3×3 Wheelchair basketball is an adaptation of traditional wheelchair basketball. This version is fast-paced and is played on only half the court, with a team of only 3 players and a 10-minute time limit. The sport is governed by the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF).
What are the Rules?
Team Composition:
Each team has three players on the court, and one substitute is available.
Teams must adhere to classification rules, where the combined classification points of the three players on the court cannot exceed 8.5 points.
Game Duration and Scoring:
A match is played in a single period of 10 minutes. Teams get 12 seconds to attempt a shot once they get possession of the ball.
Field goals made inside the arc – 1 point
Field goals made outside the arc – 2 points
Each free throw is worth 1 point.
Possession and Ball Handling:
The game begins with a coin toss. The winner chooses whether to take possession or start on defence.
After a stoppage or a score, the ball has to be “checked” (handed to the defence and then returned) at the top of the arc to restart the game.
The team that didn’t score gets possession of the ball. They must clear the ball behind the arc (both the wheelchair and the ball) before they can attempt to score.
Fouls:
Each team is allowed up to 6 team fouls. If there are more than 6, the opposing team is awarded two free throws for each foul.
Any unsportsmanlike fouls result in 2 free throws and possession of the ball.
The other team also gets possession if a team fails to attempt a shot within 12 seconds.
Overtime:
If the score is tied at the end of regulation time, the game goes into overtime. The first team to score 2 points during overtime wins the game.
Winning the Game:
Whoever is the first to score 21 points or the team leading after 10 minutes wins the game. If no one reaches 21 points within the allotted time, the team with the highest score at the end of the period wins.
The sport first made its debut at the Commonwealth Games during the 2022 Birmingham Games.
3×3 Wheelchair Basketball team at the 2026 Commonwealth Games:
Women’s Pool:
Pool A –
England, Australia, South Africa, Canada
Pool B –
Wales, India, Nigeria, Scotland
Men’s Pool:
Pool A –
England, Australia, Kenya, Canada
Pool B –
Wales, Malaysia, South Africa, Scotland
3×3 Wheelchair Basketball Full Schedule at the Commonwealth Games:
Sunday 26th July –
12:20 – Men, Pool A: Australia v Kenya (4:50 PM IST)
12:45 – Women, Pool A: England v Canada (5:15 PM IST)
14:00 – Men, Pool A: England v Canada (6:30 PM IST)
14:25 – Women, Pool A: Australia v South Africa (6:55 PM IST)
17:50 – Men, Pool B: South Africa v Wales (10:20 PM IST)
18:15 – Women, Pool B: India v Scotland (10:45 PM IST)
19:30 – Men, Pool B: Malaysia v Scotland (12:00 AM IST – 27th July)
19:55 – Women, Pool B: Nigeria v Wales (12:00 AM IST – 27th July)
Monday 27th July –
12:20 – Women, Pool A: South Africa v England (4:50 PM IST)
12:45 – Men, Pool A: Australia v Canada (5:15 PM IST)
14:00 – Women, Pool A: Australia v Canada (6:30 PM IST)
14:25 – Men, Pool A: Kenya v England (6:55 PM IST)
17:50 – Women, Pool B: Wales v Scotland (10:20 PM IST)
18:15 – Men, Pool B: Malaysia v South Africa (10:45 PM IST)
19:30 – Women, Pool B: India v Nigeria (12:00 AM IST – 28th July)
19:55 – Men, Pool B: Wales v Scotland (12:00 AM IST – 28th July)
Tuesday 28th July, Quarter-finals –
18:30 – Men’s quarter-final (11:00 PM IST)
19:00 – Men’s quarter-final (11:30 PM IST)
20:30 – Women’s quarter-final (1:00 AM IST – 29th July)
21:00 – Women’s quarter-final (1:30 AM IST – 29th July)
Wednesday 29th July, Finals –
12:30 – Men’s semi-final
13:00 – Men’s semi-final (5:30 PM IST)
14:30 – Women’s semi-final (7:00 PM IST)
15:00 – Women’s semi-final (7:30 PM IST)
17:30 – Men’s bronze-medal game (10:00 PM IST)
18:00 – Women’s bronze-medal game (10:30 PM IST)
18:30 – Men’s gold-medal game (11:00 PM IST)
19:00 – Women’s gold-medal game (11:30 PM IST)
20:30 – Men’s medal ceremony (1:00 AM IST – 30th July)
20:45 – Women’s medal ceremony (1:15 AM IST – 30th July)
India Women’s Squad for 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball:
Meenakshi Harichandra Jadhav
Rita Chanu
Reena Gupta
Lakshmi Rayappa
Who won at the 2022 Birmingham Games in the 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball?
Women’s Tournament:
Gold – Canada (Kady Dandeneau, Tara Llanes, Tamara Steeves, Elodie Tessier)
Silver: Australia
Bronze: England
Men’s Tournament:
Gold: Australia (Luke Pople, Lachlin Dalton, Kurt Thompson, Jake Kavanagh)
Silver: Canada
Bronze: England
