OFFICIAL RULEBOOK

NEHBL Invitational Cup 2026 • Version 1.0

Download Full Rulebook (PDF)

TOURNAMENT FORMAT

  • • Two divisions — Open and 35+ — four teams each.
  • Single round robin elimination round: every team plays the other three once.
  • 1st place advances straight to the Championship Final.
  • 2nd vs 3rd meet in a single do-or-die Semi-Final.
  • • Final: 1st seed vs Semi-Final winner — one game for the title.
  • • Standings by Win–Loss record. Tiebreakers: point differential, head-to-head (two-way ties), total points scored.

ROSTERS & ELIGIBILITY

  • • Rosters: 15 active players + 3 reserves, one head coach, one team manager.
  • • Reserves activate only with fewer than 10 available players, or by Committee approval.
  • Open Division: recruit from anywhere in the UK; one Non-Filipino Import Player per team.
  • 35+ Division: players 35 or older; max 3 non-Stevenage residents; majority must be Stevenage residents.
  • • Players may only play for one team and must be registered before the deadline.

GAME RULES

  • • FIBA rules with NEHBL modifications. 4 × 10-minute quarters.
  • • Q1–Q3 running clock; Q4 stop time.
  • • 24-second shot clock, 14-second offensive-rebound reset.
  • 5-In 5-Out: in Q1 and Q2 the five on court must be substituted with the next five at the 5:00 mark. Standard FIBA subs from Q3.
  • • 5 personal fouls to foul out; team penalty on the 5th team foul per quarter.
  • • Timeouts: none in the first half, two in the second half, one per overtime.
  • • Overtime: 3 minutes — first 2 running, final minute stop time. Team fouls carry over.
  • • Forfeit = 20–0. Minimum four players to start.

CONDUCT & AWARDS

  • Zero tolerance for fighting, dangerous play, threats, or abusive language.
  • • Two technical fouls in a game = automatic ejection.
  • • Protests: rule misapplications only, within 1 day, filed by the head coach or team rep. No fee.
  • • Tournament Committee decisions are final and binding.
  • Awards per division: Champions, Finals MVP, Mythical Five, Season MVP.

"Play Hard. Play Fair. Respect the Game."

This page is a summary. The full PDF rulebook is the official document.