Art. 1 Court and Ball

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1.1 The game will be played on a 3x3 basketball court with 1 basket. A regular 3x3 playing court 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 2-point line (6.75m) and a “no-charge semi-circle” area underneath the basket. Half a traditional basketball court may be used.

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1.2 An official 3x3 ball determined by FIMBA 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

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Art. 2 Teams

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Each team will consist of 5 players (3 players on court and 2 substitutes).

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NOTE: For International Championships refer to Article 17, 18 and 19.

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Art. 3 Players

The participation of the players will be subject to the following rule:

 

3.1. The categories are established according to the age of the players:

Women: 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65 y 70 years and over.

Men: 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75 y 80 years and over.

 

3.2. They must be of the age corresponding to their category or comply with it in the year of tournament.

 

3.3. No player may play in a category higher than his/her age.

 

3.4. All must have a FIMBA License.

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Art. 4 Game Officials

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There will be 1 or 2 referees and 2 or 3 table officials in each game.

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Art. 5 Beginning of the Game

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5.1. Both teams shall warm-up simultaneously prior to the game.

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5.2. 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.

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5.3. The game cannot begin if one of the teams is not on the playing court with 3 players ready to play.

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Art. 6 Scoring

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6.1. Every shot inside the arc (1-point field goal area) shall be awarded one 1 point.

6.2. Every shot behind the arc (2-point field goal area) shall be awarded 2 points.

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

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Art. 7 Playing time/Winner of a Game

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7.1. The regular playing time shall be 1 period of 10 minutes. The game clock shall be stopped during dead ball situations and free throws. The game clock shall be restarted when:

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1. During a check-ball, the ball is at the disposal of the offensive player after the check-ball has been completed.

2. After a successful last free throw, the next offensive team is in possession of the ball.

3. After an unsuccessful last free throw and the ball continues to be live, the ball touches or is touched by any player on the playing court.

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7.2.1 In the categories F30 to F45 and M35 to M45, 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).

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7.2.2 In the categories F50 to F75 and M50 to M75, the first team which scores 15 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).

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7.3.1 If the score is tied at the end of the regular playing time, an overtime will be played. There will a 1 minute interval before the overtime starts. The first team to score 2 points in the additional time wins the game.

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7.3.2 In categories F50 in more and M50 in more, the Organizing Committee will could dispose, at the beginning of the tournament, omitting 7.3,1, a tie-breaker (for all games in which it is necessary) by means of the 1 free throw by each player and of alternating way. There would be 3 free throws per team. This opportunity will be given to 3 players, any of the 5 players of the team that are authorized to play. The team did not have the first possession of the ball will start series.

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7.3.3 If a team in 7.3.2 ends the game regular time with 2 or with 1 player, this team will complete the series of 3 free throws with 2 or with 1 player. In this case, if the opponent team want it, they can complete their series with 2 or 1 player.

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7.3.4 If the tie persists after the first series of free throws, a new series will be started until, after finishing a free throw of the team that starts the series followed by a free throw by the opposing team, there is 1 point of difference and then a winner will be declared.

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7.4. 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).

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7.5. 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.

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7.6. A team losing by default or a tortuous forfeit could be disqualified from the competition.

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Art. 8 Fouls/Free throws

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8.1. A team will be in a penalty situation after it has committed 6 fouls. The players are not excluded based on the number of personal fouls subject to art. 15.

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8.2. 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 is successful, the goal shall count and, in addition, 1 free throw. 2 free throws shall be awarded as of the 7th team foul.

• If the shot released from inside the arc is unsuccessful, 1 free throw. 2 free throws shall be awarded as of the 7th team foul.

• If the shot released from behind the arc is unsuccessful, 2 free throws.

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8.3. Unsportsmanlike and disqualifying fouls are counted as 2 fouls for team fouls purposes. The first unsportsmanlike foul of a player shall be penalized with 2 free throws, but no ball possession. All disqualifying fouls (including the second unsportsmanlike of a player) shall be penalized with 2 free throws and ball possession.

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8.4. Team fouls 7, 8 and 9 shall always be penalized with 2 free throws. Team foul 10 and any subsequent team fouls shall be penalized with 2 free throws and ball possession. This clause is applied also to unsportsmanlike fouls and to fouls on the act of shooting and overrules Art. 8.2 and 8.3 but shall not be applied to technical fouls.

