what is a 3x3 presentation

Presentation Skills 3: The Rule of Three

This is one of the oldest of all the presentation techniques – known about since the time of Aristotle.

People tend to remember lists of three things. Structure your presentation around threes and it will become more memorable.

The Rule of Three – We remember three things.

The rule of three is one of the oldest in the book – Aristotle wrote about it in his book Rhetoric. Put simply it is that people tend to easily remember three things.

Remember as a kid when your mum sent you down to the shop to buy a number of things. But when you got to the shop all you could remember were three things. This is the rule of three

Odds are that people will only remember three things from your presentation

What will they be?

1. The audience are likely to remember only three things from your presentation – plan in advance what these will be.

Believe it or not, the chances are, people will only remember three things from your presentation. So before you start writing your presentation, plan what your three key messages will be. Once you have these messages, structure the main part of your presentation around these three key themes and look at how they could be better illustrated.

2. There are three parts to your presentation

The beginning, the middle and the end. Start to plan out what you will do in these three parts. The beginning is ideal for an attention grabber or for an ice breaker. The end is great to wrap things up or to end with a grand finale.

3. Use lists of three wherever you can in your presentation

Lists of three have been used from early times up to the present day. They are particularly used by politicians and advertisers who know the value of using the rule of three to sell their ideas.

Veni, Vidi, Vici (I came, I saw, I conquered) – Julius Caesar** “ Friends, Romans, Countrymen lend me your ears” – William Shakespeare “Our priorities are Education, Education, Education ” – Tony Blair A Mars a day helps you to work, rest and play – Advertising slogan Stop, look and listen – Public safety announcement

A classic example of the rule of three was Winston Churchill’s famous Blood, Sweat and Tears speech. He is widely attributed as saying I can promise you nothing but blood sweat and tears. What he actually said was “I can promise you Blood, Sweat, Toil and Tears”. Because of the rule of three we simply remember it as Blood sweat and tears.

There are lots of other examples of the rule of three on this link

4. In Presentations “Less is More”

If you have four points to get across – cut one out. They won’t remember it anyway. In presentations less really is more. No one ever complained of a presentation being too short.

Presentation Essentials

Three Presentation Essentials

• Use visual aids where you can
• Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse
• The audience will only remember three messages

So there you have the presentation essentials. I suggest that you print out this little box and stick it in your work book for future reference.

** Technically the quote is – Veni (I came), Vidi (I saw), Vici (I crushed them) which is falsely tied to Gaul and Britanny Conquest by Julius Caesar, but was pronounced before the Senate after the crushing of a small revolt in what is now Turkey…

Recommended Pages

I get the point but find it slightly humorous and ironic that you give four reasons as to why people remember things in three. Why not take your own advice and keep the list to three?

great.usefull.simple

Interesting, useful

highly informative with excellent examples

Why do people tend to remember three things?

• All Templates
• Persuasive Speech Topics
• Informative
• Architecture
• Celebration
• Educational
• Engineering
• Food and Drink
• Subtle Waves Template
• Business world map
• Filmstrip with Countdown
• Blue Bubbles
• Corporate 2
• Vector flowers template
• Editable PowerPoint newspapers
• Hands Template
• Red blood cells slide
• Circles Template on white
• Maps of America
• Light Streaks Business Template
• Zen stones template
• Heartbeat Template
• Web icons template

To criticize used to mean “to give counsel.”  Now it too often means to tear down.  In the age of the One Minute Manager, it is appropriate to pause and think about what true “criticism” means – feedback.

It is high time that we balance the positive with what so often is pure negative in the area of our personal communications.  There is absolutely no question that praise is the most powerful kind of feedback to motivate change.  I was amazed at the profound meaning a few nice words (that I saw as no big thing) had for someone recently.  I must continually remind myself.  So must we all.

The problem is that, as speakers, we don’t take the time to get objective feedback.  Although I now make my living from professional speaking fees, it was a scant ten years ago that I should have paid people to listen.  I didn’t begin changing until I heard myself bumble though a speech on an audio playback and counted 35 “nonwords” in the first three minutes.  I then began doing something to gain both kinds of feedback.  There are three basic types of feedback you can get.  In all of them, remember the 3 x 3 rule – ask for or look for three positive aspects of your presentation as well as three areas where you could improve.

• People feedback – in every presentation, ask five people for three pros and cons
• Tape record every presentation you give.  When you hear it played back, write down the three most positive aspects and three areas for improvement.
• Videotape yourself at every opportunity.  This is by far the most powerful and effective feedback tool.  Again, apply the 3 x 3 rule.

If you multiply the 3x3 rule, you get more than 9.  The actual result is geometric progression and improvement.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Your cart is empty...

See Programs

Present Perfectly With the 3x3 Method

The 3x3 presentation method

You’ve been there. It’s the night before the big presentation and you can’t sleep. Should you change a slide? Will the message resonate? Could this be your big break...or worse the nail in the coffin?

Presentations take most people out of their comfort zone. All the eyes watching whether in person or over zoom, it doesn’t matter. There’s no doubt it’s a nerve wracking experience. Even for the very best communicators because at the end of the day you’re being judged. 

But there’s a way to limit that fear and sense of dread. There’s a way to feel prepared and ready to step into the limelight. 

There’s a way to nail the presentation...every time. 

I call it the 3x3 method for presentation perfection. 

The 3x3 method gives you the right framework to understand your audience, craft your content, and deliver a compelling presentation. 

As you can imagine there are 3 phases and each phase has 3 parts to it. 

Quick fun fact, the rule of 3 is one of the most powerful rhetorical devices you can use. 

So let’s dive into it. 

Starting here requires you to answer 3 core questions. You want to get out of your head and into your audience’s mind. If you can think like them, you can reach them. 

This brings up the biggest mistake people make when presenting. 

They focus on themselves. 

The presentation isn’t about you. The sooner you embrace this, the better your results will be. 

But don’t worry because these 3 core questions will help you shift your mindset into the one you need to succeed. 

Question 1: Where is the audience currently?

At this point you need to identify who will be in the room. How many people? Are you speaking up to your superiors? Are you speaking out at the same level as yourself? Or are you speaking down to get buy in from the people that report to you?

The makeup of the room informs your entire approach. This includes language choices, stories, metaphors, and so many other factors. 

Once you identify who will be in the room, you need to go deep into their mind. How will they be feeling in the presentation? What are their current beliefs? What are their current desires? What are their hold ups and insecurities? What are their objections? 

The more you know about where they are, the easier it will be to think like them and as a result, connect with them. 

Question 2: Where do you want them to end up?

The answer most people would give to this question is something like “I want them to say yes to my idea.”

Don’t do that.

You can’t reverse engineer from there because people are complicated and you never know what’s going on behind the scenes. 

Instead this needs to focus on how you want them to feel at the end of the presentation. That could be excited about a new opportunity that has the ability to grow revenue or it could be that they need to dig deeper to see if they can validate your ideas. 

It’s actually the step before the yes. 

You need to think deeply about what feeling gives you the best chance that your audience will get to the yes on their own. It might be at the end of that meeting, the next day, or in 3 months. You’re planting the seed for it to take hold. 

