Introduction

3-on-3 Cutthroat is a great small-sided, game-like drill that can be incorporated into every practice and can be used with almost any age level.

How it Works

To play 3-on-3 Cutthroat, you will need 9 players, divided into 3 teams of 3.

On one end of the court, designate one team as offense and the other as defense. On the other side of the court, the 3rd team will be be designated as defense as well.

• If the offense scores, they get to keep the ball and will transition to the other end of the court where they will go against team 3 who is waiting on defense.
• The team that doesn’t score, will stay on the end they are currently on and become defense for the next possession.
• If the defense gets a stop (steal, rebound, or forced turnover), they become the offense and transition to the other end, while the team who did not score stay on the current end and becomes defense for the next possession.
• Play to a score or for a set amount of time.
• Add constraints to build specific skills (e.g., must set a screen, must get a paint touch before shooting, etc.).

Progression/Variation

• Add a scoring system (e.g., +1 for a stop, +2 for a score).
• Only allow points for certain actions (e.g., backdoor layups, one-pass scores, etc.).
• Require a specific action before scoring (e.g., off-ball screen, post entry, etc.).
• Use different scoring zones (e.g., corner 3s are worth 3, paint shots worth 2, others worth 1).

Coaching Points

• Encourage quick transitions between defense and offense — “next play” mindset.
• Focus on communication and spacing, especially in live-play chaos.
• Use it to build team chemistry and reinforce game-like reads.
• Keep the pace high — this drill should feel competitive and fast.

Why This Drill Works

Cutthroat teaches players to compete with urgency and play through mistakes. It mimics real-game transitions and forces communication, spacing, and decision-making under pressure. You’ll get reps in every key area — defense, offense, scoring, and quick thinking — all packed into one efficient format that kids love.

Want to See More 3-on-3 Cutthroat Variations?

3-on-3 Cutthroat is one of our absolute favorite small-sided practice drills. It can be tweaked infinitely to teach specific game-like skills. Click here to see all 11 variations of 3-on-3 Cutthroat that you can add to your practices today.