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8.5. All technical fouls shall be always penalized with 1 free throw. The free throw shall be administered immediately. After the free throw, the check-ball shall be administered by the team which had control of the ball or was entitled to the ball when the technical foul was called. The game shall be resumed as follows:

• If the technical foul was committed by a defensive player, the shot clock for the opponents shall be reset to 14 seconds.

• If the technical foul was committed by the offensive team, the shot clock for that team shall continue from the time it was stopped.

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NOTE: An offensive foul shall not be penalized with free throws.

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Art. 9 How the ball is played

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9.1. Following each successful field goal or last free throw (except those followed by ball possession):

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- A player from a non-scoring team will resume the game by dribbling or passing the ball from inside the court directly underneath the basket (not from behind the end line) to a place on the court behind the arc.

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- The defensive player is not allowed to play for the ball in the “no-charge semi-circle area” underneath the basket.

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9.2. Following each unsuccessful field goal or last free throw (except those followed by ball possession):  

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-If the offensive player rebounds the ball, he may continue to attempt to score without returning the ball behind the arc.

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- If the defensive player rebounds or steals the ball, he must return the ball behind the arc (by passing or dribbling).

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9.3. If the defensive team steals or blocks the ball, it must return the ball behind the arc (by passing or dribbling).

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9.4. Possession of the ball given to either team following any dead ball situation shall start/resume with a check-ball, i.e. an exchange of the ball (between the defensive and the offensive player) behind the arc at the top of the playing court.

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9.5. A player is considered to be “behind the arc” when neither of his feet are inside or on step the arc.

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9.6. In the event of a jump ball situation, the game shall be resumed with a check-ball for the last defensive team. The shot clock shall be reset to 14 seconds.

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Art. 10 Stalling

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10.1. Stalling or failing to play actively (i.e. not attempting to score) shall be a violation.

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10.2. A team must attempt a shot for a field goal within 14 seconds. The shot clock shall start as soon as the ball is at the disposal of the offensive player (following the exchange with the defensive player or after a successful field goal underneath the basket).

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Art. 11 Substitutions

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11.1. Both teams are entitled to request a substitution when the ball becomes dead prior to a check-ball or free throw. The substitute can enter the game without any prior notice to the officials or table officials while the ball is dead and the game clock is stopped.

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11.2. The substitutions can take place either behind the endline or, in case of 17.3, by the sideline near the control table and require no action from the referees or table officials.

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Art. 12 Time-outs

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12.1. In the categories F30 to F45 and M35 to M45 each team will have one 30-second time-out. Any player or substitute can request a time-out when the ball becomes dead prior to a check-ball or free throw.

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12.2. In the categories F50 to F60 and M50 to M60, each team will have one 30-second time-out. Any player or substitute can request a time-out when the ball becomes dead prior to a check-ball or free throw. There will be a mandatory 60-second time-out, which will be awarded to the first dead ball after the game clock shows 3:59.

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12.3. In the categories F65 and over and M65 and over, each team will have one 30-second time-out. Any player or substitute can request a time-out when the ball becomes dead prior to a check-ball or free throw. There will be two mandatory 60-second time-outs, which will be awarded to the first dead ball after the game clock shows 5:59 and 1:59.

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12.4. Time-outs are not cumulative.

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12.5. In the event there is production of TV, the Organizing Committee may apply two times-outs of TV. These will award at the next dead ball after that the game clock shows 6:59 clock and 3:59 in all games.

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NOTE: the timeouts and substitutions may only be requested in situations where the ball is declared dead and cannot be asked while the ball is live, in compliance with 9.1.

 

 

Art.13 Protest procedure

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13.1. A team may file a protest if its interests have been adversely affected by:

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• An error in scorekeeping, time-keeping or shot clock operations, which was not corrected by the officials.

• A decision to forfeit, cancel, postpone, not resume or not play the game.

• A violation of the applicable eligibility rules.

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13.2. In case of a team’s protest, only the official video and materials may be used to take a decision.

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13.3. In order to be admissible, a protest shall comply with the following procedure:

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• A player of that team shall sign the scoresheet immediately at the end of the game and provide a written explanation of the protest reasons, on the reverse side of the scoresheet, before the officials have signed the scoresheet.

• A fee of USD 200 shall be applied to each protest and shall be paid in case of the protest is lost.

