FREN

Basketball courts

Find an outdoor basketball court and get a game going, 3x3 or full court.

Outdoor basketball courts host anything from a full 5-on-5 game to 3x3 on a single hoop or a solo shooting session. They are free-access, with no booking needed. Here are the rules you need to play, share the court and stay safe.

Also known as: outdoor basketball court, streetball court, basketball hoop, 3x3 court.

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Overview

An outdoor basketball court has one or two hoops mounted on posts, set 3.05 m off the ground, just as indoors. Full courts often follow the proportions of a FIBA court, which measures 28 × 15 m. Many outdoor courts have just one hoop and a half court: that is the 3x3 format, played on 15 × 11 m.

The surface is usually asphalt or resin, marked with lines: free-throw line, key and three-point arc. Outdoor hoops often have chain or reinforced nets that stand up better to the weather. Basketball equipment falls under European standard EN 1270.

A good court has sturdy posts, a firmly fixed backboard and rim, a flat surface without cracks or grit, and lines you can still read. Lighting and some space around the court make the game more enjoyable. If you are looking for an enclosed court for several sports, check out multisport courts too, some of which have hoops.

Where to find basketball courts

78 basketball courts listed in 30 towns.

By country

Best-equipped towns

Who it's for

3x3 basketballThree-on-three on a single hoop, in short games. 3x3 has been an Olympic event since the Tokyo 2020 Games, and it is the format you see most on outdoor courts.
5-on-5 basketballFull court, end to end, on courts with two hoops. With no referee, players usually agree on simplified rules.
Shooting practiceOn your own or with a friend, to work on your shot, free throws or ball handling. One free hoop is all you need.
Shooting gamesGames like HORSE or Around the World are played by several people on one hoop, with no contact.
Kids and familiesAt 3.05 m, the hoop is high for small children. A smaller ball helps them score and improve.

Rules of the game

Outdoor games are usually played without a referee. Here are the basic rules of basketball and FIBA 3x3, to be adapted by agreement between players.

  • The rim is 3.05 m off the ground. A full FIBA court measures 28 × 15 m; a 3x3 court, 15 × 11 m.
  • In FIBA 3x3, two teams of 3 players (plus 1 substitute) play on a single hoop.
  • In 3x3, a basket made inside the arc is worth 1 point, and from beyond the arc 2 points.
  • A 3x3 game lasts 10 minutes, or ends as soon as one team reaches 21 points.
  • In 3x3, the team in possession has 12 seconds to shoot.
  • After a change of possession in 3x3, the ball must be taken behind the arc before you can score.
  • Dribble with one hand, don't restart a dribble once you have stopped, and don't move with the ball without dribbling.
  • With no referee, players call the fouls committed against them and try not to dispute every play.
  • Before you start, agree on the winning score, how to restart play and what happens to the winning team.

Safety and gear

  • Before playing, check that the post, backboard and rim are firmly fixed and don't move.
  • Don't hang from the rim or backboard: even though hoops are meant to withstand it, worn or poorly fixed equipment can give way.
  • Wear basketball shoes or trainers that support your ankles and grip the surface.
  • Look out for grit, dead leaves and puddles: on outdoor surfaces, they cause slips.
  • Warm up, especially your ankles and knees, which take a lot of strain from jumping and cutting.
  • Drink regularly: many courts are in full sun.

Regulations

EuropeEN 1270

This European standard covers basketball equipment: posts, backboards and rims. Goals and hoops on free-access multisport courts fall under EN 15312 instead.

FranceBasketball goals: Articles R.322-19 to R.322-26 of the French Sports Code

Stemming from Decree No. 96-495 of 4 June 1996, these articles set safety requirements for basketball goals, outdoors and indoors. They must be anchored, or weighted with counterweights, so they hold when someone hangs from the hoop. Non-compliant equipment must be made inaccessible immediately by its owner or operator, who must also keep it maintained.

FranceOpening hours and noise

The mayor can set access hours for the court by municipal order. The French Public Health Code (Article R.1336-5) prohibits any noise that, through its duration, repetition or intensity, disturbs the peace of the neighbourhood or harms human health. A bouncing ball can disturb neighbours, especially in the evening.

BelgiumBelgium: NBN EN standards

In Belgium, European standards are adopted under the NBN EN reference. Compliance is voluntary, but after an accident, courts check in practice whether they were followed. In Brussels, basketball courts are among the most common sports facilities in public spaces, alongside football pitches and pétanque courts.

AndorraAndorra: posted rules

In Andorra, go by the rules posted on site for opening hours and conditions of use.

MonacoMonaco: posted rules

In Monaco too, the rules posted on site set out opening hours and conditions of use.

European standards are voluntary, but they are the reference when an accident happens. The rules posted on site always come first.

Etiquette

  • If you are alone on a two-hoop court, leave the other hoop free for people who turn up.
  • Respect the queue: the team that called “next” plays the following game.
  • Invite players on their own to fill a team: that is how pick-up games come together.
  • Think of the neighbours: the sound of a bouncing ball carries a long way in the evening.
  • Play fair without a referee: call your fouls and out-of-bounds balls honestly.
  • Take your bottles and wrappers with you.

Glossary

Outdoor court
A free-access basketball court in the open air, often called a playground in French.
Key
The painted area under the hoop, where an attacking player must not linger too long in 5-on-5.
Arc
The three-point line. In 3x3, a made shot from beyond the arc is worth 2 points.
Check ball
In 3x3, the restart where defender and attacker exchange the ball behind the arc, at the start of play or after certain stoppages.
Clearing
In 3x3, taking the ball back behind the arc after a change of possession before you can attack the basket.
Travelling
Moving while holding the ball without dribbling. Possession goes to the other team.
Double dribble
Starting to dribble again after stopping, or dribbling with both hands at once.
Next
Calling “next” means claiming the right to play the winners of the current game.
Did you know?

3x3 basketball joined the Olympic programme at the Tokyo 2020 Games, along with skateboarding, BMX freestyle and sport climbing.

What to bring

  • Outdoor basketball
  • Basketball shoes with ankle support
  • Ball pump and needle
  • Water bottle
  • Sweatband or headband

FAQ

Are outdoor basketball courts free?

Yes. The courts listed on Oukonjou are free-access, with no fee and no booking. Opening hours may be set by municipal order.

How high is a basketball hoop?

3.05 m from the ground to the rim, outdoors and indoors. Some courts for children have lower hoops, but that is the exception.

What are the rules of 3x3?

In FIBA 3x3: one hoop, 3 against 3 with one substitute, 1 point inside the arc and 2 beyond it, a 12-second shot clock. The game ends after 10 minutes or as soon as one team reaches 21 points.

How do I join a game if I don't know anyone?

Just ask whether a team needs a player, or call “next” to play the winners. On outdoor courts, that is how it works.

Can I dunk or hang on the rim?

Hanging on the rim is best avoided: it strains the fixings, and a worn hoop can give way. A hoop that moves should be reported to the town hall.

Which ball should I use outdoors?

A ball designed for outdoor use, in rubber or durable composite. Leather balls made for indoor courts wear out quickly on asphalt.