Basically you want to give them 1+1= and leave it there. They have to be the one to say 2.

Question 3: How can you build the bridge from question 1 to question 2?

There’s a canyon between question 1 and 2. It’s your job to build the bridge that makes it safe for them to cross it. 

This is where you start to reverse engineer. If you know where you want them to end up just start working backwards. Step by step until you get to where they started. You may need to use stories, metaphors, data, analogies, or other content to help them cross it. 

Remember, you’re the guide. Not the hero. 

Make them the hero and think of yourself like Obi Wan helping Luke to fulfil his destiny. 

With this in mind, you’re now ready to enter the next phase of the 3x3 method.

Now that you’ve put yourself in the mind of your audience it’s time to start thinking about your narrative. And yes, I said narrative. 

It doesn’t matter what kind of presentation you’re giving, storytelling matters. 

You can tell a story with numbers and data. You can tell a story with case studies, social proof, and anything at all. 

I get it...you’re going to say just stick to the numbers and facts. Let’s take a lesson from Jeff Bezos here when he said “the thing I have noticed is when the anecdotes and the data disagree, the anecdotes are usually right. There’s something wrong with the way you are measuring it.” 

Enough on that because you want to know how to create your narrative. Here’s the 2nd set of 3.

You design the content with what I call the 3 Ps. 

Step one is identifying the purpose of your presentation. Oftentimes this means highlighting the problem that’s being faced and then identifying the solution. The whole point of this phase is to make it obvious why your presenting in the first place. 

How many times have you been listening to a presentation and couldn’t even figure out the point? If you’re like me, its too many to count. 

There should be no doubt in your audience’s mind what your presenting about and why it matters to them. 

Step two lets you drive home why you care about this presentation. In this portion you need to make it clear how this affects you, your team, and the company as a whole. This would be the chance to really make people lean in and say that you care. 

You want the audience feeling like you will do anything to make the result your asking for happen. You want the audience feeling like your the person for the job. You want them feeling inspired when they listen to you talk.

Now if you’re worried about how to make that happen, don’t worry as that comes in phase 3. But for now you need to find your why. Why do you care about this presentation? 

Let’s go back to Star Wars. When the Rebel Alliance is sitting in the presentation about to take on the Death Star, you can feel the passion in the presentation. They make the fighters feel like they are the last hope. As a result they go running to their X-Wings facing almost certain death. 

Bring that why and your passion will shine through. Maybe your presentation is on why your team should be paid more. Maybe you believe there needs to be a re-organization or re-distribution of resources. If you don’t have a deep passion for the talk, neither will your audience. 

Here’s where you sell the ideal future state. Make it come to life with the biggest picture possible. 

Now obviously if your presenting a new idea with a target that you need to meet, keep that in mind by making it the biggest picture possible that you can achieve. 

But this is where you let your audience’s mind do the work for you. You paint the picture of the future and they start nodding along. They want that future to happen so they are ready to say yes to your idea. 

The beautiful thing about potential is it’s just that...potential. You might not hit it but even if you get close that’s better than the before. 

Here’s an example that’s easy to picture. A weightloss program says that in 3 months the person can lose 50 pounds. Sounds great right? Let’s say it doesnt happen and the person only loses 25 pounds.

Think that person is still happy? Of course they are. The big ideal future state let them take the necessary steps to get closer. If they set the ideal state as 25 pounds lost they may have only lost 10 pounds. 

That’s why you want to aim big here. Everybody understands you might miss the target. After all, Elon still hasn’t putting anybody on Mars but by setting that goal just look at everything SpaceX has done.

Now that you have your 3 P’s outlined, you have your narrative coming to life. It’s time to actually deliver the thing. This brings us to our final phase.

3 things make or break your delivery. Tonality, body language, and conviction. So let’s dive into these three.

The way your voice sounds matters. And I don’t mind how much bass but I mean if you sound sarcastic, confident, curious, excited, enthusiastic, or nervous. Yes there are others to be aware of but you don’t need them all listed here. 

Basically you need your tone to say a few things. You need it to let people know that you’re an expert, energized to be there, and trustworthy. That tone will change depending on your audience. 

Your tone will also change during the presentation depending on how you want your audience to feel. Here’s the thing though, most people only focus on one very specific part of tonality. 

Nervousness.

Instead you should feel well prepared from the first two phases so that you can embrace the energy you’re feeling as a force for good. 

Once again, let’s go back to Star Wars. The energy you feel can be used for good or evil. Anakin let his fear turn him to the dark side. Luke let the energy wash over him and use it to better connect with his father. 

Body Language

“Don’t judge a book by its cover.” It’s a nice sentiment but it’s just a lie. Humans evolved in a way to stay safe and that means making snap judgments. People aren’t trying to be mean or rude but it’s just built into their dna. 

So the way you carry yourself matters. This means take up space, stand or sit in a confident manner that demonstrates you belong and feel comfortable. 

It’s not only important for your start but also throughout your presentation. If your body language doesn’t match what you say it triggers “danger Will Robinson” vibes in the audience. The brain will imediately pick up on the incongruence and seek out an answer. The answer never ends in your favor. 

So if your presenting that your answer is the only way to move forward with the project but your body language looks timid…

Your audience won’t buy your words. Your body language just destroyed your close. 

So focus on controlling your body language. Sit up or stand tall. Don’t look disinterested. Don’t appear nervous. 

Yes this is all easier said than done but awareness is the first step. If you know what needs to be done, you at least have a chance. 

You have to believe what you say. If you don’t believe it, neither will your audience. Not only do you need to believe it but you need to REALLY believe it. 

Let’s go back to Star Wars one last time. Remember how Yoda didn’t want to train Luke originally? 

The reason he finally said yes was because of the conviction of Obi Wan. You need to have that level of conviction in your message. 

Too many presentations are lukewarm and as a result they don’t get a result. 

Study the way politicians sell their positions. They take conviction to a whole different level and that’s why there are such diehards behind them. 

Or let’s go tech. Elon says something about Tesla or SpaceX. It sounds crazy. He has absolute conviction behind the statement. People believe him. 

If you have conviction that your audience can feel, you can deliver the presentation of your dreams. 

And that’s it. The 3x3 method to presentation perfection. 

3 questions to get in the mind of your audience. 

3 Ps to design your perfect presentation.

3 must haves for the perfect delivery to sell your position. 

It may sound like a lot now but over time it gets easier and easier. You will start to do things naturally and look forward to your next presentation. 

You’ll have your boss asking you to do more and teach others how you always wow in the room. That’s what I want for you. That’s what I know you have inside of you. 

Now go out and deliver. 

May the 3x3 be with you.

More storytelling reads

How to use storytelling to change reality.

How to Talk to Important People

How to talk like a ceo, building your story bank, how to launch a product.

The 3x3 method gives you the right framework to understand your audience, craft your content, and deliver a compelling presentation.

Fundraising Must-Reads

How to Tell the Best Business Story

Second Meeting With an Investor - What to Do

Difference Between Seed Round and Series B

Raise more, faster, with us., our partners.

The Simple 3x3 Framework You Can Use To Explain Anything To Anyone

Dickie bush & nicolas cole, ultimate guide table of contents.

