Free Throw Shooting Rules
- The contestant will attempt three rounds of ten shots each from the free-throw line.
- Each basket made is worth one point.
- The total of all three rounds will determine the contestant's final score.
- The ball will be rebounded for the shooter.
- Tie breaker will consist of one .additional round with five shots from the free throw line for each participant that is tied. If there is still a tie, the rounds will continue through the third round where two medals will be awarded for that place.
- The contestant may not step over the free throw line while shooting (from the time the ball leaves his/her hand until the ball reaches the rim or backboard)
Spot Field Goal Shooting Rules
- The contestant will attempt three rounds of five shots (one shot from each spot per round).
- One shot will be taken from each of the five designated spots around the basket. The spots shall be as follows (Note: markings are based upon a court lining in accordance to NCAA guidelines):
- Baseline shot 5.5-feet from the end line and 10-feet from each side of the basket. Two lines will be placed in a right angle making a border from the front of the rim extended and 10-feet from the basket. The contestant may not step over either line until the ball has been released. (Note: this is a 10-foot baseline shot without an angle to use the backboard)
- Near the top corner of the free throw line on each side of the basket, 4-feet from the foul line extended on each side. A 2-foot line will be placed 4-feet from the foul line extended, angled slightly toward the basket. The contestant must begin by standing immediately behind the line and may not change the angle of the shot by standing to either side of the line. The contestant may not step over the line until the ball has been released.
- A 2-foot line will be placed at the top of the key parallel to the free throw line and 19-feet from front rim of the basket. The contestant must begin by standing immediately behind the line and may not change the angle of the shot by standing to either side of the line. The contestant may not step over the line until the ball has been released.
- Each basket made is worth one point.
- The total from all three rounds will determine the contestant's final score.
- The ball will be rebounded for the shooter.
- Tie breaker will consist of one additional round with five shots from every designated spot for each participant that is tied. If there is still a tie the rounds will continue until the third round where two medals will be awarded for that place.
- Upon the discretion of the event director, Men’s divisions 80 and over may be permitted to shoot from the Women’s spots.
Timed Field Goal Shooting Rules
- The contestant will be allowed three rounds of one minute each.
- The contestant will begin shooting when the timekeeper calls “start.”
- The contestant can shoot from any of the indicated spots at any time during the round, with the exception that consecutive shots may not be taken from the “A” spot.
- Each basket will be worth one to five points based on the level of difficulty. The spots and point values are as follows:
- “A”-spot (1 point) – Spot located directly under basket. A spot will not be marked for this shot. This shot is a lay-up or any shot from inside the foul lane.
- “B”-spots (2 points) – Baseline shot 5.5-feet from the end line and 10-feet from each side of the basket. The contestant may not step over the line until the ball has been released.
- “C”-spots (3 points) – Near the top corner of the free throw line on each side of the basket, 4-feet from the foul line extended on each side. The contestant may not step over the line until the ball has been released.
- “D”-spot (5 points) – A 2-foot line will be placed at the top of the key parallel to the free throw line and 19-feet from the front rim of the basket. The contestant may not step over the line until the ball has been released.
- Contestants attempting a shot from all six spots will earn a five-point bonus for that round. The bonus can be earned for each round.
- Contestants must rebound their own shots.
- The combined score for all three rounds will determine the final score.
- Tie breaker will consist of one additional round for 30 seconds for each participant that is tied. If there is still a tie the rounds will continue until the third round where two medals will be awarded for that place.
- No bonus points will be awarded during the tie breaker.
- Upon the discretion of the event director, Men’s divisions 80 and over may be permitted to shoot from the Women’s spots.
3-On-3 Basketball Rules
- Tournaments are conducted in accordance with National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules, except as modified herein. For a copy of these rules, visit or contact:
National Collegiate Athletic Association
700 W. Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46206-6222
(317) 917-6222 www.ncaa.org
- Teams must have a minimum of three players on the floor to start a game. Teams may continue/finish with a minimum of two players on the floor.
- The game shall be played on half court by two teams of three players each, including a maximum of seven substitutes.
- Playing time shall be two halves of 12 minutes for participants age 75+, 80+ and 85+ and 15 minutes for age groups 50-74. There shall be a continuously running clock with an intermission of five minutes for half-time. In the last two minutes of each half, the clock will stop in accordance with normal basketball rules. The clock also stops after a made basket during the last minute of the second half.
- A tie score at the end of regulation time will result in a three-minute overtime period. During the first overtime period, the clock will stop in accordance with normal basketball rules, and after a made basket during the last minute. If the game is still tied at the end of the first overtime period, a final overtime period will be played with a sudden death format, the first team to score will win. Ball possession will be determined by a coin flip for each overtime period. There will be a one-minute intermission before each overtime period. All individual and team fouls carryover into overtime.
- Two timeouts are permitted per team per half. If a game proceeds to overtime, each team shall receive no more than one additional timeout, regardless of the number of overtimes. Timeouts shall be 30-seconds in duration. The clock will not run during timeouts.
- Substitutions may be made after a basket, a foul shot, stoppage of play or any other time an official beckon the player onto the court.
- Players Must be beckoned onto the court by the referee. Entering the court without being beckoned will result in a warning from the official; all subsequent violations will result in a technical foul.
- Both the offensive and defensive team may substitute after the first free throw of a two-shot foul and after the second free throw of a three-shot foul.
- The defensive team can only substitute after a made basket or free throw (when it is the final free throw taken) if the offense is substituting at that time. Violating this rule will result in a warning from the official; all subsequent violations will result in a technical foul.
- On all stoppage of play (i.e., violations such as traveling, double dribble, three seconds, or out of bounds, etc.) either team can substitute as long as they request to sub prior to the inbounder having the ball in the throw-in area.