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13.4. The sports supervisor (or a person indicated to in charge of the protest at the Technical Meeting with the teams on the eve of the event), shall decide on the protest as soon as possible, in any case no later than before the next pool phase or next elimination round starts. His decision is considered as a field of play rule decision and is not subject to further review or appeal. Exceptionally, the decisions on the eligibility may be appealed to the Disciplinary Board as provided for in the applicable regulations.

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13.5. The sports supervisor (or person indicated to be in charge of the protest at the Technical Meeting with the teams on the eve of the event) may not decide to change the result of the game unless there is clear and conclusive evidence that, had it not been for the error that gave rise to the protest, the new result would have certainly materialised. In case a protest is accepted for reasons other than the eligibility rules and leads to a change of winner of the game, the game shall be considered as tied at the end of the regular playing time and an overtime shall be played immediately.

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Art. 14 Standings of teams

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For both in pools and in overall competition standings (other than standings in tours), the following classification rules shall apply.

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If teams that have reached the same stage of the competition are tied, the steps to break the tie shall be applied in the following order. Each step shall be calculated only once. If teams are still tied after one step, the next step shall be applied to break the tie between those teams still tied:

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• Most wins (or win ratio in case of unequal number of games in inter-pool comparison).

• Head-to-head comparison (only taking win/loss into account and applies within a pool only).

• Most points scored in average (without considering winning scores of forfeits).

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If teams are still tied after those three steps, it will be decided by drawing lots.

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Art. 15 Disqualifications

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A player shall be disqualified for the remainder of the game when he is charged with 2 unsportsmanlike fouls. A player disqualified from the game may be further disqualified from the event by the Organizing Committee. Independent thereof, the Organizing Committee shall disqualify player(s) concerned from the event for acts of violence, verbal or physical aggression, tortuous interference in game results, a violation of FIBA’s Anti-Doping rules (Book 4 of the FIBA Internal Regulations). The Organizing Committee may also disqualify the entire team from the event depending on that team´s other members' contribution (also through non-action) to the aforementioned behavior. FIMBA's right to impose disciplinary sanctions under the regulatory framework of the event and the FIMBA Penalties Code remains unaffected by any disqualification under this Art. 15.

 

 

II. Special Rules for International Championships

 

Art. 16.- Director of Competition, Disciplinary Board and Sports Supervisor

 

16.1. FIMBA will appoint a Competition Director. Competition Director’s powers and duties are specified in Article 35 bis of the FIMBA Championships Regulations. He will make a decision in the event of team protests, performing the functions of the Sports Supervisor in 13.4 and 13.5.

 

16.2. The FIMBA President, the FIMBA Secretary and the Organizing Committee will appoint a Disciplinary Board for the tournament composed of three (3) regular members, in accordance with the FIMBA Championships Code of Procedure and Penalties.

 

16.3. FIMBA may appoint a Sports Supervisor, who will be considered as the Technical Commissioner and Supervisor of the event, Coordinator of the referees and control table officials, Technical Chief throughout the tournament, and will be responsible for sending daily game sheets and reports sent by the referees to the event's Disciplinary Board.

 

 

Art. 17.- Coach and auxiliary extras

 

17.1 All teams may have a coach (non-player) and credit in the tournament up to two (2) auxiliary extras (non-players).

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17.2 There must be 5 seats in each team bench. Team benches will be separated by the control table. Substitutes should sit in the two places closest to the control table.

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17.3 In cases where the control table should be located behind a sideline, this table and the benches should be placed 2 meters from the lateral line. The B team bench will be located immediately near the final line opposite to the basket.

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17.4 Only the coach may remain standing during the game and may verbally address his players without entering to the court.

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17.5 The coach is responsible for the sporting behavior of the people sitting in the bench. In case the bench has been sanctioned with 2 technical fouls, the coach will be disqualified and must withdraw from the stadium (the second technical foul is disqualifying and applies 8.4).

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Art. 18.- Teams

 

The teams may be composed of players from the same or different countries. Teams with players from the same country will be identified with the name of the country.

The different teams of the country in the same category will be identified as A, B, C, etc.

Teams with players from different countries will be identified as FIMBA team of the category in which they participate.

The different FIMBA teams in the same category will be identified as A, B, C, etc.

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Art. 19.- Gender

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The FIMBA 3x3 championships can be male, female and mixed.

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