About 3X3 - OFFICIAL RULES OF THE GAME - OFFICIAL INTERPRETATIONS 1

3x3 Official Rules of the Game – Official Interpretations

July 2016

The Official FIBA Basketball Rules of the Game and Official Interpretations are valid for all game situations not specifically mentioned in the 3x3 Rules of the Game herein.

The aim of this document is to convert the principles and concepts of the rulebook into practical and specific situations as they might arise during a normal 3x3 game.

The referee shall have the full power and authority to make decisions on any point not specifically covered in the 3x3 Official Rules of the Game or in the following 3x3 Official Interpretations.

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.

The official 3x3 ball 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 shall consist of 4 players (3 players on the court and 1 substitute).

Note: No coach on the playground, no remote coaching from the bleacher is allowed

Example 2-1:  During the game, one person, acting as a coach, gives instructions to the players, whilst seated out of the court. This situation happens:

(a) During playing time. (b) During a time-out.

Interpretation 2-1: In both cases, players may not interact with anybody else outside the court. Inappropriate interaction with people outside the court or any form of communication between players and coaches during the game may get evaluated as unsportsmanlike behaviour.

Art. 3 Game Officials

The game officials shall consist of 1 or 2 referees and time/score keepers.

Example 3-1: 3 minutes after the beginning of the game, 1 referee appears to be injured and cannot continue to officiate.

Interpretation 3-1: If an official is injured or for any other reason cannot continue to perform his duties within 5 minutes of the incident, the game shall be resumed. The remaining referee will officiate alone for the remainder of the game, unless there is the possibility of replacing the injured referee with a qualified substitute referee.

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After consulting with the organizer, the remaining referee will decide upon the possible replacement.

Art. 4 Beginning of the Game 4.1. Both teams shall warm-up simultaneously prior to the game. 4.2. 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. 4.3. The game must start with three players on the court. Note: articles 4.3 and 6.4 apply to FIBA 3x3 Official Competitions* only (not mandatory for grassroots events). *  FIBA  Official  Competitions  are  Olympic  Tournaments,  3x3  World  Championships  (incl.  U18),  Zone Championships (incl. U18), the 3x3 World Tour and 3x3 All Stars

Example 4-1: After the regular playing time, the score is Team A 15 – Team B 15. Team A was entitled to the ball at the beginning of the game. During the interval prior to the overtime, B3 disrespectfully addresses the referees and is charged with a technical foul. Interpretation 4-1: The overtime will start with 1 free throw and ball possession for Team A. Team B will lose the right for the ball at the beginning of the overtime.

Example 4-2: Team B is entitled to the check ball under the coin flip procedure. An official makes an error and the ball is erroneously awarded to Team A. The error is discovered a.     before the ball is in the hands of a player of Team A player for the beginning of the game (and the game clock shows 10:00). Interpretation 4-2.1: The game has not started yet. The ball must be awarded to Team B as per the coin flip procedure. b.    after the game has already started (and the game clock shows 09:59 or less). Interpretation 4-2.2: The game has already started and the error cannot be corrected. Team B shall be entitled to the check ball in the potential overtime.

Example 4-3: In a FIBA 3x3 Official Competition, when the game is scheduled to begin, Team B has fewer than 3 players on the playing court ready to play. Interpretation 4-3: The beginning of the game shall be delayed for a maximum of 5 minutes (in FIBA 3x3 Official Competitions, the Sports Director can modify this time at his/her discretion). If the absent players arrive on the playing court ready to play before 5 minutes have passed, the game shall begin. If the absent players have not arrived on the playing court ready to play before 5 minutes have passed, the game shall be forfeited to Team A.

Example 4-4: In a FIBA 3x3 Official Competition, Team A is present with less than 3 players on the court because of injuries, disqualifications etc. This happens: a.    Prior to the start of the game. b.    After the game has already started. Interpretation 4-4: The obligation to be present with a minimum of 3 players is valid only for the beginning of the game. In case (a), the game shall not start, whilst in case (b), Team A shall continue to play with fewer

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than 3 players.

Example 4-5: During the game, A1 leaves the game due to an injury. Team A can continue the game with only

2 remaining players, as they have no more substitutes available. As Team A is playing with 2 players, Team B

decides for any reason to also play with 2 players, whilst 1 player remains seated on the substitution chair.

Interpretation 4-5: The decision of Team B to play with 2 players shall be permitted. Even if Team B has 3 players available, at least one of them must be on the playing court.

Art. 5 Scoring

5.1. Every shot inside the arc shall be awarded one 1 point.

5.2. Every shot behind the arc shall be awarded 2 points.

5.3. Every successful free throw shall be awarded 1 point.

Example 5-1: A3 releases the ball on a shot from the 2-point field goal area. The ball on its upward flight is legally touched by

a.    an offensive player b.    a defensive player

who is within the 1-point field goal area. The ball then continues its flight and enters the basket.

Interpretation 5-1: The value of a field goal is defined by the place on the floor from where the shot was released. A field goal released from the 1-point field goal area counts 1 point, a field goal released from the 2- point field goal area counts 2 points. In both cases team A shall be awarded 2 points as A3’s shot was released from the 2-point field goal area.

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Art. 6 Playing time/Winner of a Game 6.1. 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). 6.2. However the first team which scores 21 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). 6.3. If the score is tied at the end of playing time, an extra period of time will be played. There shall be an interval of 1 minute before the overtime starts. The first team to score 2 points in the overtime wins the game. 6.4. 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). 6.5. 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. 6.6. A team losing by default or a tortuous forfeit will be disqualified from the competition. Note: if a game clock is not available the running time’s length and/or required points for sudden death is at the organizer’s discretion. FIBA recommends setting the score limit in line with the game’s duration (10 minutes/10 points; 15 minutes/15 points; 21 minutes/21 points).

