Sport
Basketball
- players
- 2–10
- minutes
- 40
- years
- 6+
In the box
A ball, a basket
Official rules (PDF, federation's site)
Box details
- Origin
- Traditional game, with no specific designer or publisher
- Mechanics
- DexterityTeam-BasedReal-Time
Where to buy it
Near you
In a shop
Within 50 km.
The basics
Two teams of five try to score more points by putting the ball through the opposing basket. The ball carrier must dribble to move, and the attacking team has 24 seconds to shoot; a basket is worth 2 points, 3 from behind the three-point line, and a free throw 1 point. After four quarters, the team ahead wins, and in a tie 5-minute overtimes are played.
The rules, step by step
Setup
2 teams of 5, 28 × 15 m court, 3 on 3 in street
- Two teams of five players on a 28 by 15 metre court, in competition.
- In streetball, it is three against three on a half court, with a single basket.
How to play
4 × 10 minutes, Dribble to move, 24 seconds to shoot
- Four quarters of 10 minutes, or 12 in the NBA.
- The player with the ball must dribble to move. Stopping and then dribbling again is a double dribble, and is penalised.
- The attacking team has 24 seconds to attempt a shot.
Scoring
Basket 2 points, 3-point basket, Free throw 1 point
- Ordinary basket: 2 points.
- Basket shot from behind the three-point line: 3 points.
- Free throw: 1 point.
End of the game
End of last quarter, 5-min overtimes, No draws
- The game ends at the end of the last quarter.
- Tie: 5-minute periods of overtime, as many as needed. There are no draws in basketball.
House rules and pitfalls
In streetball, games are most often played to 21 or 11 points…
- In streetball, games are most often played to 21 or 11 points, with baskets worth 1 and 2 points instead of 2 and 3.
Going further
Variants · Frequently asked questions · In the same family
Variants
Format
Open-ended match
Streetball to 21
Streetball to 11
choose them when you start a game: the scorer adapts
Frequently asked questions
How much are baskets worth?
Two points for a shot inside the arc, three points from beyond the three-point line, and one point per free throw.
What are travelling and dribbling?
You cannot move forward without bouncing the ball (dribbling). These are two separate violations: dribbling again after stopping is a double dribble (illegal dribble); taking more than two steps with the ball in hand is travelling. Both give the ball to the opponents.
How long do you have to attack?
Twenty-four seconds to attempt a shot that touches the rim, otherwise possession changes. There are also eight seconds to cross the halfway line.
What is a foul?
Illegal contact. As they build up, fouls send the opponents to the free-throw line; a player is sent off after five (or six) personal fouls.
How does a game unfold?
Four quarters of ten minutes (FIBA) or twelve (NBA). In case of a tie, overtime is played until there is a winner.