3v3 Leagues

3v3 League Information

About 3v3 Leagues

  • There are no real positions in 3v3, which allows players to learn spacing, moving without the ball, team communication, and offensive and defensive skills, and 3v3 gives each player optimal playing involvement. Games are competitive, and the fast-paced game structure makes it a great basketball environment for players and spectators! 

League Format

  • 8-Week seasons with game nights once a week
  • 16-minute games, 4 minutes to rotate courts
  • Each team plays an average of 3 games per night, 24 games total
  • Playoffs and championships are played during the final week

Rosters / Registration

  • 3v3 registration is made by individual player registrations, where each player can request specific teammates to form a team of their own. If no teammate requests are indicated, we will place them on a team within their age group. The recommended team size is 4-6 players. Team size depends on each player’s availability and commitment to the league (a minimum of four players per team is required). Players must be within 1-grade differential of age to be placed on a team together. Please only request teammates you have already communicated with and mutually agreed to play together. 
  • You will be notified by email of your roster assignment once the league registration deadline completes.

Schedules

  • Schedules will be initially communicated by email and made available on TourneyMachine. We strongly recommend all players in the league download the Tourney Machine app to stay up-to-date with league game times, messages, scores, standings, and bracket play. 

Rules

League Rules

Beginning of the game

  • Both teams will warm-up simultaneously prior to the game.
  • The home team of each game will take one free throw to determine who gets the first possession. On a made shot, the home team receives the first possession. On a missed shot, the away team receives the first possession. This point does not count towards the game score. The home team is the first team listed on the schedule, to wear white reversible jersey color.
  • The game must start with three players on the court.

Scoring

  • Every shot from inside the arc (1-point field goal area) shall be awarded 1 point.
  • Every shot from behind the arc (2-point field goal area) shall be awarded 2 points.
  • Every successful free throw shall be awarded 1 point.

Playing time / winner of a game

  • The regular playing time is as follows: one period of 16- minutes running time. The clock is only stopped on timeouts or during a free throw under 5 seconds.
    • If the court is not equipt with its own running clock a maximum of 30 seconds will be added onto the end of regulation, for all timeouts called during the game with the duration counted down aloud by the referee. 5 seconds will be counted down aloud by the referee for games ending on a free throw, one time occurrence.
  • The first team to score 21 points 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). After 16 minutes if a team has not scored 21 points, whoever is leading the game is awarded the Win.
  • If the score is tied at the end of playing time, an extra period will be played. This period is sudden death and the first team to score wins. The team that did not start the beginning of the game with the ball will receive the ball first in overtime. 
  • A team will 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 21-0 win.
  • A team will 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, while in either case, the defaulting team’s score is set to 0.

Fouls / Free throws

  • Every foul that is not in the act of shooting results in 1 free throw
  • If the foul is committed on a player in the act of shooting, that player shall be awarded a number of free throws as follows:
    • If the shot released from the field goal area (inside or behind the arc) is successful, the goal shall count and, in addition, 1 free throw.
    • If the shot released from inside the arc is unsuccessful, 1 free throw.
    • If the shot released from behind the arc is unsuccessful, 2 free throws.

How the ball is played / Change of Possession

  • After scoring a bucket, it is the defensive team’s ball (losers’ ball). The ball must be checked with the opposing team to start the possession and the ball is live.
    • During a check-ball, the ball is at the disposal of the offensive player after the check-ball has been completed (i.e., ball is live after a check-ball to dribble, pass, score, etc.)
  • After a successful last free throw, the next offensive team is in possession of the ball. 
  • After an unsuccessful last free throw and the ball is live once it hits the rim
  • After getting a defensive stop, the player will need to pass/dribble past the three-point line to clear the ball, and the ball is now live (any change of possession must be cleared). The ball is considered “cleared” when the ball or player with the ball has either foot beyond the arc line.

Stalling

  • Stalling or failing to play actively (i.e. not attempting to score) shall be a violation.
  • Note: If the court is not equipped with a shot clock and a team is not sufficiently trying to attack the basket, the referee shall give them a warning by counting the last 5 seconds. A violation results in a change in possession.

Substitutions

  • Substitutions can be done by any team after a dead ball or made bucket
  • When a substitution needs to be made, inform the official and they will conduct the substitution process for you.

Time-outs

  • One 30-second time-out is granted to each team. A player can call the time-out in a dead ball situation. If the playing court does not have its own running clock, the timeout duration will be added to the end of the regulation game period, counted down by the referee, only one 30 second timeout period will be added on. 

League Conduct by Players/Parents/Coaches/Spectators:

  • All coaches, parents, spectators, and players will be expected to promote and exhibit positive behavior and sportsmanship while participating in our league. Sportsmanship is winning without gloating – losing without complaining – and treating your opponent and the officials with respect. We want to make sure all players are having fun, being active, and developing their game through the 3v3 model. We understand games are competitive, but any inappropriate behavior, profanity, degrading remarks, and intimidating actions directed at officials or competitors will not be tolerated and are grounds for removal from the event site. Thank you for your cooperation in the promotion of good sportsmanship! 
Standing and Tiebreakers

Tiebreaker #1: Winning Percentage (Highest winning percentage)

Tiebreaker #2: Head-To-Head (Each team with the same record – The team with the most head-to-head wins)

Tiebreaker #3: Point Differential – Largest point differential over games played.

Tiebreaker #4: Points Allowed 

Tiebreaker #5: Points Scored