3x3 Cheat Sheet

The key takeaways for beginners – half-court rules, three-player spacing and the tournament routine for the Olympic basketball format.

Format & rules

Item	What applies
Court & team	Half court, 15×11 m, one basket – four players per team, three on court plus one sub.
Shot clock	12 seconds per possession – half the 5x5 limit, it dictates the entire pace.
Scoring & win	1 point inside the zone, 2 from outside the 6.75 m arc. Win at 21 points or after 10 minutes.
Ball & surface	Hybrid ball: size-6 circumference, size-7 weight. Concrete, asphalt and hardwood are all official.

The 3 golden technique rules

Factor 1: Work the weak side

Concept: With only three players, two zones matter – lose the weak side and the defense instantly collapses to the ball. Tip: Always keep one player beyond the arc opposite the ball – a genuine two-point threat, not a decoy.

Factor 2: Shoot with a system (BEEF)

Concept: With only 12 seconds per possession, shots get rushed – technique is the first thing that breaks under pressure. Tip: Balance, Eyes (lock the target), Elbow (under the ball), Follow-through – the ritual stays the same, even at half-court speed.

Factor 3: Read the defensive reaction

Concept: After a screen only one defender remains for two attackers – every reaction opens a gap. Tip: A switch means attack the mismatch, a hedge means time the roll, a trap means the weak-side third man is almost always open.

Rules that surprise beginners

Rule	What it means
Check ball	After every stoppage, a short contact beyond the arc first – then the ball is live again.
Rebound rule	After a rebound or steal, the defense must bring the ball back beyond the arc first.
Foul limits	From the 6th/7th foul come free throws, from the 10th team foul two free throws plus possession.
Sudden death	21 points before the 10 minutes are up end the game instantly – in overtime, the first basket wins.

Roles, not positions

Ball handler: Runs the offense and probes the first gap – the trio's unofficial point guard.
Scorer: Takes most of the shots – but must also be able to run the offense when needed.
Big: Anchors the paint, fights for rebounds and posts up against smaller defenders.
Train versatility: Fixed 5x5 positions don't exist – everyone must shoot, dribble and defend.

Tournament-day routine

Active recovery: Light movement instead of sitting still between games keeps jump power and energy stable.
Real time budget: A game often lasts just 14 to 17 minutes – budget energy in short blocks, not for one long match.
Sudden-death routine: One fixed breath and focus point before the last possession takes the pressure out of the decision.
Manage a deficit: Agree on pace triggers with the team beforehand instead of reacting only in the final second.

Pro tip: You spend 34% of playing time near your max heart rate – train with HIIT (20 seconds max, 40 easy), not steady-state running. 3x3 is won in sprints, not a marathon.