CBL FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
If you are a player without a team, complete the CBL New Player Sign Up form. A member of the league will contact you about available options and next steps.
We actively accommodate new players each season, subject to available roster spots. If teams are full, we'll place you on our waiting list and notify you as new places open.
Complete the online Team Application. Entry is on a first-come, first-served basis and capacity is limited.
Have details ready for your Team Manager, Head Coach, and basic club info.
We welcome teams of all levels, from new starters to established clubs. Apply here: Team Application Form.
For the 2025/26 season the CBL offers:
CBL Regular Season & Playoffs (September 2025 – April 2026)
Two tiers by age & level:
- CBL PRIME – top-tier, performance-focused
- CBL DEVELOPMENT – developmental tier
Teams play 11 regular-season games (each opponent once). Prime: top 8 advance to single-elimination Playoffs; Development: top 4 advance to single-elimination Playoffs, culminating at the CBL Finals.
CBL Cup (October 2025 – March 2026)
Group-stage (home & away) leading to knockout quarterfinals, semifinals, and final.
CBL All-Star Game (May 2026)
Showcase of PRIME standouts as the centerpiece of All-Star Saturday.
- CBL Regular Season & Playoffs: 11–14 games (central venue)
- CBL Cup: 6–8 games (home & away)
CBL PRIME & DEVELOPMENT: £600 per team
Includes match officials (referees & table) and venue hire for regular season, playoffs and finals.
CBL Cup: £300 per team
Home teams cover home-court hire & officials for Cup home fixtures.
All registered teams receive a club landing page on the website.
Entry fees for PRIME, DEVELOPMENT, or Cup are due upon application.
Payment is taken within the online application: https://www.london-basketball.com/cbl-sign-up/
Payment deadline: 14 September 2025. Places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
The season typically starts at the end of October and ends at the end of May (dates may be adjusted if necessary).
For the 2025/26 season, divisions are determined as follows (eligibility on 1 September 2025):
- U10: must be aged 9 or under on 1 September 2025
- U12: must be aged 11 or under on 1 September 2025
- U14: must be aged 13 or under on 1 September 2025
- U16: must be aged 15 or under on 1 September 2025
- U18: must be aged 17 or under on 1 September 2025
- U20: must be aged 19 or under on 1 September 2025
Players must license with the CBL and provide proof of age. See Player Eligibility.
CBL PRIME: Teams may include any number of National League players. Designed for competitive, performance-focused play.
CBL DEVELOPMENT: No National League players permitted. Aimed at new and developing players with an emphasis on participation and learning.
All league games are scheduled at shared, centrally-run venues with CBL-appointed officials and admin staff. This delivers a quality competition without the full overheads of traditional home/away leagues.
Your one-time registration fee covers venue hire, referees and table officials for the entire regular season, playoffs and finals.
'CBL Sundays' run across accessible, multi-court venues. Regular venues include:
- Uxbridge College, Park Rd, Uxbridge UB8 1NQ
- Leyton Score, 2 Coronation Square, London E10 5UN
- Goresbrook School, Cook Road, Dagenham RM9 6XW
- Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, Ledrington Rd, London SE19 2BB
Preliminary fixtures are issued after registration closes and finalised before the first game day. Any changes will be communicated to Team Managers by email and reflected on the website.
Postponements: Requests are only considered in exceptional circumstances and must be submitted via the CBL Contact Form by the Team Manager. Approval is at the league's discretion.
Teams are expected to fulfil all fixtures. Failure to appear, late arrival beyond the allowable window, or inability to field the minimum players will result in a forfeit.
Minimum players: Teams must start games with a minimum of 6 players. However, the league expectation is 8-12 players per game. Teams who consistently fail to meet this standard may face disciplinary measures including a £50 fine per game (after the third offence) or an in-game penalty (5 free throws awarded to the opposing team for each player below the 8-player expectation).
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The Community Basketball League (CBL) is the most coveted grassroots basketball competition in London with over 2,000 registered players representing North, East, West, and South London. Our league provides organised competitions and playing opportunities for a wide range of abilities from early-stage beginners through to the future stars of our game! We strive to drive excitement and character-building playing experiences for young people across our league, while promoting the values of positive sports competition so our players develop lifelong healthy habits and an appreciation and love of the game.
