• Pickup basketball rules tend to be informal.basketball image by Alexey Klementiev from Fotolia.com
  
  Pickup basketball is an informal style in which the players gather at a local park to play the game. The rules can differ between locations, or from game to game, but there are some fundamentals that will remain the same no matter where you play. It is typically less restrictive than a regular basketball game, since there is no official referee.
  
  

Length of Game

• The length of a pickup game is generally under 20 minutes.minuteur image by Danielle Bonardelle from Fotolia.com
  
  A recommended game length for pickup basketball is approximately 20 minutes long, consisting of two halves played for eight minutes each. There is an optional half-time that allows the players to rest. This is generally two to four minutes long. In the case of a tie at the end of a game, a two-minute overtime period is played. An alternative to breaking a tie is designating one player from each team to shoot free throws. The team whose player throws the most out of five balls wins.
  
  

Amount of Players

• There is no more than five players on each team.street basketball image by .shock from Fotolia.com
  
  As in regular basketball, a team playing a pick up game can consist of five players. However, for a game played in a park, there can be as few as two players participating in a one on one game. The number of players on each team has to be equal. In the event that there are more than 10 players waiting to play, free throws can be shot to determine the teams of the first game. Players can be relieved during the game, and those on the bench can fill in. If there is a full team waiting at the end of the first game, they are generally free to challenge the winner to another game.
  
  

Scoring

• Scoring is done in one- or two-point baskets.basketball set image by Albo from Fotolia.com
  
  In most pickup basketball games, the game ends when a team has reached 11 points. This is typically done by accumulated one and two points with each shot. The three-point shot is only worth two points in some games, as it is easier to add when there is no scoreboard to keep track for you. In this case, all other shots are worth one point each. Depending on where you play, the ball may be kept in possession of the last team to make a basket, or immediately given to the other team upon scoring.
  
  

Fouls

• Fouls are usually self called.street basketball rebounding image by patrimonio designs from Fotolia.com
  
  With pickup basketball, there is no official present to call fouls and keep track of the score. Some places will designate an extra player as the referee. Others choose to let the players call their own fouls. It is important to not become too picky when calling fouls. Those who try to call them when they are not present will typically be booted from the current game and not picked up for subsequent games.