PBL 
Rules
PEORIA BASKETBALL LEAGUE (PBL)
OFFICIAL RULE BOOK
League: Peoria Basketball League (PBL) | Commissioner: Jay Wallace | Venue: Peoria Academy
Season: 2026–2027 | Motto: PLAY • BUILD • LOVE | Tagline: Where the Popcorn Is Always Free!
1. LEAGUE OVERVIEW
- League Type: Open Competitive Basketball League
- Eligibility: Men and women, ages 18+
- Teams: 10
- Maximum Roster: 10 players + GM
- Regular Season: 10 games
- Season Start: October 2026
- Venue: Peoria Academy
- Game Day: Sunday
By registering or participating in the PBL, all participants agree to follow PBL rules, policies, disciplinary procedures, and league decisions.
2. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
Players must be 18 or older, complete official PBL registration, remain in good financial standing, sign all required waivers, be listed on an official roster, and play for only ONE team per season. Players with unpaid balances or active suspensions are ineligible. Use of an unauthorized or ineligible player may result in a forfeit and additional discipline.
3. REGISTRATION & PLAYER FEES
- Season Registration: $180
- GM Fee: $150
- All required paperwork, waivers, and payments must be completed.
- Players and GMs must remain in good financial standing.
4. MID-SEASON PLAYER ENTRY
Players entering after the season begins may join an eligible team if roster space is available and PBL administration approves the addition.
- Mid-Season Entry Fee: $200
- Player must complete registration and all waivers.
- Player must be officially added to the roster.
- The $200 fee applies regardless of games remaining.
- Payment does not guarantee placement on a specific team.
- The Commissioner has final approval over mid-season additions.
5. OFFICIAL TEAM ROSTERS
Each team may carry a maximum of 10 players + GM. All players must be officially registered and listed on the roster. Teams may not borrow players from other PBL teams. Players may not participate for multiple teams during the same season.
6. TEAM SWITCHING
Players may not switch teams during the regular season. Unauthorized team switching results in no refund. Following the exhibition period, a dissatisfied player may request an approved team change and pay a $50 jersey fee. Once the regular season begins, team switching is prohibited unless PBL administration approves an extraordinary exception.
7. REFUND POLICY
Players who have played more than 3 games are not eligible for a refund. If a player quits after participating in up to three games, an approved refund is prorated at $25 per game played. Example: $180 registration − $75 for three games = $105 potential refund. Outstanding fines, fees, uniform costs, or other obligations may be deducted. Players removed for disciplinary reasons are not guaranteed refunds. Unauthorized team switching results in no refund. Final refund decisions are subject to PBL approval.
8. GAME FORMAT
Official games consist of 4 quarters × 12 minutes. Teams must be ready at their scheduled game time and should arrive early enough to check in, dress, warm up, and be ready to play.
9. TIMEOUTS
Each team receives 2 timeouts per half. Unused first-half timeouts do not carry over.
10. PERSONAL FOULS
6 personal fouls = foul out. A player receiving a sixth personal foul may no longer participate in that game.
11. TEAM FOULS & BONUS
The bonus begins after 7 team fouls per half. The official score table maintains the official foul count.
12. TECHNICAL FOULS
- $20 per technical foul
- 2 technicals in one game = ejection
- 5 technicals during the season = 2-game suspension
- 7 technicals = removal from the PBL with no refund
PBL may impose additional discipline for serious misconduct regardless of technical-foul totals.
13. CUSSING / PROFANITY
A $10 cussing/profanity fee may be assessed. Players and GMs must control their language around children, spectators, officials, PBL staff, volunteers, and Peoria Academy personnel. Repeated violations may result in additional discipline.
14. FIGHTING
Fighting will not be tolerated. Prohibited behavior includes punching, kicking, attempting to strike another person, leaving the bench to participate in an altercation, threatening physical violence, aggressive physical contact with officials, intentionally dangerous behavior, and serious harassment or intimidation. PBL may review video, official reports, staff reports, and witness statements. Suspension or removal may occur even when no technical foul was issued.
15. SPORTSMANSHIP
Players and GMs must respect teammates, opponents, officials, scorekeepers, PBL staff, volunteers, sponsors, spectators, and Peoria Academy staff. Competitive basketball and appropriate trash talk are allowed, but threats, fighting, harassment, discriminatory abuse, and unsafe conduct are prohibited.
