The game of three-on-three basketball has evolved from a pick-up type of game commonly played at city parks and local gyms to a tournament game that can be highly competitive. Whether you're playing a backyard game or high-profile tourney ball, having a solid grasp on the rules is key to your chance of success.
The Game
Teams must have at least three players but can include up to five players on their roster for substitutions. The game is a short court game, meaning it's played on one half of a basketball court. Most of the rules and regulations governing a standard basketball game are still pertinent. Each team passes and dribbles the ball around the court, attempting to score a basket.
Scoring
Scoring works a bit differently, mostly for the purpose of simplifying the game. Any basket made inside the normal three-point arc is worth one point instead of the standard two of regular basketball. Any basket made from beyond the three-point arc is worth two points instead of three. After one team scores, the ball changes possession and play resumes. However, rather than passing the ball in from behind the hoop, the ball is brought back behind the three-point arc, whereupon the game begins again. Most games aren't limited to a set amount of time in their duration. Instead, teams compete to be the first to score a set number of points, usually 11, 15 or 20. This number is always agreed upon before the game begins. Oftentimes, teams must win a game by two or more points.
Fouls
Personal fouls are much less complicated than their counterparts in regular basketball. Typically, if a player is fouled while shooting and misses the shot, he gets back possession of the ball. If a player is fouled while shooting and makes the shot, the basket counts and the offended team keeps possession of the ball. Some tournaments may institute free throws if the number of fouls exceeds a certain number per game, typically seven to 12.
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