- The winner of the coin toss shall take the first possession. Possession at the start of the second half shall be determined by the possession arrow. Ball possession changes hands after each basket unless a technical or personal foul is awarded.
- The game shall be played using the three-point line as the “check line.” The ball shall be returned to a point behind the check line after each change of possession as follows:
- After a made basket and all dead ball situations, the ball shall be placed in play from the top of the key (“throw-in area”). The ball must be advanced into play by means of a pass to a teammate. Violation of the throw-in area by the offense results in a loss of possession.
- After a turnover or defensive rebound, the ball may be returned to any point behind the check line. The player returning the ball behind the check line shall be in possession of the ball with both feet behind the line. The ball does not have to pass behind the 3-point line; only the player’s feet. The penalty for failure to be in possession of the ball with both feet behind the line shall be loss of possession. The player who returns the ball behind the line may maintain possession and attempt to score.
- Following a made basket or dead ball, the ball shall be put in play within five seconds from the time the ball is in the throw-in area. If the ball is not put in play within five seconds it shall be a violation, and possession shall be awarded to the defense with no change in the possession arrow. Dribbling will result in a replay.
- Unsporting Technical Infractions:
- An unsporting technical infraction shall be when a player or substitute commits any unsportsmanlike act set forth in accordance with the NCAA rules and guidelines, and when outlined herein. Additionally, the act of stalling, or delaying the game intentionally, will be treated as such an infraction, and will first result in a warning issued to the penalized team. A second and any subsequent violation will result in a technical foul being issued, and a penalty of two free throws shall be awarded to any member of the offended team, and possession of the ball following the free throws. This rule will not apply in the final two minutes of the first half of each game.
Note 1: Technical fouls for stalling will be issued as administrative, and do not apply toward individual or team-foul total, toward disqualification or ejection.
- Delay of game or stalling shall be defined as the deliberate and obvious intention of using the delay to a team’s advantage (except inside the final two minutes of the end of the regulation period and all subsequent time thereafter in overtime periods).
- Player limitations during inbounding:
- The inbounder must be within 3 feet of the three-point line and must stay within the free throw lane extended area (12 feet wide), an area referred to as the throw-in area
- The defense may defend anywhere on the court; however, no player may enter the throw-in area to defend the inbounder.
- The inbounder’s teammates may not receive the inbound pass within the “out of bounds area” which is the area behind the three-point line, free throw lane extended.
- The inbounder’s teammates may not enter the three-second lane to receive a pass or set a screen until the inbounding teammate actually takes possession of the ball at the throw-in area; they may cross and exit the lane to reposition themselves prior to the inbounds pass.
- The 3 second lane count and the 5 second closely guarded count should not begin until the defensive team (now the new offensive team) takes the ball behind the three-point arc.
- Violations of the throw-in area by the offense result in a loss of possession.
- Violations of the throw-in area by the defense result in a warning followed by a technical foul (2 shots).
- A player is disqualified on the players fifth foul. Technical fouls will be assessed in accordance with NCAA rules.
- All personal and technical fouls shall be counted against a team total. On the seventh team foul, a bonus shall be awarded for the remainder of the game. Team fouls carry over into the second half and overtime periods. Penalties for fouls shall be as set forth below.
- Prior to the seventh team foul:
- Any common foul shall result in loss of possession for the offending team
- Any player control foul shall result in disallowing a converted basket and loss of possession
- Any shooting foul with a missed basket shall result in two free throws, and the offended team shall retain possession
- Any shooting foul with a converted basket shall result in the basket being awarded along with one free throw, and the offended team shall retain possession.
If a shooting foul occurs during the running time part of the game:
All players will remain behind the arc and the offense will re-gain possession of the ball, even if the clock goes to the two-minute mark. At that time, the clock will stop until the ball is put in play again from the throw-in area.
All the players behind the arc may cross the arc once the shooter releases the ball. The shooter may cross the free throw line after the ball strikes the rim, flange or backboard or retrieve the ball upon completion of the last free throw.
During the stopped time portion of the game:
The free-throw shooter shall not break the vertical plane of the free-throw line with either foot until the ball strikes the ring, flange or backboard or until the free throw ends. No player shall enter or leave a marked lane space or contact any part of the court outside the marked lane space until the free-thrower has released the ball.
- Beginning with the seventh team foul:
- any common foul shall result in a single free throw and the offended team shall retain possession;
- any player control foul shall result in recording the foul and a change in possession.
- any shooting foul with a missed basket shall result in two free throws (three for a three-point attempt), and the offended team shall retain possession;
- any shooting foul with a converted basket shall result in the basket being awarded along with one free throw, and the offended team shall retain possession.
- Beginning with the 10th team foul:
- any common foul shall result in two free throws, and the offended team shall retain possession;
- any player control foul shall result in recording the foul and a change in possession.
- any shooting foul with a missed basket shall result in two free throws (three for a three-point attempt), and the offended team shall retain possession;
- any shooting foul with a converted basket shall result in the basket being awarded along with one free throw, and the offended team shall retain possession.
- During the last two minutes of each half, and during any overtime period, the automatic awarding of team possession after free throws does not apply (live rebounding will be in effect).
- Team clothing must be of like design and color. Teams must have both “home” and “away” uniforms with permanently attached numbers front and back. The numbers must be 4” on the front and 6” on the back in the center of the jersey. Sponsors may be added to jersey but cannot interfere with the number placement. Uniforms shall be free of inappropriate symbols or wording.
- Three-point shots are allowed. The three-point line distance will be 19’9”.
- Officials do not put the ball in play, except at the start of each half. The referee will handle the rebound of the first free throw (first and second free throws if three shots are being taken) and then will not handle the ball after the last free throw.
