USA Basketball 3X Play designed by 3x3 experts as a foundation for basketball development
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (March 3, 2026) -- USA Basketball announced today a new initiative designed to bring the unique game of 3x3 basketball to young athletes, basketball programs and gyms across the country. USA Basketball 3X Play was designed by experts to give coaches and program administrators the tools to teach, implement and develop competitive opportunities in 3x3.
USA Basketball 3X Play is a comprehensive grassroots initiative to grow 3x3 basketball across the country in accordance with the official FIBA 3x3 style of play. 3X Play provides a structured framework for tournaments, leagues, skill-development sessions (jamborees) and FIBA 3x3 rule sets adapted by age and skill-levels to allow players to benefit from playing 3x3 basketball and help coaches and administrators understand how to organize 3x3 drills and 3x3 games into their team practices for skill development benefits.
“USA Basketball is excited to introduce 3X Play, a framework designed to equip coaches, program directors and team administrators with the tools to make 3x3 basketball available to developing athletes nationwide,” USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley said. “3x3 allows for skill development and maturation in an environment that gives every athlete the opportunity to touch the ball, spend valuable time on the court and learn how to be an effective teammate.”
Played on a half court with a 10-minute clock and a 12-second shot clock, the first team to 21 points, or the team in the lead at the end of regulation, is the winner. A versatile game anyone can play, 3x3 can be enjoyed on any halfcourt in parks, community centers, schools and gyms across the United States.
The game is position-less, so everyone must dribble, pass, shoot and defend. In addition to skill development, 3x3 fosters strong decision-making, efficiency and inclusion.
USA Basketball’s 3X Play website serves as a halfcourt hub, providing free tools, skill and 3x3 game demonstrations, the USA Basketball 3x3 rules guide, an officials’ training manual, and step-by-step guides for three gameplay formats.
USA Basketball Open Court will support the 3X Play initiative by adopting 3x3 into the program curriculum for 2026, allowing kids to play in free sessions that reflect the jamboree and league formats.
Coaches and basketball program administrators are encouraged to download free resources at usab.com/3x-play and join the movement to make 3X Play the foundation for basketball development.
USA Basketball, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024, is the National Governing Body for the sport of basketball in the United States. As the recognized governing body by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection and training of USA teams that compete in FIBA-sponsored basketball competitions and select national events, and for the development of youth basketball initiatives addressing player development, coach education and safety. To learn more, click here.
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