Example 6-1: With the score Team A 20 – Team B 20, A2 scores a lay-up worth 1 point. This happens a.     with 2 min remaining in the game clock. Interpretation 6-1.1: Team A is the winner of the game. The final score will be Team A 21 – Team B 20. b.    during the extra-period. Interpretation 6-1.2: The game shall continue. The first team to score 2 points in the overtime wins the game.

Example 6-2: A2 is fouled during an act of shooting from behind the arc. The shot is successful. This happens a.     with 1 min to the end of the game with the score Team A 20 – Team B 20. Interpretation 6-2.1: Team A is the winner of the game. The final score will be Team A 22 – Team B 20. 22 is the maximum possible score in a game after regular playing time. Free-throw(s) and potential possession of the ball for the foul shall be disregarded. b.    during the overtime with the score Team A 21 – Team B 21. Interpretation 6-2.2: Team A is the winner of the game. The final score will be Team A 23 – Team B 21, and this is the maximum possible score in a game after overtime. Free-throw(s) and potential possession of the ball for the foul shall be disregarded.

Example 6-3: With the score Team A 15 – Team B 15, B4 is fouled during an act of shooting from behind the arc, just before the game clock signal sounds for the end of regular playing time. This is Team A´s 10th team foul in the game. The shot is successful. Interpretation 6-3: B4’s successful field goal is valid. B4 shall attempt the 2 free throws as a result of the foul, as Team B didn’t reach 21 points. Team B is the winner of the game and the number of free throws scored by B4 shall determine the final score. Team B shall lose the possession of the ball, as the playing time is expired.

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Art. 7 Fouls/Free throws 7.1. 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. 15. 7.2. 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. 7.3. Fouls during the act of shooting followed by a successful field goal shall be awarded 1 additional free throw. 7.4. Team fouls 7, 8 and 9 shall always be awarded with 2 free throws. The 10th and any subsequent team foul will be awarded with 2 free throws and ball possession. This clause is applied also to fouls during the act of shooting and overrules 7.2 and 7.3. 7.5. All technical fouls will be always awarded with 1 free throw and ball possession; whilst unsportsmanlike fouls will be awarded with 2 free throws and ball possession. The game shall continue with an exchange of the ball behind the arc at the top of the court after a technical or unsportsmanlike foul. Note: no free throws are awarded after offensive foul.

Example 7-1: Player A3 gets called for a disqualifying foul. Interpretation 7-1: Disqualifying fouls shall be awarded with 2 free throws and ball possession. A3 shall be disqualified from the game by the referees, must leave the court immediately and may be disqualified from the event by the organizer (Art. 15).

Example 7-2: With 3:05 in the game clock, both teams have committed 7 fouls. A4 is dribbling the ball outside the arc. A5 and B5 are fighting for position close to the basket. The referee calls a foul a.    against A5 (offensive foul). Interpretation 7-2.1: Check ball for Team B. No free throws are awarded after an offensive foul. An offensive foul is a personal foul committed by a player of the team in control of the live ball or entitled to the ball. b.    against B5. Interpretation 7-2.2: 2 free throws shall be awarded to A5 since Team A is in the bonus.

Example 7-3: B1 is dribbling the ball. A1 deflects the ball and both players start running to first reach the ball. In order to get an advantage, B1 pushes A1 and the referee calls a personal foul against B1. This is: a.    the 1st Team Foul in the Game. b.    the 7th Team Foul in the Game. c.    the 10th Team Foul in the Game. Interpretation 7-3: After A1’s deflection, Team B did not lose the possession of the ball. Therefore, B1’s foul must be considered as an offensive foul. In all cases, the game shall continue with a check ball for Team A.

Example 7-4: At the beginning of the game the referees call an Unsportsmanlike Foul against B3. After 2 min. B3 delays on purpose the restarting of the game and the officials charge him with a Technical Foul. Close to the end of the game B3 commits his 6th foul and the referees call it a.    as a normal foul. Interpretation 7-4.1: B3 can continue to play. A player shall not be excluded based on the number of personal fouls.

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b.    as an Unsportsmanlike Foul. Interpretation 7-4.2: B3 shall be automatically disqualified because of the second Unsportsmanlike Foul, and must leave the court (Art.15). c.    as a Technical Foul. Interpretation 7-4.3: B3 can continue to play. A player shall not be automatically disqualified for committing two Technical Fouls (Art.15).

Example 7-5: A4 is fouled by B4 while attempting a 1-point field goal. The shot is not successful. Team B has committed 3 fouls. Interpretation 7-5: A4 shall be awarded 1 free throw.

Example 7-6: A4 is fouled by B4 while attempting a 2-point field goal. The shot is successful. Team B has committed 5 fouls. Interpretation 7-6: 2 points for Team A and 1 additional free throw for A4.

Example 7-7: A4 is fouled by while attempting a 1-point field goal. The shot is not successful. Team B has committed 8 fouls. Interpretation 7-7: A4 shall be awarded 2 free throws

Example 7-8: A4 is fouled by B4 while attempting a 2-point field goal. The shot is successful. Team B has committed 10 fouls. Interpretation 7-8: 2 points for Team A, 2 additional free throws for A4 and ball possession for Team A.

Example 7-9: Simultaneously with the game clock signal for the end of the regular playing time, B1 fouls A1 and an Unsportsmanlike Foul is called. The score is Team A 13 – Team B 15. a.    A1 misses one or both free throws. Interpretation 7-9.1: A1 will attempt both free throws and the game will end, with Team A having no chance to reach the overtime. b.    A1 scores both free throws. Interpretation 7-9.2: The game shall continue with the overtime and the ball will be awarded to Team A, as a result of the Unsportsmanlike Foul (coin flip procedure shall not be applied).

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