01 League overview

• The NMBL is a men’s recreational 5-on-5 basketball league serving the Sacramento area.
• The inaugural season runs with 10 to 12 teams in a single division — every team plays every team.
• Games are played at one venue across two courts, with games running simultaneously.
• The league is run by its organizers, whose decisions on all matters not covered here are final.

02 Eligibility

• Players must be 16 years of age or older on the date of their first game. Players under 18 require a parent or guardian to complete the waiver.
• The league is open to all skill levels.
• A player may appear on only one team roster per season.
• Every player must be registered and paid before stepping on the court. There are no exceptions, including for a single game.
• Playing an unregistered or ineligible player results in forfeit of that game.

03 Rosters

• Rosters carry a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 12 players.
• Teams may register as a full team or a partial team, and players may register individually and be placed.
• Free agents are assigned to teams that need players. Where enough free agents register, the league may form an additional team from them.
• Rosters lock at the end of Week 3 of the regular season. After lock, no additions.
• Before lock, a team may add a player by having that player register and pay in full.
• A player must appear in at least two regular season games to be eligible for the playoffs.

04 Registration & fees

• Registration is $205 per player for the full season.
• The fee covers league play, officiated games, a custom jersey, stat tracking and media day.
• Payment is taken by card at registration. A roster spot is not held until payment clears.
• Jersey names and numbers are printed exactly as entered at registration and cannot be changed once the order is placed.

05 Season format

• Week 1 — media day, team photos, player headshots and jersey reveals.
• Weeks 2–9 — eight weeks of regular season play.
• Week 10 — all-star game and skills competitions.
• Weeks 11–14 — playoffs: two knockout rounds followed by a best-of-three final.

06 Game format & timing

• Games are two 20-minute halves with a running clock.
• The clock stops on all whistles in the final two minutes of the second half.
• Halftime is 3 minutes.
• Each team gets two 60-second timeouts per half. Timeouts do not carry over.
• Overtime is 3 minutes with the clock stopping in the final minute. Each team gets one additional timeout.
• Teams must field at least 5 players to start. A team with fewer has a 10-minute grace period from scheduled tip-off, after which the game is a forfeit.
• There is no shot clock. The 10-second backcourt violation applies.

07 Playing rules

• Standard NCAA men’s rules apply except where modified here.
• Team fouls: bonus free throws (1-and-1) on the 7th team foul of a half; double bonus (two shots) on the 10th.
• Personal fouls: a player fouls out on their 5th personal foul.
• Substitutions are made at any dead ball, at the scorer’s table, on the official’s signal.
• Dunking is permitted during games. Hanging on the rim outside of a dunk is a technical foul.
• Referees’ calls are final. Judgment calls are not reviewable and not open to protest.
• Only the team captain may address an official, and only during a dead ball.

08 Forfeits

• A forfeit is recorded as a 20–0 loss.
• Forfeits count as a loss in the standings.
• A team that forfeits three games may be removed from the league without refund.
• Teams unable to field a full roster should notify the league in advance so a friendly can be arranged instead.

09 Conduct

This league exists to be a good place to play. Conduct that undermines that is dealt with directly.

• Players, spectators and staff are to be treated with respect at all times.
• Two technical fouls in one game results in ejection from that game.
• An ejection carries an automatic one-game suspension.
• Fighting, threatening behavior, or any physical contact with an official results in immediate removal from the league without refund.
• Foul, abusive or discriminatory language is a technical foul and may carry further sanction.
• Teams are responsible for the conduct of their spectators.
• The league may suspend or remove any participant for conduct detrimental to the league.

10 Uniforms & equipment

• League-issued jerseys must be worn for all games. A player without their jersey may not play.
• Jersey numbers are unique within a team. Where two players request the same number, the alternate number given at registration is used.
• No jewelry. Medical alert bracelets may be worn if taped down.
• Non-marking court shoes are required.
• Hard casts, splints and braces with exposed metal may not be worn.
• Players may wear religious head coverings, sleeves and leggings. These must be secure and pose no hazard.

11 Standings & playoff seeding

• Standings are ordered by win–loss record.
• Ties are broken in this order:
  • Head-to-head record
  • Point differential across all games
  • Points allowed
  • Coin toss
• All teams that complete the regular season qualify for the playoffs. Seeding follows final standings.
• Playoff games that end level go to overtime. There are no ties in the playoffs.

12 Injuries, health & safety

• Players participate at their own risk and confirm they are physically fit to play.
• A player who is bleeding must leave the court and may not return until the bleeding is stopped and covered.
• Any player showing signs of a concussion is removed from play for the remainder of that game, with no exceptions.
• The league does not provide medical insurance. Players are responsible for their own medical costs.
• Emergency contact details are collected at registration and kept for that purpose.

13 Refunds

• Registration fees are non-refundable, except where the league is unable to provide the ability to play for reasons within the league’s control.
• Once jerseys are ordered, the jersey portion of the fee cannot be refunded under any circumstance.
• A player removed for misconduct is not refunded.
• Where the league cancels the season before it begins, fees are refunded in full.

14 Media

• Games, media day and league events are photographed and filmed.
• By registering, players grant the league permission to use their likeness in league promotion, social media, highlight reels and sponsor materials.
• Game footage is used to produce box scores and player statistics.

15 Changes to these rules

The league may update these rules. Material changes are communicated to team contacts and posted on this page. Continuing to play after a change constitutes acceptance of it.