During the second consecutive Olympic Games, 3-on-3 basketball will be a major sport, alongside the traditional 5-on-5 offering.

The event, called 3×3, has seen an astronomical rise in popularity since it was first officially played at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games. In 2017, 3×3 basketball was accepted as an Olympic discipline, setting the stage for the sport to be played at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

3×3 basketball is back at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, with stars set to compete including former NBA lottery pick Jimmer Fredette, WNBA All-Star Dearica Hamby and NCAA women’s basketball star Hailey Van Lith.

With the competition in full swing, here’s everything you need to know about 3×3, including the rules, format, participating teams and when the matches are played.

MORE: USA Basketball Men’s 3×3 Schedule | USA Basketball Women’s 3×3 Schedule

2024 Olympic Games 3-on-3 Basketball Rules, Format

Pronounced “three-ex-three” in English, 3×3 is a half-court variant of basketball. Besides the fact that it’s 3-on-3 on the half-court, there are a few key rule differences in the world of 3×3.

If you look at a 3×3 game, you see a different size basketball and that the game consists of a 10 minute quarter with a 12 second shot clock. Shots count for one or two points and there is no break between baskets.

Games end after 10 minutes or when a team reaches the target score of 21 points. Competition can be held indoors or outdoors.

MORE: How Jimmer Fredette Was Persuaded to Lead USA Basketball’s Gold Medal Chances in Men’s 3×3

Which countries participate in 3-on-3 basketball?

• Men’s teams: China, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Serbia, United States
• Women’s teams: Australia, Azerbaijan, Canada, China, France, Germany, Spain, United States

Olympic 3-on-3 Basketball Schedule

The men’s and women’s tournaments will be held from July 30 to August 5. There will be play-in matches on August 4, and the semi-finals and final will be played on August 5.