Rec and charity basketball in Colorado happens year round in school and community center gyms, with outdoor 3v3 events on park courts and blocked-off streets in summer, for youth and adult teams.
In this video
- 0:00 Intro
- 0:09 What it looks like
- 0:24 Formats
- 1:33 Build it
- 1:44 Registration
- 1:59 Results
- 2:20 Event day
- 2:32 Fun ideas
- 3:08 Tip
Step by step
Running a basketball event in Colorado? Here's how to plan it, pick a format and run it on Colorado Under Par, start to finish.
What it looks like
Rec and charity basketball in Colorado happens year round in school and community center gyms, with outdoor 3v3 events on park courts and blocked-off streets in summer, for youth and adult teams.
Formats
- 3v3
- Teams of three or four play half court to 21 points or a time limit, with ones and twos scoring.
- 5v5
- Standard full court games with five players a side, usually in timed halves.
- Single Elimination
- Teams play a bracket and one loss ends their day.
- Double Elimination
- Teams stay alive until their second loss.
- Round Robin
- Every team in a group plays every other team once.
- Pool Play → Bracket
- Teams play a few pool games to guarantee court time, then pool finishes set seeds for an elimination bracket that decides the champion.
- League
- Teams play a weekly game over several weeks, often eight to ten, with standings tracked all season and playoffs at the end.
- Half Court Shot Contest
- Players donate for a chance at a half court shot, with a prize for anyone who makes it. The crowd goes wild for every attempt.
- Free Throw Pledges
- Players collect pledges for every free throw they make in a set number of tries. It is simple, and every player can take part.
- Net Cutting Ceremony
- The champions climb a ladder to cut down the net, one strand per player. It is a classic moment and the photo everyone wants.
Build it
In the Organizer Dashboard, click Create event and pick basketball and your format. Every tab, word and Start here guide then follows your sport.
Registration
In Registration, ask what you need from each entrant, like jersey number. Set a roster minimum and a roster lock date, and split team fees into two to four payments in Invoices if that helps teams sign up.
Results
Open Brackets and schedule. Pick the division, pool play or a bracket, your courts, the first game time and minutes per game. Each of your courts gets its own phone link for scores, and every score updates the bracket for everyone. Tick Post on the event page so players follow it live.
Event day
Teams check in and confirm rosters, warm up on side courts, play scheduled games with posted court assignments, then advance through the bracket to the final and awards.
Fun ideas
Make it memorable. Three ideas people love. Half Court Shot Contest. Players donate for a chance at a half court shot, with a prize for anyone who makes it. The crowd goes wild for every attempt. Free Throw Pledges. Players collect pledges for every free throw they make in a set number of tries. It is simple, and every player can take part. Net Cutting Ceremony. The champions climb a ladder to cut down the net, one strand per player. It is a classic moment and the photo everyone wants.
Tip
One tip for first-timers: post a court schedule with clear start times and keep games on a running clock, because one long game can back up every court. Building is free, then 1% per paid order plus card processing, paid to your own Stripe account. Stuck? Ask Caddie or search Need help in your dashboard. Start at coloradounderpar.com/sell-tickets.
Questions organizers ask
What formats can you use for a basketball event?
Common basketball formats include 3v3, 5v5, Single Elimination, Double Elimination, Round Robin, Pool Play → Bracket, League, Half Court Shot Contest, Free Throw Pledges and Net Cutting Ceremony. On Colorado Under Par you pick one when you create your event, and every tab and the Start here guide follow it.
What should you ask basketball participants when they register?
In Registration, ask what you need from each entrant, like jersey number. Set a roster minimum and a roster lock date, and split team fees into two to four payments in Invoices if that helps teams sign up.
What happens on the day of a basketball event?
Teams check in and confirm rosters, warm up on side courts, play scheduled games with posted court assignments, then advance through the bracket to the final and awards.
How much does it cost to run a basketball event on Colorado Under Par?
Building the event is free. When you sell registrations or sponsorships, CUP charges 1% per paid order plus card processing, and the money goes to your own Stripe account. Listing an event on the Colorado Under Par calendar is free.
