The Seahawks and Mermaids have joined forces with Basketball Australia and the NBL and will host their first 3x3 Street Hustle tournament in September.

A second, larger competition is scheduled for January.

Warrnambool has earned direct entry to the 2020 3x3Hustle Big Hustle Championships in the under 12, under 14 and under 16 grades.

Warrnambool Basketball Incorporated development officer Michael McGorm, who has been in the role since January after moving from Knox, said it was a massive coup for the region.

"It is an Olympic sport now. It is about getting participation rates up and it's another way to grow the sport in the south-west region," he said.

"It is another pathway for different players. It is very different to five-on-five games.

"It is a lot more physical. It's on a half-court and all the basic rules are the same but it's fast-paced and there's a lot more contact.

"The kids develop quickly because they touch the ball more and they pick up skills quickly. I can see it being a real winner."

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McGorm said planning was underway for Warrnambool's first street hustle tournament, which will take place on Sunday, September 22 - the day after the Hampden Football Netball League grand finals.

He has already received interest from Portland, Port Fairy and Colac teams and will investigate whether Bendigo, Ballarat and Horsham, as well as other country associations, will enter.

The first competition will feature under 12, under 14, under 16 and under 18 male and female teams.

McGorm said the January tournament would give the association a chance to make the most of the region's tourist boom.

"It could be a bigger one in January with the population growth around here during that period," he said.

3x3 basketball will make its Olympics debut in 2020 and Commonwealth Games debut in 2022.

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