FIBA released its official rules for FIBA 3x3 on June 2, 2010 as a supplement to its official basketball rules. The rules state that regular FIBA rules apply to all situations not specifically addressed in the FIBA 3x3 rules.[5]
The departures from regular full-court basketball are as follows:[5]
Each team consists of four players, of whom three are on the court at any given time, plus one coach.
The game is played on half of a FIBA regulation court, with one basket.
A jump ball is not used to start the game. Instead, immediately before the game, a player from one team attempts a three-point shot. If made, the shooter's team will have first possession. Subsequent jump ball situations are governed by the alternating possession rule, with the first such possession going to the team that did not have possession of the ball at the start of the game.
Instead of the three officials used in full-court basketball, two officials are used, plus a scorer, a timer, and a shot clock operator.
The game is divided into two periods of 5 minutes each. The winner is the first team to score 33 or more points. If neither team reaches 33 points at the end of regulation, the team with the highest score wins, as in regular basketball. A tie in regulation leads to as many overtimes of 2 minutes as are needed to produce a winner, either by one team being ahead at the end of an overtime or by a team reaching 33 points.
A 12-second shot clock is used.
The first person on the offensive team to possess the ball outside the three-point arc must pass the ball to a teammate before a shot can be taken.
If the defense gains possession of the ball within the two-point area, either by a steal or rebound, the team must first move the ball behind the three-point arc and then pass the ball before being allowed to take a shot.
Throw-ins take place at a point on the sidelines level with the top of the three-point arc. The thrower may pass to a teammate anywhere on the court. The receiver is not allowed to shoot regardless of his or her location. If in the three-point area, the receiver must pass to a teammate. If in the two-point area, the ball must be dribbled or passed outside the area; once outside the area, the player in possession must pass before the team can attempt a shot.
Dunking is not permitted unless the court has approved breakaway rims.
No timeouts are allowed at any time. (The officials may still stop the game in case of player injury or other dangerous situation, as in the standard FIBA rules.)
Some similarities to traditional basketball rules are explicitly addressed in the FIBA 3x3 rules:[5]
A player who has committed 5 fouls is disqualified, as in a full-length fullcourt game.
A team is in a penalty foul situation on its fourth foul in a period, as in the full game. Subsequent non-shooting defensive fouls by that team result in two free throws. Since the main FIBA rules apply unless specifically addressed in the FIBA 3x3 rules, all overtime periods are considered an extension of the second period for purposes of the foul penalty.
FIBA Secretary General Patrick Baumann has stated that the rules are a work in progress, but that any changes will not compromise the spirit of street 3-on-3.[4] One change from the original rules was in the number of periods; in the first test event, games were conducted in three 5-minute periods.
