Why 3×3 is a powerful learning tool

More Touches: All too often, young players (3rd to 6th grade) are easily lost in the relative chaos of a full-court, 5×5 game. It’s not abnormal for an entire game to go by without a player touching the ball more than once or twice, and when they do get the ball, usually they’ll be in a hurry to make something happen with the rare opportunity. 3×3 lets players work on their game in a competitive environment with more space and more opportunities handling the ball. It will accelerate their development.

Learn the Game: With fewer players on the court, players begin to naturally move without the ball, learning how to effectively cut, set screens, keep appropriate spacing, and make simple read/react decisions. This process builds on itself, as kids experience one breakthrough after another – again helped by the increased touches and constant action. Additionally, its harder to “hide” on defense. Players are regularly exposed to fundamental defensive one-on-one and rotation scenarios. All of this makes it easier for coaches, moms, and dads to…

. . . Teach the Game: It seems there’s never enough time to practice, and getting a group of 10, 12, or 15 young kids to pick up critical basketball concepts in a short amount of time is hard to do. 3×3 creates constant game situations that provide effective coaching opportunities. Coaches aren’t just telling kids about something – they’re teaching as the player experiences the situation.