Official

Official 1-on-1 rules: The Rules

FIBA rules apply to any situation not covered below.

3 min
of effective play
9 pts
to win
2 pts
behind the arc
KO
on an ankle breaker

  1. Art. 1 Court and ball

    • One basket. Playing surface 15 m wide by 11 m long; half a basketball court can be used.
    • Free-throw mark 5.80 m from the baseline, 2-point line 6.75 m from the centre of the rim.
    • Size 7 ball from age 15; size 6 for women and under-13s.

  2. Art. 2 Players

    • Players wear the King 1x1 kit provided by the organisers.
    • Individual games: a player can be neither replaced nor represented.

  3. Art. 3 Officials

    • One referee, assisted by one or more scorer-timekeepers.

  4. Art. 4 Start of the game

    • Both players warm up at the same time.
    • A free throw decides which player chooses to have the ball at the start of the game or of overtime.

  5. Art. 5 Scoring and rules of play

    • Basket inside the arc: 1 point. Outside: 2 points. Free throw: 1 point.
    • After a basket, the ball goes to the defender after a hand-to-hand check.
    • After a missed shot, the attacker may take only one rebound.
    • The attacker may not play with their back to the basket for more than 3 seconds.
    • Nutmeg (dribble between the opponent’s legs) followed by a basket: 2 points.
    • King Ankle Breaker: if the defender falls on a dribble and the attacker scores, it is a win by KO.

  6. Art. 6 Duration and winner

    • One period of 3 minutes of effective play; the clock stops on dead balls and free throws.
    • The first to 9 points wins, even before time runs out.
    • Tie: overtime after a 1-minute break; the first to score 2 points wins.
    • A player who is late, injured, disqualified or leaves the court forfeits (score “w-0”).

  7. Art. 7 Fouls and free throws

    • Foul on a shot inside the arc: 1 free throw; outside the arc: 2 free throws; on a made shot: 1 extra free throw.
    • From the 7th foul: 2 free throws; from the 10th, and for unsportsmanlike and technical fouls: 2 free throws and possession.
    • In overtime, the foul count resets to zero.

  8. Art. 8 Restarting play

    • After a basket or a dead ball, play restarts with a check behind the arc.
    • A player is “behind the arc” when neither foot touches the arc or the area inside it.

  9. Art. 9 Time management

    • Running down the clock or refusing to attack is a violation.
    • With a shot clock: a shot must be taken within 9 seconds. Without one: the referee counts down the last 5 seconds.

  10. Art. 10 Time-out

    • One 30-second time-out per player, on a dead ball.

  11. Art. 11 Disqualification

    • Two unsportsmanlike fouls: disqualification from the game and the event.
    • Violence, verbal or physical aggression, or cheating: disqualification from the event.