3v3 Basketball Rules – The Sandlot Athletic League

Each team shall consist of 5 players (3 players on the court and 2 substitute).
All teams are to respect the fellow players, the opponent players, the coaches as well as the fans, referees and administrators. Players, coaches or fans that cannot respect what we are trying to do or cannot respect each other will be dismissed from the game and if it continues will be removed from the gym. No refunds.
Each player should bring one white shirt and one red shirt. They will have to change colors based on home vs. visitor teams

Both teams shall warm-up simultaneously prior to the game.
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.
The game must start with three players on the court.

Every shot inside the arc shall be awarded one 2 point.
Every shot behind the arc shall be awarded 3 points.
Every successful free throw shall be awarded 1 point.
Once a team has a 10 point lead, they must play defense inside the 3-point line.

The regular playing time shall be as follows: one period of 15 minutes playing time. The clock shall run continuously for 15 minutes except for time outs and injuries (no stoppage during dead ball situations and free throws).
However 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).
If the score is tied at the end of playing time, each player on the court at the end of regulation time will shoot one free throw for a total of 3 free throws. If it is still tied after the first three free throws, the remaining two players on the bench will also shoot free throws. The free throw cycle will repeat until the tie is broken.
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).
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.

A team is in a penalty situation after it has committed 7 fouls. After a team has reached 7 team fouls, any subsequent foul will result in a one-and-one.
Any shooting foul inside the arc is 2 free throws. Any shooting foul behind the arc 3 free throws.
Fouls during the act of shooting followed by a successful field goal shall be awarded 1 additional free throw.
Possession is kept after the last free-throw derived from an unsportsmanlike or technical foul and the game shall continue with an exchange of the ball behind the arc at the top of the court.
If a player receives 3 fouls in one game, they will have to sit out for the remainder of the game

Following each successful field goal or last free throw (ex article 7.5):
- 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.
- The defensive team is not allowed to play for the ball in the “no-charge semi-circle area” underneath the
  basket.
Following each unsuccessful field goal or last free throw (ex article 7.5):
- If the offensive team rebounds the ball, it may continue to attempt to score without returning the ball behind the arc.
- If the defensive team rebounds or steals the ball, it must return the ball behind the arc (by passing or dribbling).
Possession of the ball given to either team following any dead ball situation shall start with an exchange of
the ball (between the defensive and the offensive player) behind the arc at the top of the court.
A player is considered to be “behind the arc” when neither of his feet are inside nor step the arc.
In the event of a jump ball situation, the defensive team shall be rewarded the ball.

Stalling or failing to play actively (i.e. not attempting to score) shall be a violation.
Offensive team must attempt a shot within 12 seconds. The referee on the baseline will start his 12 second count upon offensive possession. The last 5 seconds of the count, the baseline referee will start his hand motion.

Substitutions can be done by any team when the ball becomes dead, prior to the check-ball. The substitute can enter the game after his teammate steps off the court and establishes a physical contact with him. Substitutions can only take place behind the end line opposite the basket and substitutions require no action from the referees or table officials.

One 30-second time-out is granted to each team. A player can call the time-out in a dead ball situation.

At the end of the game each bench will shake hands and will be responsible for cleaning up the bench area (water bottles, etc.) and be clear of the bench within 1 min to allow the next team to occupy the bench.