Event blueprints
Running a 3x3 tournament
Format, teams, rules, schedule, sign-ups and promotion for a community 3x3 tournament.
Here's how we recommend running a successful tournament using the Court Club philosophy.
The format: 3x3 half-court games
Standard full-court basketball is great, but for a community event, 3x3 is much better:
Games only need one hoop, so you can run two games at the same time on a single full court.
Games are faster and transitions quicker. It keeps the energy high for spectators and players alike.
It's easier for players to get a team together, as they only need 3 people to sign up.
Building the teams
We want these events to be as inclusive as possible. Here is our suggested setup:
Team size: 3 to 5 players (3 on the court, with up to 2 subs).
In the spirit of Court Club, always allow individuals to sign up alone. You can pair them up into "pick-up teams". It's a great way for people to meet each other and to include people who are not YET part of the community.
We promote mixed teams (all genders) and suggest two age brackets: Teens 12–15 and Adults 16+.
Just 5 teams per age group brings in 30–50 players – the "sweet spot" for a fun, bustling atmosphere where everyone gets plenty of playtime.
The rules: keep it simple
Since these aren't official ranked tournaments, we focus on the fun-to-play factor. We use modified, informal rules:
Duration: 10-minute games.
Winning: first to 21 points OR whoever is leading after 10 minutes.
Fouls: no referees! The offensive team calls the fouls. It keeps things honest and friendly.
Clock: no stopping the clock for fouls; keep the flow moving.
Staffing: you don't need refs, but you do need one person to track time and score (which you can do right in the Court Club app).
Our experience: teams are surprisingly self-sufficient. As long as they have a clear bracket and a time schedule, they usually play fairly and manage themselves.
Scheduling your event
To keep players warm and the crowd engaged, we recommend a tight schedule. Plan for 15-minute slots per game (10 minutes of play + 5 minutes for changeover). This minimises "sitting around" time and keeps the players warmed up.
The finale: after the round-robin games, the two teams with the most wins face off in one final championship game to crown the winner.
Sign-ups made easy
Don't let paperwork scare people away. Keep the sign-up form simple (we can provide you with templates). You can drop your sign-up link directly into the Court Club admin panel, and players can join via the app.
What to ask in the form:
Team name: makes the schedule easy to communicate.
Email address: essential for sending confirmations and updates.
Skill level: ask if they are beginners or experienced. This helps you balance the pick-up teams so the games stay competitive and fun.
Promotion
We want your event to be a success! To make that happen, please contact the Court Club team in advance. We can help you share the news with the wider community by:
Sending targeted email newsletters to regional and city-specific groups.
Promoting your event dates on our Instagram channel.
The more people we reach, the better the atmosphere on the court!