Ahoy and happy Monday!

Welcome to another week of Start Writing Online—where every week we dive into the biggest problems all writers face stopping them from writing on the internet, building an audience, and monetizing their writing.

(And, of course, if you want to defeat these problems and master the fundamentals of Digital Writing in just 30 days, we'd love to have you in the next cohort of Ship 30 for 30 !)

This week, we want to help you share your valuable expertise—expertise your readers want to know about.

Everyone is an expert in something.

No matter who you are, inside your brain there are valuable:

And so much more.

You might not realize it, but there are so many people who are just a few steps behind you who would love to read about what you know and learn from you.

Which is why every week we share templates and frameworks to help you start writing on the internet. We believe when you start writing online, you’ll see just how easy it is to publish your expertise, validate your ideas, build an audience, and ultimately create new career opportunities for yourself.

We’ve learned there’s a big problem when it comes to sharing your expertise.

You Don’t Know How To Share Your Expertise

If you don’t know how to share your expertise, then you will never attract all the benefits of writing online.

And even when you do write about your expertise, if you don’t use a framework which is a good way of explaining something, then even the most valuable knowledge runs the risk of getting lost in translation:

• Your stories
• Your hard-earned lessons
• Your method for achieving a specific outcome

All out the window, wasted—and the probability of building an audience around your expertise and monetizing your knowledge dwindles.

We want you to win. And over the last few years, we’ve learned that the easiest way to teach any framework, explain any system, or to give any kind of advice when communicating, whether you are writing or talking, is to use this dead-simple 3x3 Method. It helps you articulate your expertise clearly so that people will listen, remember what you say, and ultimately buy and use what you have to offer.

Let’s dive in.

How To Use The 3X3 Method To Teach A Framework With Absolute Clarity

Let’s walk through how this works in 3 simple steps.

Step 1: Define the “What”

Start by identifying the core of your framework.

Write down the main idea in one sentence: “A Morning Deep Work Framework.” This step is crucial as it sets the foundation for everything that follows. It helps to clarify the purpose of your message and ensures that every part of your communication is aligned with this central idea.

A proven method for telling your reader “what” it is you are going to talk about is to use a hook.

You can use any of the 6 proven single-sentence openers to capture you reader’s attention.

• The “common question, simple answer” opener
• The “strong declaration, simple solution” opener
• The “how to do X without Y” opener
• The “credibility + simple mechanism” opener
• The “moment in time heroes journey” opener
• The “weird insight + uncommon solution” opener

Each of these openers will help you get to the core of what it is you want to talk about fast—and in a way that piques your audience’s attention.

After you tell your audience the “What,” then you can move on to the “How.”

Step 2: Outline the “How” In 3 Quick Steps

Break down the process or explanation into three simple steps.

Don't overcomplicate this part. Each step should be straightforward and actionable. By distilling your message into three parts, you make it digestible and easy to follow for your audience.

• First you do this
• And then you do this
• Finally you do this

And then you’re done.

(Note: These don’t have to be steps. They could be tips, lessons, or questions. The only requirement is that you just use 3.)

Step 3: Explain the “Why” With 3 Reasons

Finally, detail why your idea or process works.

For each part of the “why,” give a reason that supports your main idea. This not only reinforces your initial point but also provides depth and context, making your message more persuasive. You want your audience to walk away an “aha” moment or an understanding of why similar frameworks don’t work and the benefits of following yours.

When you follow this framework teaching your ideas becomes much simpler.

For example, here is an Atomic Essay Dickie wrote using the 3X3 Method:

Notice how the framework fades into the background.

This is the power of a good framework. When you use it, the attention shifts to your idea and not how it’s being presented. Which is what you want.

Here’s another example of a post Dickie wrote on X:

You will have to click through to see the full post , but from the screenshot you can see how Dickie’s headed down the path of the 3X3 Method.

Of all the frameworks we use to write, we always come back to this 3X3 Writing Method. It has consistently proven to be an invaluable tool for clear and effective communication for any framework

Want to know why?

This Framework Creates Clarity, Structure, and Engagement

The 3X3 Writing Method works because it creates clarity and structure for your audience.

• Reason #1: The 3X3 Method Simplifies Complex Ideas. By forcing you to distill your message into three main points, it ensures that you're only including the most crucial information. By focusing on the essence of your message, this eliminates confusion and keeps your audience engaged. ‍
• Reason #2: The 3X3 Method Enhances Memorability. 3 is a magic number in communication. And it’s really important in this framework. Not only is it easy for your audience to follow, but it’s also easier for you to remember too! Structure your message so it fits within this framework. Use it to outline YouTube videos, short or long-form articles, or even and “Outline As Content.” Your audience is more likely to recall what you've told them. ‍
• Reason #3: The 3X3 Method Encourages Engagement. When your message is clear, it’s more inviting for your audience to engage with your idea. Translation? More people are likely to ask you questions, like, comment, and ask you where they can learn more about your work.

Now, when someone says, can you explain your system for writing every day? Or can you explain your process for launching a product in 7 days?

You immediately know how to answer.

And your answer should should something like this, “Yes I can show you my framework. Let me tell you about it. There are 3 main steps and there are 3 reasons I do it. Let me break it down for you.”

So, whether you're writing an article, delivering a presentation, or simply sharing an idea with friends, this framework ensures your message is received loud and clear. It shows that the key to effective communication isn't always what you say, but how you structure it.

And, by the way, have you noticed how this blog post is structured?

That's it for today!

Chat next week!

–Dickie Bush & Nicolas Cole

Enjoyed this edition? Click here to share it on Twitter!

You might also like...

7 habits of mind to improve your thinking and writing, 7 simple ways to niche down, how to write creatively: 3 steps to standing out without sounding clever, how to write a twitter bio: examples & tips for writing a twitter bio, 3 dead-simple techniques to master the art of persuasive writing (even if you're a complete beginner), how to write a 60,000 word book in 30 days.

• 🐦 Follow Dickie Bush on Twitter 🐦 Follow Nicolas Cole Twitter
• 📺 Ship 30 for 30 Youtube
• 🎧 Digital Writing Podcast

🔒 Privacy Policy 💼 Terms & Conditions

Want Your Presentation to Be Memorable? Follow the Rule of Three

• by Brad Holst

What makes a presentation memorable?

If you’re listening to a dynamic speaker, you might quickly point to their ease of manner, to their tone of voice, or even to their warmth and authenticity. You’d be right, all of these things are essential to a successful presentation.

But what about the content? If you take away all of the behavioral elements, how can a presenter make you remember the core of what they have to say?

The best leaders and presenters understand how to overtly use the rule of three to deliver information efficiently and with focus, while projecting a credible executive presence. Let’s take a look at how you can use this powerful organizational tool in your own presentation content.

Listening Is Hard Work

Even under the best of circumstances, listening is a more complex activity than we think. In his studies, Ralph Nichols , an early pioneer in communications at the University of Minnesota, determined that immediately after the average person has listened to someone talk, they remember only about half of what they have heard—no matter how carefully they felt they were listening. More modern studies have shown that most of us listen at or below a 25% efficiency rate. What’s more is that we may only remember about half of what’s said during a 10-minute conversation, and still forget half of that within 48 hours.