16. OFFICIALS
Game officials have authority over basketball matters during games. Disagreeing with a call does not permit threats, intimidation, aggressive physical contact, or disruption of play. The PBL Commissioner maintains authority over league administrative and disciplinary matters.
17. BENCH CONDUCT
GMs are responsible for helping control their benches. Only authorized team personnel should occupy bench areas. Bench players remain subject to all PBL rules and may receive technicals, fines, ejections, or suspensions.
18. EJECTIONS
An ejected player must immediately stop participating and comply with officials and PBL administration. Continued arguing, threats, refusal to leave a designated area, or further disruption may result in additional discipline.
19. FORFEITS
Teams are expected to appear for every scheduled game. GMs must contact PBL administration as soon as possible if their team cannot play.
- GM Forfeit Fee: $50
- Two consecutive forfeits = team disqualification
PBL administration may review extraordinary circumstances.
20. GM RESPONSIBILITIES
GMs are responsible for maintaining rosters, ensuring registration/waivers/payments are completed, communicating schedules and announcements, controlling their bench, reporting attendance problems, handling team concerns professionally, and ensuring players understand PBL rules. GMs are the only PBL position with no minimum-game requirement.
21. VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENT
Each team must assist with 1 volunteer game per season. Duties may include admissions, concessions, score table, setup, cleanup, event assistance, or other league operations.
22. UNIFORMS
Players must wear required PBL/team uniforms with clearly identifiable jersey numbers. PBL may require uniform issues to be corrected before participation. Approved post-exhibition team changes require the applicable $50 jersey fee.
23. SPORTSVISIO & STATISTICS
PBL uses SportsVisio for game recording and statistical tracking, including points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, three-pointers, and other statistics. PBL determines the official statistical record when discrepancies occur. Players must complete required SportsVisio/media authorization.
24. VIDEO, LIVESTREAMING & MEDIA
PBL games/events may be livestreamed, recorded, photographed, used for highlights, posted to social media or PBL websites, and used for advertising or promotional materials. Participants acknowledge these activities through required PBL waivers.
25. REGULAR-SEASON SCHEDULE
The regular season consists of 10 games, primarily played Sundays at Peoria Academy. Players and GMs are responsible for knowing their schedules. PBL may modify dates/times due to facility availability, emergencies, weather, or operational circumstances.
26. PLAYOFFS
The top 8 teams qualify. Regular-season standings determine playoff seeding.
- December 27, 2026 — Playoffs
- January 3, 2027 — Championship
The highest seed will play last when applicable under the playoff schedule. The official bracket will be released following the regular season.
27. PLAYOFF ELIGIBILITY
Players must be officially registered, listed on an approved roster, in good financial standing, free from active suspension, and otherwise eligible under PBL rules. Unauthorized playoff roster additions are prohibited.
28. INDIVIDUAL AWARD ELIGIBILITY
Players must participate in at least 7 games to qualify for individual prizes. Players failing to meet the minimum are ineligible even if their statistics would otherwise qualify.
29. INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
- MVP — $400
- Defensive Player of the Year — $200
- Scoring Champion — $200
- 3-Point Champion — $200
- Assist Leader — $200
- Rebound Leader — $200
- Steals Leader — $200
- Blocks Leader — $200
Players must meet participation requirements and remain in good financial and disciplinary standing.
30. CHAMPIONSHIP PRIZE POT
The PBL Championship includes a cash prize. The pot may increase through concessions, apparel, sponsorships, donations, PBL events, and other league revenue. PBL will announce the final official prize.
31. PEORIA ACADEMY FACILITY RULES
Alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs are prohibited on Peoria Academy premises. PBL participants and spectators must remain in authorized gym and restroom areas unless otherwise approved. Do not enter classrooms, offices, hallways, or restricted areas. Everyone must keep the facility clean, respect property, follow staff instructions, and supervise children. Anyone intentionally damaging property may be financially responsible and subject to discipline.
32. SPECTATOR CONDUCT
Spectators may not enter the court without authorization, fight, threaten players or officials, harass staff, interfere with games, damage property, enter restricted areas, or create an unsafe environment. PBL may remove spectators when necessary.
