IIT Madras Launches Phiball Three-Team Basketball Format

IIT Madras launched Phiball on 28 August 2026 on its Chennai campus. Phiball is a three-team competitive invasion sport with rules designed for lower space and infrastructure requirements than conventional basketball.

Phiball Format and Rules

Phiball uses three competing teams in each match. Each team has seven registered players, including four active on-field players and three substitutes. The game is played over three eight-minute quarters, and each basket carries one to three points. Teams rotate the basket they defend after each quarter.

Development and Sporting Context

The sport was developed over two months of rule-planning with basketball coaches. Its design drew initial inspiration from OmegaBall, a three-team football format introduced by IIT Madras on 17 April 2026. OmegaBall is another multi-team invasion game associated with the institute’s sports innovation work.

Launch Timing and Participation

The launch was aligned with National Sports Day, which is observed on 29 August in India to mark the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand. The initial rollout included participation from Sathyabama University, VIT Chennai, The New College, and YMCA College of Physical Education.

Important Facts for Exams

• Basketball was invented by James Naismith in 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts, in the United States.
• National Sports Day in India is observed on 29 August every year.
• Major Dhyan Chand was an Indian hockey player and an Olympic gold medallist.
• Invasion sports are team games in which players enter the opponent’s territory to score points.

Phiball and Related Sports Innovation

IIT Madras has used its campus for sports experimentation and format development. Phiball adds to the category of modified team sports that use altered court design, team structure, and scoring systems.