The fast version of the rules
Two teams play on a half-court with one basket. Each side has three players on court and one substitute. The game lasts one 10-minute period unless a team reaches 21 points first.
A successful shot inside the arc is worth one point and a shot beyond the arc is worth two. Free throws are worth one point. The 12-second shot clock forces teams to attack much faster than in five-a-side wheelchair basketball.
Possession changes without an inbound pass after a score
After a basket, the team that did not score takes the ball. It must move both the ball and wheelchair behind the arc before attempting to score at the same hoop.
After a dead ball, possession restarts with a check at the top of the arc. The defender hands or passes the ball to the attacker, confirming that both sides are ready before the short clock begins again.
The classification total shapes every line-up
Players receive classification points based on functional ability, with higher values assigned to greater functional capacity in the sport. In 3x3, the three players on court cannot exceed a combined 8.5 points.
The limit makes line-up decisions strategic. A coach cannot simply place the three highest-point players together if their total is too large, and substitutions must keep the on-court combination within the permitted figure.
The wheelchair is part of the player
Wheelchair basketball applies contact and position rules to the chair as part of the player's body. Players propel, turn, block space and protect the ball while remaining within the sport's chair-control requirements.
A player can push the chair while handling the ball, but movement rules require a dribble, pass or shot after two pushes. That rhythm is one reason the game looks different from running basketball even when the tactical purpose is familiar.
Team fouls quickly change the risk
The first six team fouls do not create the same penalty as later offences. After the sixth, subsequent team fouls award two free throws under the core IWBF 3x3 rules.
With only 10 minutes and a 12-second possession, two free throws can shift a match quickly. Defenders must balance physical pressure against the cost of moving into the penalty phase.
Overtime is a race to two points
If the score is tied after 10 minutes, the first team to score two points in overtime wins. That could happen with one successful shot from beyond the arc or two one-point scores.
The combination of a small court, one basket and a short clock keeps possession changes visible. At Glasgow 2026, wheelchair 3x3 shares the SEC Centre programme with running 3x3, continuing a discipline that debuted at Birmingham 2022.
Sources and further reading
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