Now imagine our ultra-modern meeting spaces with the distractions of laptops, smartphones, and virtual conference rooms. Look at what your content has to compete with!

Everyone’s Working Memory Is Limited

Often, one of the biggest challenges in business presentations is the fact that multiple stakeholders want to keep adding to the content. Before you know it, your small list of “must know” items has become a long list of items that includes the “nice to knows” and some additional tedious details that no one in the room will actually need to know.

This kind of presentation can quickly become an unorganized, unintuitive mess. There’s a good reason why no one will remember all that information at once.

You’re overloading your listener’s working memory.

The classic psychology study on memory by Harvard Professor George Miller and subsequent work by researchers  Simon and Chase  have demonstrated that people can repeat back a list of no more than about seven randomly ordered, meaningful items or “chunks” (which could be letters, digits, or words). This work became the basis for best practices like chunking digits like telephone numbers into three parts, making it much easier to remember and act on than a single block of 10 random numbers.

More modern memory studies have refined Miller’s determinations and have redefined working memory capacities. Nelson Cowan describes his findings that, on average, our central memory stores are limited to three to five meaningful items. Cognitive load theory also suggests that when you begin to overload these basic limitations, learning and retention just doesn’t happen.

Understanding the Rule of Three

The rule of three is ubiquitous.

Humans are both neurologically and culturally adapted to the number three and its combination of brevity and rhythm. We know from studies in neuroscience that our brains seek out patterns and finds the structure of three to be a complete set; it feels whole.

Three is the least number of items in a series that make a pattern, and once you start looking for this pattern, you’ll see that it’s everywhere.

In mathematics it’s a rule that allows you to solve problems based on proportions. In science there are three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas. The Latin maxim omne trium perfectu m (everything that comes in threes is perfection) echoes Aristotle and his Ars Rhetorica . There Aristotle posits that the most persuasive rhetorical appeals must rely on ethos, pathos, and logos.

Extrapolate from that, and even simple storytelling and narratives have a simple structure of a beginning, a middle and an end.

Using the Rule of Three to Your Advantage

The good news is that you can easily incorporate the rule of three into your presentation planning right away and see a remarkable difference in your content’s clarity and impact. For example, the rule of three can be used to great advantage when opening a presentation:

• First raise a problem or opportunity to grab the audience’s attention
• Then suggest how that problem can be resolved with a motivating call to action
• Follow that by a sharing a tightly focused agenda

If you’ve used The Mandel Blueprint® content planning tool, you’ve already experienced the rule of three in action to structure these three steps. It contains Mandel’s thinking and messaging framework, SCI-PAB® (Situation/Complication/Implication – Position/Action/Benefit®), a two-step intuitive problem/resolution framework, with each of step divided into three parts:

• SCI will ensure you raise a problem or opportunity that the audience understands and cares about.
• PAB motivates the audience to action by creating clarity on the path forward and the value of the outcomes.
• And when you share an agenda with something as simple as “Today I’d like to focus on these three things…” you project an efficient, powerful, and engaging executive presence.

Never forget that there are dozens of other things competing for your listener’s mindshare. You need to quickly inspire confidence in others regarding your leadership ability and set them up for active listening and participation.

Structuring an Agenda

With or without a SCI-PAB to guide your content, as a general rule, you should create a tightly focused agenda of three main points that support your primary idea.

Ask yourself, if the audience is only going to remember three things, what should they be?

Focus on delivering the “must know” information for the audience, but prepare your answers to any questions regarding what would be “nice to know.” If they’re interested, rest assured that the audience will ask you about it.

Resist the temptation to add additional agenda points unless absolutely necessary. Any more than three items dilutes the focus of your presentation and can creep into that realm of high cognitive load for your audience. Overloading their working memory during your presentation means people simply won’t remember what you have to say.

The Power of Three

Our modern meeting spaces and technology distractions can tax even the most conscientious listener. Your goal is to cut through this competition for mindshare and deliver your content in a focused, easy-to-process, and intuitive manner.

Using the rule of three taps into something deeply human in all of us. Its roots in storytelling, critical thinking, and neuroscience make it a powerful tool that anyone can use with great success.

Try using it the next couple of times you need to present. Don’t be discouraged if you need to practice more than once or twice.

Third time’s a charm.

Works Cited (alphabetical order)

Chase, W.G. and Simon, H.A. (1973). Perception in chess. Cognitive Psychology 4(1): 55–81. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0010028573900042

Cowan, Nelson. (2010). The magical mystery four: How is working memory capacity limited, and why? Current Directions in Psychological Science, 19 (1): 51-57. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2864034/

Grabmeier, Jeff. (2018). This is your brain detecting patterns. Sciencedaily.com. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/05/180531114642.htm

Miller, George. A. (1955) The magical number seven, plus or minus two. Psychological Review, Vol. 101, No. 2, 343-352. Retrieved from http://www.psych.utoronto.ca/users/peterson/psy430s2001/Miller%20GA%20Magical%20Seven%20Psych%20Review%201955.pdf

Nichols, Ralph G. and Stevens, L. (1957). Listening to people. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/1957/09/listening-to-people

Soloman, Howard. (n.d.). Cognitive Load Theory (John Sweller). Instructionaldesgin.org. Retrieved from https://www.instructionaldesign.org/theories/cognitive-load/

Thill, John and Bovee, C.L. (2004). Excellence in Business Communication. Prentice Hall

Related Posts

Eight Must-Reads for Corporate Learning and Development

Presentation Skills Training: How to Become a Powerhouse Public Speaker

SCI-PAB in Everyday Life: From Wedding Toasts to Getting Your Teenager to Do Dishes

4 Elements of a Successful Hybrid Conference

The Reality of Virtual Presentations: They’re Here to Stay

How to Use the 3×3 Writing Process to Make Writing Easier

• Post author By Bronwynne Powell
• Post date March 31, 2021
• No Comments on How to Use the 3×3 Writing Process to Make Writing Easier

Ever sat down to write and stalled because you weren’t sure what to do next? 

Writing is a challenging activity. It’s no wonder that most of us have experienced that frustrating, distinct feeling of being stuck.

Imagine you had a reliable strategy for conquering those creative blocks.

Here’s where a 3×3 writing process might make all the difference.

What is the 3×3 Writing Process?

The idea of the 3×3 writing process is that the writing process is split into three distinct phases, each with its own set of tasks.

 Coursehero divvies the 3×3 writing process up like this:

• Prewriting: planning, research, outlining
• Writing: putting ideas into words, composing first drafts
• Revising : proofreading, checking for clarity, adding new ideas

For me, the power of a writing process is that removes a lot of the resistance that can come along with writing.  Instead of feeling intimidated and confused, I understand what is expected of me at each stage. Because each step is broken down into specific tasks, I spend less time figuring what to do next.

Let’s look at how you can apply the 3×3 writing process. 

1. Prewriting 

Prewriting is the first stage in the process.

During this phase, you’ll define your writing goal, plan your arguments, and do the necessary research to back up your ideas.

There are a few prewriting strategies you can use to start off strong. 

