How to play the basketball game 21

Often used to settle scores, 21 is a continuous, fast-paced version of basketball with few rules and little room for error.

You Will Need

* Three players
* A basketball
* A hoop or half of a court

Step 1. Decide who starts with the ball

Decide who starts with the ball. Flip a coin, shoot for it, whatever. To make it easy, let’s assume you’re starting with the ball.

Step 2. Starting player is offense, other two are defense

Take the ball to where the three-point line is and put it in play. You are now on offense, and the other two players are on defense.

Step 3. There are no out-of-bounds or fouls

Play as though it is a two-on-one game, and try to score. There are no out-of-bounds or fouls.

Step 4. Whoever has control of the ball is offense

If you miss a shot or turn the ball over, whoever gets control of the ball becomes the offensive player, and the former offensive player switches to defense.

Step 5. Shots are worth normal point values

When you make a shot, it counts for as many points as it would in a normal game – two points typically, but three points from behind the three-point line.

Step 6. Play stops & you shoot free throws

After you make a shot, play stops and you get to shoot additional free throws for one point each.

Step 7. Shoot again or game continues

If you make a free throw, you get another — up to three. If you miss, the ball is live and the game continues.

Step 8. If you make all three free throws …

If you make all three free throws, you get the ball back and start over from the three point line.

Fact: There are many regional variations of the 21 rules, often requiring players to score exactly 21 to win, and making anyone who goes over go back to 11 points.