Kristian Ferrell
Running a 3-on-3 basketball tournament is a great way to raise money for your local team or league. It takes a lot of organisation and groundwork, but it can really pay off. This modified version of basketball is growing in popularity and is a half-court game played by two teams of three players each. Tournaments are a lot of work, but the rewards are worth the time spent planning. The first step is to find an appropriate venue, then you'll need to register teams to compete and book tournament staff. You'll also need to think about equipment, rules, and how to raise extra funds on the day.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Teams | Groups of 3 adults, male or female |
| Game rules | First team to score 15 points with a margin of 2 points wins |
| Courts | One court needed for every 2 teams |
| Time | 30 minutes running time per game |
| Venue | Clean, energetic, comfortable, with good access to highways, dining, and lodging |
| Equipment | Basketballs, tables, portable scoreboards, trophies, clipboards, scoresheets, pens |
| Staff | Referees, court monitors, statisticians, ticket-takers, volunteers |
| Registration | Rules, costs, open and closed dates, waivers |
| Funding | Entry fees, concessions, merchandise, advertising |
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What You'll Learn
Planning and preparation
- Start Early: Give yourself plenty of time to plan the event. The Amateur Athletic Union recommends starting preparations at least 180 days before the tournament. This will help you avoid last-minute stresses and ensure that no important tasks are missed.
- Build a Team: One person cannot do it all, so assemble a team of volunteers to help with the various tasks and responsibilities. This includes finding qualified officials, referees, and volunteers to manage concession stands, registration, and other tasks. Reach out to parents, spouses, and friends of league members, and provide a sign-up sheet on the tournament website.
- Venue: Choose an appropriate venue with the required number of basketball courts, good court conditions, and adequate parking. The venue should be clean, energetic, and comfortable for guests to navigate. Consider access to highways, dining, and lodging to make it convenient for teams and spectators. Schools often allow the use of their gym for fundraisers, and the YMCA and county recreation districts are good options for indoor basketball courts.
- Equipment: Ensure you have the necessary equipment, including basketballs, tables, portable scoreboards, trophies, and clipboards for referees. If you want to accommodate large groups and charge admission fees, opt for a facility with bleachers.
- Referees: Decide whether you will pay for referees or seek volunteers who are willing to donate their time. Ensure that referees are aware of the tournament rules and procedures well in advance. As a last resort, you can have players call their own game, but it is recommended to have at least one referee per half-court.
- Rules and Brackets: Establish the rules of the game, including scoring (e.g., 1 point per basket, 2 points for outside the arc). Determine the format, such as whether it will be a double-elimination tournament, and create competition brackets. Decide on the winning conditions, such as a target score (e.g., the first to 15 points with a 2-point margin) or a time limit.
- Registration and Fees: Create registration rules, costs, and dates. Consider a waiver to limit liability. Charge an entry fee for each team (e.g., $15 to $30, depending on interest).
- Additional Income: Explore other ways to raise funds during the tournament. Set up a concession stand to sell snacks and refreshments, and consider selling programmes with the tournament schedule, photos, and player names, with ad space for local businesses.
- Promotion: Create promotional materials such as flyers and put them up at existing recreation facilities, where avid basketball players are likely to see them.
- Timing and Breaks: Allow for approximately 30 minutes of running time per game. Avoid scheduling more than two back-to-back games for teams, and provide breaks to prevent overexertion, fatigue, and injury.
- Safety: If playing outdoors, provide sunscreen and ensure you have emergency phone numbers and directions to nearby hospitals.
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Choosing a venue
When selecting a venue, consider the number of courts available, court conditions, and parking facilities. A successful venue should be clean, energetic, and easy for guests to navigate. It should also have easy access to highways, dining, and lodging to attract more participants and spectators. If you plan to charge an admission fee, choose a venue with bleachers to accommodate large groups of spectators.
To keep costs low, you may want to use a school gym, if available. The YMCA and county recreation districts are also good options for finding indoor basketball courts. If you are unable to secure an indoor venue, ensure that your outdoor venue has adequate sun protection and access to emergency services.
In addition to the basketball courts, consider whether your venue can help you staff your tournament. This may include food and beverage services, ticket-takers, statisticians, and security staff.
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Rules and scoring
Three-on-three basketball is played by two teams of three players each on a half court. The game is co-ed and can be played by adults of any gender. The basket heights should be set at 10 feet for participants over 10 years old, and 8.5 feet for boys and girls under 10 years old. The three-point line should be a 19'9" radius measured from the centre of the rim outwards, and the free-throw line should be 15 feet from the front of the backboard outwards (13 feet for participants under 10 years old).
Each game should be allotted 30 minutes of running time, and no more than two games should be scheduled back-to-back to allow for breaks and avoid overexertion. The first team to score 15 points with a margin of 2 points wins the game. Scoring is 1 point per basket and free throws, and 2 points for outside the arc.
You may want to pay for referees, or find volunteers who are willing to donate their time. Each referee should be provided with a clipboard, scoresheets, a pen, tournament rules, and the tournament schedule.
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Staffing and volunteers
A successful 3-on-3 basketball tournament requires a lot of preparation and organisation. One person cannot do it all, so make sure you have enough people to help. From qualified officials and referees to volunteers, having enough people will ensure a smoother tournament.
You will need referees to officiate the games and keep score. It is recommended to have one referee per half-court, and two officials for the semi-finals and finals. If no referee is available, you must have a "Court Monitor" to keep score and keep games on time. You should encourage referees to bring their own whistles, grey referee shirts, sunblock, water bottles and hats (if outside). Ensure the referees are aware of the tournament rules and procedures well in advance of the games.
You can get volunteers by asking parents, spouses and friends of league members to help, and be sure to offer a place to sign up on the tournament's website. Volunteers can help with concession stands, wrangling teams, and other small but important tasks.
The venue may also be able to help with staffing. Check with them to see if they can provide ticket-takers, statisticians, and other guest relations and security staff.
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Fundraising opportunities
3-on-3 basketball tournaments are a great way to raise funds. They are inexpensive to set up and offer multiple ways to make money. Firstly, you can charge an entry fee for teams to participate—this can be anywhere between \$15 to \$30, depending on the interest level. You can also charge an admission fee for spectators, especially if you have a large space that can accommodate a lot of people.
Another way to raise funds is by setting up a concession stand to sell snacks and refreshments. You can also sell merchandise and printed programmes with the tournament schedule, photos, and players' names. Additionally, you can sell ad space in the programme to local businesses.
To keep costs low, you can try to find a venue that will donate their space for free, such as a school gym. You will also need a few basketballs, tables, portable scoreboards, and trophies. If you can find referees who are willing to donate their time, that will help reduce costs. However, if you need to pay for referees, ensure you have a clear budget for this.
To promote your tournament, put up flyers at existing recreation facilities, basketball courts, or sports stores. Start promoting your event early, and give yourself plenty of time to plan. You can also create a website for the tournament, where potential participants and volunteers can register.
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Frequently asked questions
You'll need a venue with basketball courts, tables, portable scoreboards, trophies, and basketballs. You'll also need referees or court monitors to officiate the games and keep score.
You can charge an entry fee for teams to participate, set up a concession stand to sell snacks and refreshments, and sell advertising space in the tournament programme. If your venue has bleachers, you can also charge admission fees for spectators.
The Amateur Athletic Union recommends starting preparations at least 180 days before the tournament. This will give you enough time to plan the event, recruit volunteers, and promote the tournament.