Questions to focus your article

The Purdue Online Writing Lab suggests asking two questions when you begin a writing project:

• What is the purpose of my article  – why am I writing this?
• How am I planning to achieve this purpose?

Deciding on your focus and goal this early will direct your research efforts. It also forces you to clarify what you want to accomplish.

Writer Henneke Duistermaat recommends asking these questions as part of the content development process :

• Who are you writing for? What are their concerns and goals?
• What action do you expect your reader to take? What is the purpose of your content?
• Why should they believe you? What makes your content credible? A track record? Research?

The level of research you need to depends on your existing knowledge of the topic. For example, if you already have a deep understanding of the subject, you may only need evidence to back up the arguments you intend to make.

It’s easy to get stuck in this stage. That’s why I cap my research time. When I know I have enough to start writing, I stop researching. Remember that you can always return to this stage if you need more information later in the process.

Potential research sources include:

• Conversations with customers or colleagues
• Industry papers
• Social media comments sections
• Product reviews
• News articles
• Google Scholar

Freewriting

Once you’ve determined the purpose of your post, get some ideas down onto the page (or screen).

Freewriting is a prewriting strategy pioneered by Peter Elbow. It’s the act of writing non-stop for 10 minutes. I’ve used this at different points in my writing process, including prewriting and drafting. If the topic is new to me, I’ll do research before freewriting.

Many people benefit from using outlines. I have written about outlines in this piece. By using an outline, you can organize your thoughts before your start writing.

Note-taking

Since reading How to Take Smart Notes , I believe note taking is an effective prewriting method. In that book, Sonke Ahrens said everything we do should be done with goal of writing.

I like to think of this approach as having a journalist mindset. A journalist reads a report or attends a meeting with a single goal: to write an article on the key observations. You’ll begin to hear quotes in conversations and hooks as people tell their stories. I’ve started using the Zettelkasten method recommended in the book. Here’s a summary of this knowledge management approach .

2. Drafting

Now comes the time to put your ideas into words.  Some people call this stage writing, but, for clarity, we’ll refer to it as drafting.

If you used an outline, your points may already be organized. Freewriting may have helped you to come up with rough ideas. You’ll now build out those thoughts into full sentences.

Drafting is a great word because it  “contains the awareness that you will have other drafts in the future” – this means we know we’ll be able to revise and edit our draft, according to MIT’s resource on writing process :

“Do write complete sentences and paragraphs, and try moderately to use proper grammar, accurate wording, and transition words to link your ideas as necessary.”

If I’m applying the 80/20 rule to writing , I don’t invest too much effort into a first draft. While I am more careful with my words than I am while freewriting, I avoid too much self-editing because I know I can return to my work to make revisions. I view it as an opportunity to get my ideas onto the page to see whether they hold up to scrutiny.

Here are useful drafting tips from the University of Kansas :

• Put your research into your own words
• Write full sentences even though they’re not perfect
• Read your work to evaluate whether it captures your meaning

3. Revising 

The final stage in the 3×3 writing process is revising.

This is my favourite part of the writing process. In the past, I called this stage refine because I refined my ideas and sentences. Sometimes, the point of my post changed completely during this stage.

Your goal here is clarity. What are you trying to say? Does your evidence back it up?

The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill makes the case for revising like this:

“Revision literally means to “see again,” to look at something from a fresh, critical perspective. It is an ongoing process of rethinking the paper: reconsidering your arguments, reviewing your evidence, refining your purpose, reorganizing your presentation, reviving stale prose.”

The Writing Center provides the following tips for revising:

• Wait before you review your draft. Even just one day can make a difference
• Assess the focus  of the article. Evaluate whether you need to change your angle or headers based on the edits you have made.
• Determine whether you still agree with your thesis.
• Make sure your article introduction states what readers will gain from the piece.

Use a 3×3 Writing Process to Remove Resistance

Once you find a system, a set of steps you can easily repeat, you’ll find writing far less overwhelming. Naming each of the stages in the process gives you a clear guide for how to write original, useful articles. Working through each of these stages has a powerful benefit: you have a playbook for writing, well-researched, original articles.

Of course, what works for me, might not work for you. Depending on your preferences, you may want to tweak the process. The key is to find a way of writing that makes the process easier– and more enjoyable.

Featured image by Pablo Lancaster Jones on Unsplash

• Tags writing process

By Bronwynne Powell

Writer and blogger

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• The Buckley Experience
• Our Clients
• Registration
• Finding Our School
• On-Site Training
• Writing and Organizing
• Business Etiquette
• Private Coaching
• Virtual Training
• Course Calendar
• Media Training
• Writing & Editing
• Presentation Development
• Company Retreats
• Video Reviews

October 13, 2021

Using the Rule of 3 to elevate your presentations

"We cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground." – Abraham Lincoln using the Rule of 3 in the Gettysburg Address

When we bring up the Rule of 3 in our public speaking workshops, we're surprised to find that many people don't seem to know what it is.

Yet, we know they do. Maybe they're not aware of it. Or maybe they've never heard it called by a name. But the pattern of threes is something we all encounter a lot: three little pigs, three bears, love triangles in the stories we've heard all our lives. Patterns of three in famous speeches. Three characters or three elements in a joke.

What is this Rule of 3 and why do we like it?

In writing and storytelling, it's the idea that a series of three is more engaging, more exciting, or more memorable than groups with fewer or more elements. 

Some people say this is because three is the fewest number required to make a pattern and that human beings love patterns.

Others talk about the inherent tension in the odd number of three (love triangle, for example) and how five introduces too many elements (thus the scarcity of love pentagons in literature).

And there's some evidence out there that using three promotes clarity and recall, including a few articles about how the Marine Corps is structured in threes to promote stronger response during combat.

"There are three principal ways to lose money: wine, women, and engineers." – Legendary banker Baron Rothschild, using the Rule of 3 with a twist

How you can make it work for you

There are a number of ways to use the rule of three to enhance our messages, but we’ll just give you (you guessed it) three for now:

Use three to organize your thoughts quickly. If you have to give an impromptu talk or no-notice update in a meeting, organize your message into three points to support your topic. You can enumerate them or not . But having a main message and three points gives you structure when there's not much time to prepare—and you've got the Rule of 3 backing you up , making you sound on top of it.

Apply the rule to get a story under control. Stories in business presentations can fall flat because either they lack tension or they go on too long. The Rule of 3 can help you get a sprawling story under control (just use three details to set the scene, for example). It can also help you create some drama if you use it the way traditional storytellers do —with a progression of three experiences that enable your main character to learn.

Create a pattern with an unexpected twist. You can also use the Rule of 3 to bring surprise or bit of humor to a presentation, two great ways to keep an audience interested in your talk. Comedy employs this technique a lot, as in this line often quoted from The Dick Van Dyke Show : "Can I get you anything? Cup of coffee? Doughnut? Toupee?" It works by setting the audience up to expect a certain pattern, then throwing them a curve with item number three.

At least one caution

Don’t let your pattern become a pain for your audience. Any time a speaker uses a technique, there's the risk of over-using it. Audiences catch on. They start to notice the pattern or habit. And then the technique, at best, loses its punch. At worst, it becomes an annoying distraction.