33. PBL HALFTIME
PBL may host musical performances, comedy, cheer teams, three-point contests, dunk contests, and other entertainment through PBL Halftime. Entertainment must remain appropriate for the PBL environment, and teams must cooperate to keep the game schedule moving.
34. LEAGUE COMMUNICATION
Official communication may occur through GroupMe, email, SportsVisio, the PBL website, social media, or direct PBL administration communication. Players and GMs are responsible for staying informed. GMs must communicate important information to their players.
35. FINES & FINANCIAL ELIGIBILITY
- Technical Foul — $20
- Cussing/Profanity — $10
- GM Forfeit Fee — $50
- Post-Exhibition Team Change/Jersey Fee — $50
Unpaid balances may result in financial ineligibility until resolved.
36. DISCIPLINARY AUTHORITY
PBL may consider official/staff/scorekeeper reports, SportsVisio or livestream footage, witness statements, previous conduct, and incident severity. Discipline may include warning, fine, technical foul, ejection, probation, suspension, team sanction, forfeit, or removal from the league. Serious misconduct may result in immediate suspension or removal.
37. ASSUMPTION OF RISK
Basketball involves inherent risks, including falls, collisions, sprains, strains, broken bones, head injuries, contact with other participants, and other injuries. Participation is voluntary, and all participants must complete required PBL assumption-of-risk and liability waivers.
38. INJURIES & SAFETY
Players are responsible for determining whether they are physically capable of participating. Officials or PBL staff may stop play for injuries and may prevent continued participation when a reasonable safety concern exists.
39. RULE INTERPRETATION
When a situation is not specifically addressed, the PBL Commissioner or designated PBL administration has authority to interpret the rules and issue a decision based on player safety, competitive fairness, sportsmanship, league integrity, established basketball practices, and the best interests of the PBL.
40. RULE CHANGES
PBL reserves the right to clarify, modify, or add rules when necessary for safety, fairness, competition, facility requirements, or league operations. Major changes will be communicated to players and GMs.
41. PLAYER & GM ACKNOWLEDGMENT
By registering, paying league fees, signing waivers, joining an official roster, or participating in PBL activities, players and GMs acknowledge access to these rules and agree to follow them. Failure to read the rules does not exempt a participant from following them.
42. TEAM FOLDING & PLAYER DISPERSAL
If a team folds, withdraws, or is removed from the PBL during the regular season, the remaining eligible players from that team's roster will become available to be picked up by other PBL teams.
Player selection will be conducted in reverse order of the current league standings at the time the team folds.
The team with the worst record will receive the first opportunity to select a player, followed by the next-lowest team in the standings.
GMs have the option to pass and are not required to select a player.
The selection process will continue in reverse-standing order until all available players have been selected, all GMs have passed, or no eligible players remain.
Players must remain in good financial and disciplinary standing to be eligible for selection.
Players acquired through this process may finish the season and playoffs with their new team, provided they meet all other PBL eligibility requirements.
These additions are considered league-approved dispersal moves and are not violations of the PBL's regular team-switching rule.
PBL administration must approve all roster additions.
The Commissioner will resolve any ties in the standings or other circumstances affecting the selection order.
The purpose of this rule is to give players an opportunity to finish the season if their original team is unable to continue while maintaining a fair process for the remaining teams.
43. 40-POINT MERCY RULE & PBL MEAL REWARD
If a team takes a 40-point lead at any point during the second half, the game will end immediately.
The score at the time the 40-point lead is reached will be recorded as the official final score.
The team leading by 40 points will be declared the winner.
The winning team will receive one complimentary PBL meal per player as a reward for achieving the 40-point victory.
The official scorekeeper and PBL administration will verify that the 40-point margin was reached.
Once the 40-point rule is activated, the game is officially over and will not resume.
Example: If the score becomes 85–45 during the second half, the game ends immediately, 85–45 becomes the official final score, and the winning team earns their complimentary PBL meals.
PBL STANDARD
The Peoria Basketball League is built around competition, community, entertainment, sportsmanship, and respect.
Play hard. Compete. Represent your team. Respect the officials. Respect the facility. Respect your opponents. Respect the league.
PEORIA BASKETBALL LEAGUE
PLAY • BUILD • LOVE
Where the Popcorn Is Always Free!
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GM ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Updated 9/16/26