CBL INTRODUCTION
About the CBL
Raising the Level of Grassroots Basketball
The CBL is built to raise the standard of community basketball in London, providing an organised league platform where teams compete, players develop, coaches grow and communities connect.
Our Story
Built On Olympic Legacy
The Community Basketball League is London's largest grassroots basketball competition — more than 2,000 registered players every season, spanning North, East, West and South London, from U10 all the way to U25, boys and girls alike.
The CBL grew out of the London School of Basketball — the development programme designed to deliver on the 2012 London Olympic Legacy. As the game took hold across the city, we created the CBL to meet the demand: a structured, accessible and genuinely competitive home for clubs, academies, community programmes and independent teams.
The league is run through a Central Venue format that pools fixtures at shared venues, with a centrally managed administration and a single registration fee for teams that covers all facility, referee and table-official costs for the whole season and playoffs. Critically, this format makes our league the most accessible and cost-effective organised league competition in London — so teams can focus on playing, not finance and logistics. With skills-appropriate divisions in every age group, a first-season side and a title-chasing one each find the right level, and every player gets a positive reason to stay in the game and a stage to prove themselves in front of coaches at the next level.
Why the CBL Exists
A Better Competition Model for Grassroots Basketball
The CBL is designed to make organised basketball more accessible, more structured and more sustainable for teams across London.
Accessible Competition
The league gives teams a clear route into organised basketball without unnecessary complexity or excessive barriers to entry.
Central Venue Structure
The CBL format supports efficient matchday delivery, stronger organisation and a better experience for players, coaches and families.
Standards That Matter
Clear expectations around rules, conduct, safeguarding and player eligibility help build a safer, stronger league environment.
Competition Pathway
Built for Every Stage of Team Development
The CBL supports both established competitive teams and emerging teams looking to gain experience, structure and consistency.
Division 1
Designed for stronger, more experienced teams ready for a higher level of grassroots competition.
Division 2
Designed for newer, developing or emerging teams who need competitive games in a structured league environment.
The Player Experience
More Than a Game
The CBL gives young players a platform to compete while learning how to work as part of a team. Participating in our league develops life skills such as resiliency, work ethic, better communication, emotional control, focus and discipline — while building confidence that transitions beyond just the basketball court.
Ready to Get in the Game?
Enter a team, find a team to join, or get in touch with the league about participation, fixtures, rules and registration.