More on the Rule of 3

Here's a bit more on how the Rule of 3 works in traditional storytelling. 

This recent article in The New York Times explores uses of the Rule of 3 and how three has become a magic number for fashion influencers. 

Below, find the beloved School House Rock song and animation,  Three is a Magic Number .

• Executive Seminar
• Open Enrollment

Share this article

Buckley Speaking

Our online magazine with tips, news, and instruction for you

Hall of Fame

• Federations
• Inside FIBA
• Courtside1891

Men's Basketball

Olympic Games

• Paris 2024 Olympic Tournament

Olympic Qualifying Tournaments

• Piraeus, Greece
• Riga, Latvia
• San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Valencia, Spain

Women's Basketball

• Antwerp, Belgium
• Xi'An, China
• Belém, Brazil
• Sopron, Hungary

FIBA World Rankings presented by NIKE

FIBA 3x3 Rankings

• Individual Ranking
• Team Ranking
• FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023
• Paris 2024 Olympic Basketball Tournament
• FIBA OQT Greece
• FIBA OQT Latvia
• FIBA OQT Puerto Rico
• FIBA OQT Spain
• U15 Skills Challenge
• FIBA WOQT Brazil
• FIBA WOQT Belgium
• FIBA WOQT China
• FIBA WOQT Hungary
• FIBA WOPQT Colombia
• FIBA Womens Basketball World Cup PQT Rwanda
• FIBA Womens Basketball World Cup PQT Mexico
• FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026
• FIBA AfroBasket 2025 Qualifiers
• FIBA AfroCan 2023 - Qualifiers
• FIBA AfroBasket 2021
• FIBA AfroCan
• FIBA U18 AfroBasket 2024
• FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2025 - Qualifiers
• FIBA Women's AfroBasket
• FIBA Africa Women's Champions Cup
• FIBA U18 Womens AfroBasket 2024
• FIBA AmeriCup
• FIBA AmeriCup 2025 Qualifiers
• FIBAWC 2027 Central American Pre-Qualifiers
• FIBAWC 2027 South American Pre-Qualifiers
• FIBA AmeriCup 2025 Pre-Qualifiers
• FIBA AmeriCup 2025 Central American Pre-Qualifiers
• FIBA AmeriCup 2025 South American Pre-Qualifiers
• U18 AmeriCup
• U16 Americas
• U18 South American
• U17 Centrobasket
• U15 Centrobasket
• U15 South American
• U14 Central America (COCABA)
• U17 South American
• U16 Central America (COCABA)
• FIBA Women's AmeriCup
• Centrobasket Women's Championship
• South American Women's Championship
• Central American (COCABA) Women’s Championship
• Caribbean (CBC) Women's Championship
• U17 Centrobasket Qualifiers
• FIBA Asia Cup
• FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers
• Asia Cup 2025 Pre-Qualifiers
• FIBA Womens Asia Cup
• FIBA Women's Asia Cup - Division B
• U18 Division B
• U16 Division B
• FIBA EuroBasket 2022
• FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers
• FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers
• #FIBAWC 2027 European Pre-Qualifiers
• European Championship For Small Countries
• Basketball Champions League
• FIBA Europe Cup
• U18 Division C
• U20 Division B
• U16 Division C
• FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers
• FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2023
• Women's European Championship for Small Countries
• EuroLeague Women
• EuroCup Women
• SuperCup Women
• FIBA Oceania Championship
• FIBA Melanesian Cup
• FIBA Polynesian Basketball Cup
• Pacific Games
• FIBA Micronesia Cup 2022
• FIBA Oceania Women's Championships
• FIBA Women's Micronesia Cup
• FIBA Women's Melanesia Cup
• FIBA Women's Polynesian Basketball Cup
• FIBA Intercontinental Cup
• Basketball Africa League
• FIBA Africa Basketball League
• ROAD TO BAL 2024
• ROAD TO BAL 2023
• FIBA Africa Women's Basketball League
• Basketball Champions League Americas
• Liga Sudamericana
• Women's Basketball League Americas
• Liga Sudamericana Femenina
• Basketball Champions League Asia
• FIBA West Asia Super League Final 8
• BCL Asia Qualifiers
• West Asia League - Gulf Region
• West Asia League - West Asia Region
• Youth Basketball Champions League
• Afghanistan
• American Samoa
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• British Virgin Islands
• Brunei Darussalam
• Burkina Faso
• Cayman Islands
• Central African Republic
• Chinese Taipei
• Cook Islands
• Côte d'Ivoire
• Democratic People's Republic of Korea
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Dominican Republic
• El Salvador
• Equatorial Guinea
• Federated States of Micronesia
• Great Britain
• Guinea-Bissau
• Hong Kong, China
• Islamic Republic of Iran
• Lao People's Democratic Republic
• Marshall Islands
• Netherlands
• New Caledonia
• New Zealand
• Norfolk Island
• North Macedonia
• Northern Mariana Islands
• Papua New Guinea
• People 's Republic of China
• Philippines
• Puerto Rico
• Republic of Korea
• Republic of Moldova
• São Tomé and Príncipe
• Saudi Arabia
• Sierra Leone
• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• South Sudan
• St.Vincent and the Grenadines
• Switzerland
• Syrian Arab Republic
• Timor-Leste
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turkmenistan
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• United Republic of Tanzania
• Virgin Islands

Activities & Services

• National Federations
• .basketball Digital Identity
• Basketball Without Borders (BWB)
• Data and Video Solutions
• Game Page Widget
• Olympic Solidarity
• Her World, Her Rules
• Players Mentor
• Coach (WABC)
• Game Official
• 3x3 Official
• Statistician
• Host a FIBA Event

Equipment & Venue

• Presentation
• Approved Equipment
• Approved 3x3 Equipment
• Approved Software
• Get Approved
• Find a Venue

Integrity & Healthcare

• Anti-Doping
• Report a Breach of Integrity

Basketball Arbitral Tribunal

• Organisation
• Activity Report 2021-23
• Central Board
• Executive Committee
• Secretary General
• Management Team
• Judicial and Other Bodies
• Commissions, Working Groups and Task Forces

FIBA Family

• Coaches (WABC)
• Wheelchair Basketball (IWBF)
• Deaf International Basketball Federation (DIBF)
• Basketball Arbitral Tribunal (BAT)

Media & Marketing

• FIBA Media & Marketing Services
• 3x3 Official Partners

Official Basketball Rules

• Basic Rules

FIBA Men's National Team Competition System

• The System Explained
• Qualification Olympic Games

FIBA Women's National Team Competition System

• Qualification
• Hall of Famers
• Selection Process

House of Basketball

• Visit the Exhibition
• Photo Contest
• Book a conference room

FIBA Fan Forum

• FIBA Fan Forum registration

Other Inside FIBA Sections

Media Center

• FIBA Family news
• Document downloads
• FIBA Privacy Policy
• FIBA Cookie Policy
• Press Releases
• Accreditation

Document Library

• Regulations
• Studies & Facts
• Empower National Federations
• Women in Basketball
• Shape International Club Competitions
• Commissions
• Deaf Basketball (DIBF)
• Qualification for Olympic Games
• Players’ Mentors
• FIBA Venue Guide
• Anti-Doping Education
• BAT Sanctions
• Welcome to the FIBA Media Center
• Media Accreditation
• Photos, Videos & More
• Subscribe to Press Releases
• Visit the House of Basketball
• Sneaker Exhibition

Organization

Introduction.

