Hoopfest is an annual 3on3 basketball tournament. Such an event can be held for several means. Examples are for a charity, physical activity, disease curement, and most commonly human spectation. The idea sees two even teams oppose each other in various games of basketball where the advancing teams continue to fight until there is a declared winner. This event is usually held on street areas (very common) with basketball courts and/or in a parking lots.
Contents
- General definition
- History
- Concept
- Rules
- Brackets
- Youth divisions
- High school division
- Adult
- Location
- Time
- Team setup
- Prizes
- References
The largest and most relevant 3-on-3 basketball tournament in the world is Spokane Hoopfest which happens in Spokane, Washington on the last weekend of June annually.
General definition
A Hoopfest should see boys and girls of divisible ages facing in groups of three or four members on each team. A usual event should consist of up to 40 teams tops; however, one tournament in 1999 consisted of about 1,500 teams, 5,500 players and 1,000 volunteers. Because a large crowd might occur, this event might be held non-annually, this can be credited to sponsors promoting such an event to be so spectacular so that a large amount of money can be raised for charities. The purpose of this game can determine the best team of the area.
History
Many Hoopfest tournaments begin in small towns and grow over the years.The origin of the event could relate back to 1974 when a 3-on-3 basketball tournament was held in a small town in Texas with a population of 5,600. The Gus Macker started when 17 friends decided to play a 3-on-3 tournament to determine the best team. Now the Gus Macker tournament has grown to 5,100 teams (20,400 players) and is played each July in the town of Belding, Michigan. Now there are 3-on-3 basketball tournaments set up all over the nation. Some tournaments allow for a variety of ages, skill-levels, as well as the physically challenged to participate. A name such as HoopFest would be a logical name for a tournament in a broadcast Television series.
In 1993, a 23-year-old man went into cardiac arrest while playing in HoopFest. After being administered CPR and being transported to a local hospital, he survived. This story was aired on Rescue 911 on November 8, 1994.
Concept
The concept consists of three games in a double elimination tournament. Each team of four players (three players and one substitute) will submit registration forms and a registration fee based on date of registration. The teams will be placed in various divisions based on age (Youth divisions are based on the eldest players), height and experience. See Below for divisions.
Rules
The rules of the game are the same as in real Basketball but vary by division, location, and by physical ability. Teams of four (with the substitute as four) will compete in brackets to win money for a charity or to determine the best team of their area. Teams will include a score keeper. The number of teams in the event will outline how many teams will play. For Example: "Sixteen thousand teams will compete in 15 (See below for brackets) brackets where in the game the teams rotate the substitute player (one who is exhausted or hurt).
The games are fixated by time compared to how long the event runs. For Example: "a 5 hour event should include a Junior division (boys and girls disabled) and will have four contests each ten to fifteen minutes each, then the Junior division (boys and girls abled) will have four contests each ten to fifteen minutes each, followed by Junior Teenagers (boys and girls) and will have four contests each ten to fifteen minutes each, then Young Adults (boys and girls) will have four contests each ten to fifteen minutes each, then the Adolescents (boys and girls) will have four contests each ten to fifteen minutes each, and the 35 or over will play for ten to fifteen minutes each". Last but not least, judging by age, physical ability, and division will the referee decide the content of the match. Some unauthorized games will have less officiated rules.
Brackets
As stated above brackets are determined by age, height, and experience. The following outlines how the bracket system goes [2].
Youth divisions
High school division
Adult
Location
A Hoop Fest would generally be held in a huge town, heavily populated area to produce mainstream interest. A smaller tournament might be held in a smaller town such as Lowell, Michigan. Basketball courts would be set up in the parking lots and streets.
Time
The maximum amount of points is 20 or the leader after 20 minutes. Events with many scheduled games would have the final score determined by the team with the most scored points.
Team setup
These are the following positions taken for a game:
Prizes
A scheduled promoted contest should guarantee a prize. Each division and division winners would win trophies but size varies with division. This means that bigger divisions might get better prizes. And in some cases the smaller divisions are only rewarded. Many of tournaments have players donate money to charities, or a player will decide to do this on his or her own.
List of notable Prizes: Sports Tickets, Admission to parks, Money for charity, and Teams sponsors.