  Time outs can only be called by the referee for injuries and special circumstances. 

Substitutions may be made after a basket, a foul shot or stoppage of play.  The winner of the coin toss shall take the first ball possession, and the loser shall take ball possession to start the second half.  Ball possession changes hands after each basket, unless a foul is awarded.  Deliberate stalling or attempts to freeze the ball shall result in loss of ball possession.  If a team is warned for stalling, the official will administer a 10-second count during which a shot must be attempted.  If a shot is not attempted, ball possession is lost.

The imaginary “check line” shall be the top of the foul circle.  A player must pass the ball in from the check line at the start of each half, after a score or after a foul is awarded.  On defensive rebounds, steals, or any change of possession, the ball must be returned to the check line and the player in possession of the ball may retain control and attempt to score.  Both feet must be on or cross the check line in order to be called a legal check.  NFHS rules shall be enforced whenever applicable.

FOULING

All common, personal and technical fouls shall be counted against a team total.  In each half, a bonus will be awarded on and after the fifth team foul.  An individual can not foul out of the game, but may be ejected by the official for cause. 

 Prior to the fifth team foul:

 a)  Any common foul shall result in loss of possession for the offending team.
b)      Any offensive foul shall result in disallowing a converted basket and loss of possession.
c)      Any shooting foul with a missed basket shall result in retained possession
d)      Any shooting foul with a converted basket shall result in the basket being awarded and a change of possession.

On or after the fifth team foul:

a)  Any common foul shall result in a single foul shot along with retained possession for the offended team.
b)      Any offensive foul shall result in disallowing a converted basket and a single foul shot along with retained possession for the offended team.
c)       Any shooting foul with a missed basket shall result in two foul shots along with retained possession.
d)      Any shooting foul with a converted basket shall result in the basket being awarded along with retained possession. 

THE OFFICIALS

The duties of the officials shall include time keeping and refereeing.  There will be an official scorekeeper and time keeper.  The officials shall conduct the game in accordance with the official rules.  The officials shall penalize any player, or substitute for unsportsmanlike conduct by immediate ejection and banishment from the playing area.  Prior to the game, the referee shall perform a coin toss to determine ball possession.  The referee shall signal the ball in play to begin both halves, indicate attempted free throws, and call all other violations.  The referee shall have power to make decisions on any point not specifically covered in the rules.