• Media Rights
• Brand Identity
• Executive Director
• Competitions
• Coaches Training
• Americas Committees
• Americas Basketball Academy
• Americas Mini Basketball Week
• Ball’In Schools
• FIBA Youth EuroBasket 2024 Draw
• Women's Summit
• TIME-OUT 2.0
• Mentoring Program for Coaches & Referees
• Youth Development Fund
• Girls' Program - Her World, Her Rules
• iCoachKids Plus
• 3x3 High Performance Camp
• Basketball for Good
• Development Staff
• Women In Basketball
• Technical Officials
• Players' Hub
• Players' Off-Court Guide
• Players' blogs
• Players' Workshops
• Find a Players' Mentor
• Become a Game Official
• Game Official Licensing
• Find a Game Official
• WABC Coaches Platform
• Find a WABC Member
• FIBA Europe Coaching Certificate
• Become a FIBA Agent
• Find a FIBA Agent
• Anti-Doping: Information for Players
• Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUE)
• Registered Testing Pool (RTP)
• Anti-Doping Rule Violations
• Report Doping in Basketball
• What is Doping?
• Consequences of doping
• Roles, Responsibilities and Prevention
• Doping Controls

3x3 is considered the number one urban team sport. From the first official event at the 2010 Youth Olympics Games to the Olympic inclusion starting from the Tokyo 2020 Games, FIBA has had an ambitious vision for the game:

Why A 3x3 booth Will radically Transform Your Show Presence

Key takeaways:.

• We design and build custom 3x3m exhibition stands to highlight your brand.
• Our team of expert designers offers free 3D designs and consultative design consultations.
• We have dedicated project managers and offer on-site installation and dismantle services.
• We provide free storage for your stand graphics and use high-quality materials and strict quality practices.
• We offer several innovative designs and have offices in every major exhibiting city in Europe.

At Experium, we are a team of experienced exhibition stand builders that build 3×3 booths of all shapes, sizes and themes. Contact us if you want to cooperate with us for your next trade show or exhibition event!

Mart Šetinc

Exhibition and events professional with global experience. Mart has managed events for various international key decision makers worldwide.

• martsetincexperium
• March 14, 2023

Absolutely, we give free 3D design services with full assistance and guidance along with custom-designed modular 3×3 booths.

Yes, if you opt for a one-side open stand, you can self-build it for one side open and reuse it for a two-side open exhibition stand in the future.

Yes, we provide on-site installation and dismantle services to ensure hassle-free show management for you.

Greetings from the 3×3 booth design world! We have planned and constructed a great deal of 3×3 booths throughout the years as an expert exhibition contracting company. I’ll be giving you some advice in this article on how to design a 3×3 booth that will be unique and successful at your upcoming trade show or event.

Choosing the Right Layout and Design

The selection of the ideal plan and design is the first step in constructing a successful 3×3 booth. Your booth should be welcoming, visually beautiful, and simple to use. Observe the following advice:

1. Maximize Your Space

You must utilize every inch of a 3×3 booth because it is a small space. Choose furniture and displays that can be quickly reconfigured to meet your needs, such as modular ones. Consider using shelving units, hanging signage, or banners to make use of vertical space.

2. Keep it Simple

Less is frequently more when it comes to 3×3 booth design. Maintain a statement that highlights your company’s identity, goods, and services. Avert stuffing your stand with excessive information and disorganized displays.

3. Branding is Key

Make sure your 3×3 booth utilizes consistent branding elements including logos, colors, and typography and is in line with your brand identity. This will support brand recognition and foster confidence among prospective customers.

4. Get Creative

Don’t be afraid to think beyond the box and include distinctive and attention-grabbing aspects in the design of your 3×3 booth. This can involve using interactive elements, vivid colors, or arresting visuals.

5. Plan for Traffic Flow

Designing your 3×3 booth with the flow of visitors in mind will help them navigate your area. To create a natural flow and draw attention to important areas of your booth, use components like flooring, lighting, and displays.

Designing a 3x3 Booth on a Budget

Budget-friendly 3x3 booth design calls for some imagination and resourcefulness. Seek for materials that are inexpensive and can be recycled or sourced cheaply. Think about recycling or reusing objects from your own house or office.

Navigating the Logistics of a 3x3 Booth

It’s crucial to prepare ahead and maintain organization if you want your 3×3 booth setup and teardown to go smoothly. Create a list of everything you require, including shipping and delivery, booth construction and dismantling, and exhibit hall rules.

Stand Out from the Crowd

Technology can be a terrific method to engage customers and draw attention to your 3×3 booth. To create an engaging and memorable experience, think about utilizing interactive displays, virtual or augmented reality, or social media integration.

Measuring the Success of Your 3x3 Booth

Setting specific objectives and measurements in advance is crucial for gauging the effectiveness of your 3×3 booth. Metrics like lead generation, customer interaction, or return on investment may be included in this (ROI).

Trends in 3x3 Booth Design

Sustainability may be readily included into a 3x3 exhibit thanks to a developing trend in 3x3 booth design. Use reusable displays, eco-friendly materials, or establish a waste management plan.

6. Considerations for International Exhibitions

Language hurdles, cultural disparities, and inconsistent rules can all be particular difficulties for international shows. You may overcome these obstacles and make sure that the event is successful with the aid of competent exhibition stand builders with worldwide experience.

7. Case Studies

You may better comprehend how effective a 3x3 booth constructed by skilled exhibition stand builders have aided businesses in achieving their trade show objectives by looking at actual examples of those stands in use. If you want to see our case studies go to our about us page, and see the projects we worked on.

In conclusion, Experium is the ideal option if you’re seeking for a modern 3×3 booth that best showcases your brand. We guarantee that your exhibition stand sticks out from the competition and effectively communicates your business message thanks to our more than 20 years of experience and team of talented designers and project managers. To get started, get in touch with us right away, and we’ll be pleased to help you with your exhibition requirements.

Read More Of Our Articles:

Why Modular Booths Will Transform Your Exhibition Game

Discover the power of modular booths and transform your exhibition game with our expert tips and insights on this popular industry keyword.

Power Up Your Expo Booth with a Top Booth Contractor

Discover the top benefits of hiring a booth contractor for your next event! Discover key insights from industry leaders in this article.

How to Create a Memorable Booth Stand Design

With this comprehensive guide, which includes essential components and industry insights, learn the art and science of booth stand design.

How To Have A Perfect Booth Design For A Trade Show

Booth design plays an important role in the presentation of your company at a trade show or an exhibition. Find out how to create an eye-catching design.

3x3 Basketball

3x3 basketball returns at Paris 2024 for its second Olympic appearance. Popularized at the grassroots level, this high-paced version of basketball differs from its traditional 5-on-5 counterpart in many key ways. Read on to learn more about the rules of 3x3.

