Basketball
Find a pickup basketball game near you
Basketball is the easiest sport to walk into and the hardest to time. Courts are everywhere; knowing when there will be enough people for a run is the problem. CatchBuddy lets you post the court and the time, or see who nearby is up for a game.
How a pickup run works
Most runs are 5-on-5 full court or 3-on-3 half court, played to 11 or 15 by ones and twos, usually win-by-two. When you arrive, ask who has next and call the game after theirs. The winning team stays on. If the numbers are not there yet, shoot around at a side hoop until they are.
Where games happen
- Public park courts — the default, and where most CatchBuddy games are posted.
- Recreation centres and school courts after hours, often the only indoor option in winter.
- Weekday evenings after work and weekend mornings are when courts fill up. Midday on a weekday is when you will have one to yourself.
What to bring
- A ball. Somebody has to, so say whether you are bringing one when you post.
- Court shoes — indoor gyms usually require non-marking soles.
- Water. Runs go longer than you plan.
Pickup etiquette
- Call your own fouls, and do not argue a call on someone else's.
- Shoot for ball to start; check the ball after every dead ball.
- If the court is crowded, do not hold next for a team that has not shown up.
- Match the intensity of the game you joined. A casual run is not the place to go full contact.
How CatchBuddy helps
Post the park, the time, and whether you are bringing the basketball, and people nearby who play basketball can see it and ask to join. Or browse players near you and invite someone directly. Games are at public parks, messaging stays on the platform, and everyone builds a rating history. Read the safety guidelines before your first meetup.