League Regulations

• During the Registration months (January and July), team captains will contact the NBL to register a team. Each team captain will be given a ten-digit team ID number.  Once a minimum of two teams in a district (same league level) have requested a team ID number (and each team has the minimum number of players), NBL will notify team captains that player registration may begin.  Only those teams that have completed the team registration and the player registration will be included in the league schedule, which will be published on the NBL web site at the beginning of each season (on the NBL Recreational League page, click on the Railstation icon to access league schedules).  Additional players (beyond the minimum number required) may join a team at any time during the season, but must participate in at least two team matches in order to play in the Playoffs or NBL Championships.

• Players may "play up" in higher league levels but may not "play down" in lower league levels.  For example, if you have a rating of 3.5 you may play in a 4.0, 5.0, or 6.0 league, but you may not play in a 3.0 league.

• Teams may have players from different States or Provinces.

• Players are limited to one league level per season.  For example, a male player with a rating of 2.5 may play in a 3.0 league; if he wishes to play in another league during the season, it must be a 4.0, 5.0 or 6.0 league. 

• A team that wins its district league qualifies for its respective State/Province Playoff.  Winning teams from State/Province Playoffs qualify for Sectional Playoffs, and sectional winners qualify for the NBL Championships.

• All players must play in at least two regular season matches in order to participate in the State/Province Playoffs, Sectional Playoffs and NBL Championships for that particular season.

• If only one team qualifies for/enters a State/Province Playoff, that team will automatically qualify for the respective Sectional Playoff.  If only one team qualifies for/enters a Sectional Playoff, that team will automatically qualify for the NBL Championships.

• Locations and dates for State/Province Playoffs, Sectional Playoffs and NBL Championships will be announced on the NBL Recreational Leagues page in April and late October.

• No national membership is required at the local league level.  Effective Fall Season 2011, participants in leagues played in the United States must be members of USA Badminton at the State Playoff level and beyond.