How many players are allowed on a team in Olympic 3x3 basketball?

Each roster consists of four players. As the name suggests, 3x3 basketball is played with three players on the court for each team. However, both teams are allowed one substitute throughout the game. This substitute can be "tagged in" during a stoppage of play, allowing for other players to rest on the bench.

Is Olympic 3x3 basketball half-court? What are the court dimensions?

Yes, Olympic 3x3 basketball is played on a half court. Whereas traditional basketball games use a full court with hoops at both ends, a 3x3 court consists of a half court with one basket. Under FIBA (International Basketball Federation) regulations, official 3x3 courts measure 15 meters (about 49 feet) wide along the baseline and 11 meters (about 36 feet) long along the sidelines.

Does 3x3 use a different ball than traditional basketball?

Yes, 3x3 uses a slightly smaller ball that allows for better ball handling and complements the increased speed of the game.

How does the scoring work in 3x3 basketball games?

In 3x3, a field goal from beyond the arc is worth two points, and a field goal taken from inside the arc is worth one point. (In traditional basketball, these are worth three and two points, respectively.) Free throws are worth one point each — the same as in a traditional basketball game.

How do you win Olympic 3x3 basketball games?

The first team to score 21 points gets the victory in 3x3. If neither team is able to score 21 points within 10 minutes, the team with the most points during that time period wins. If overtime is necessary, the first team to score two points earns the victory.

How does possession work in Olympic 3x3 basketball games?

At the beginning of each game, a coin toss helps determine which team gets the ball first. The team that wins the coin toss has the option of starting the regulation period with the ball or opting to wait until a potential overtime period to receive the first possession.

After a dead ball situation, players from both teams execute a "check ball" (a swift exchanging of the ball between the offensive and defensive player) behind the two-point arc. Check ball situations are not executed after a team scores a field goal.

After any play that results in a change of possession (successful field goal, defensive rebound, steal, block), the ball must be cleared by dribbling or passing to a teammate behind the two-point arc. Following a successful field goal, a defensive player will play the ball from a semi-circle located directly below the hoop. While a competitor is playing the ball within the semi-circle, players from the opposing team are not allowed to attempt to steal the ball or physically impede their ability to make a play.

In a jump-ball situation, possession goes to the team that was previously on defense.

Can you foul out in Olympic 3x3 basketball? How many fouls do you get?

No, there is no fouling out for individual players in 3x3 basketball, but a player can get disqualified by committing two unsportsmanlike fouls during the course of a game. 

Other than that, fouls work similarly to how they do in traditional basketball games. If a player is fouled in the act of shooting, that player is granted one or two free throws (depending on whether or not the shooter was behind the two-point arc) if they miss the shot. If the player makes the shot, then the field goal counts and the player receives one free throw attempt. 

Fouls are charged to the team rather than the player. Each team is allowed a total of six fouls before entering the foul penalty situation. At that point, the opposing team will receive two free throws regardless of what type of foul was committed. Starting with the 10th team foul, the opposing team will also get possession of the ball in addition to the two free throws.

Is there a shot clock in Olympic 3x3 basketball?

The shot clock in 3x3 is 12 seconds (half of the 24-second shot clock used in traditional basketball). If the offensive team fails to take a shot before the shot clock expires, it results in a turnover.

Are there timeouts in Olympic 3x3 basketball?

Each team receives one, 30-second timeout per game. These are in addition to two TV timeouts per game which are called by the officials.

Note: Some components of NBCOlympics.com may not be optimized for users browsing with Internet Explorer 11, 10 or older browsers or systems.

fiba.basketball

Everything you need to know about FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup 2023

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

SAN JUAN (Puerto Rico) - For the first time, the FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup will be played in 3x3 pioneer country Puerto Rico with continental bragging rights up for grabs. 

After memorable first two editions in Miami, the event in San Juan is set to be non-stop entertainment and here are the key details.

Where can I watch?

The action runs from November 30-December 3, and you can follow it live on the FIBA 3x3 YouTube page

Who is competing?

There are a whopping 34 teams – 19 in the men's and 15 in the women's – journeying to San Juan.

What are the pools?

Men's Pool A : USA, Argentina, QD Pool B : Canada, QD, QD Pool C : Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, QD Pool D : Chile, Brazil, QD

Women's Pool A : USA, Dominican Republic, Uruguay Pool B : Canada, Brazil, QD Pool C : Chile, Argentina, QD Pool D : Puerto Rico, QD, QD

Who are the favorites?

In the men's, we just have to start with powerhouse USA, who are gunning for a three-peat. But they will look a little different to what we're used to though they will be led by speedster Trey Bardsley, who was part of USA's title-winning team in 2021. 

View this post on Instagram A post shared by USA Basketball 3x3 (@usab3x3)

But don't expect USA to just walk away with the gold because other teams are coming for their crown.

Host Puerto Rico are an OG in 3x3 and have had a resurgence with a bunch of young dudes lighting up the FIBA 3x3 World Tour 2023. 

Canada have surprisingly missed out on medalling so far, but you just know this proud 3x3 nation will be out to break their drought. 

Brazil are looking to medal for the third straight event and their chances look good if Leonardo Branquinho can recapture his heroics from last year when he finished on the Team of the Tournament. 

In the women's, North American powerhouses Team USA and Canada appear the standouts having split the golds between them. 

The friendly neighbors boast 3x3 wonder women and a gold medal decider would be mouth-watering, but let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet.

We have to pay our respects to Brazil, who have medalled at both events previously while host Puerto Rico and Chile also are contenders for the podium. 

 Who are the players to watch?

G-league players Bryce Wills and Devin Cannady bring a different flavor to mighty Team USA, who start favorites in their bid for a historic three-peat. 

They won't be the only dudes putting on a show with Bikramjit Gill - better known by his popular nickname 'the Bearded King' - from Canada having posterized many sorry defenders over the years. 

If you want a stone cold assassin then it has to be Antonio Ralat, who will be the fan favorite in his hometown event.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by FIBA3x3 (@fiba3x3)

If you haven't seen Jefferson Socas on the half-court then you'll soon find out why he's a Brazilian 3x3 legend. 

Camille Zimmerman will lead USA in the women's and this is her pet event having made the Team of the Tournament last year. 

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Camille Zimmerman (@zimmermancamille)

Canada might be without the Plouffe sisters, but they still have the championship DNA with stars Kacie Bosch and Paige Crozon wanting to win another gold medal. 

Luana de Souza and Vitoria Marcelino are the heart and soul of Brazil and their dynamic games mean Brazil are a strong chance of once again returning to the podium.  

Puerto Rico and USA win gold at FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup 2023

Mon, Dec 4, 2023

MVP Angel Matias headlines FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup 2023 Men’s Team of the Tournament

MVP Dearica Hamby spearheads star-studded FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup 2023 Women’s Team of the Tournament

Sun, Dec 3, 2023

Wed, Nov 29, 2023

Five major events will wrap up an incredible 3x3 season

Fri, Nov 10, 2023

'Jimmermania' to hit FIBA 3x3 World Tour 2023 as Fredette eyes Paris Olympics

Fri, Mar 10, 2023