Scheduling Information
CMBA Scheduling
How Does CMBA League Scheduling Work - 2026/2027 Season
Building the CMBA schedule involves much more than matching two teams and finding an open gym. Each week, CMBA balances competitive rankings, facility availability, referee assignments, travel, age requirements, coaching conflicts, and the schedules of 2 age divisions (U11/13/15/18)
1. Competitive Matchups Come First
CMBA's priority is to create games between teams of similar ability. Rankings are reviewed using results, point differential, strength of schedule, head-to-head results, and recent performance.
2. Every Team Receives Two Regular-Season Games
For the 2026/2027 regular season, every team is guaranteed two games each league weekend.
Both games must fit within the team's competitive range while also working within the available gym and referee schedule.
3. Teams Require Proper Breaks Between Games
There is never a one-game break between a team's games.
Teams are scheduled with a minimum two-game break, and CMBA aims to keep the maximum break to four games.
For example, if a team's first game is at 8:10 AM, its second game would be scheduled no earlier than 11:55 AM.
A five-game break may occasionally be required as a last resort when facility availability or other scheduling constraints make it impossible to keep the break within four games.
When teams play on both Friday and Saturday, turnaround time is also considered. A late Friday game may limit how early that team can reasonably be scheduled on Saturday.
4. Gym Availability Changes Every Week
CMBA does not receive the same gyms or rental periods every weekend. Some facilities may only be available for certain portions of the day, which means each week's schedule must be built around a different set of available times.
Some gyms also have restrictions based on court size, hoop height, number of courts, facility quality, or rental windows.
5. Ranking Bands and Gym Suitability Matter
CMBA groups teams into competitive ranking bands and tries to keep similar levels together at the same facility.
For example, one gym may primarily host teams ranked 1st-16th, while another may be used for teams ranked 40th-60th.
This creates a more appropriate competitive environment and helps keep the level of play at each facility relatively consistent.
Facility requirements also matter. For example, U11 games require baskets that can be lowered to 8.5 feet, so U11 teams can only be scheduled in gyms that can accommodate that requirement.
6. Geography Is Considered When Possible
CMBA tries to reduce unnecessary travel and consider team zones whenever possible.
However, competitive ranking bands, gender separation, referee assignments, gym availability, and required game spacing take priority.
7. Repeat and Same-Zone Matchups Are Limited
CMBA tries to avoid repeat matchups and games between teams from the same zone.
Exceptions may occur when a matchup is needed for ranking purposes, there are limited suitable opponents, or the matchup is part of a playoff structure.
8. Games at a Facility Must Flow Properly
Games are arranged in organized blocks by ranking, gender, division, court availability, and referee coverage.
At many facilities, boys' and girls' games are also scheduled in separate continuous blocks rather than being mixed throughout the day.
Because of this, changing one game can disrupt the flow of an entire court or facility. A time slot may appear open but may not actually work once the full schedule is considered.
9. Referee Assignments Must Work
A game cannot be scheduled simply because two teams and a gym are available.
Officials must also be available, and schedules are built to support efficient referee assignments and reduce unnecessary travel between facilities.
The level of games at a facility is also considered. For example, it is much harder for officials to move directly from a game between teams ranked 50th and 51st into a game between the 1st and 2nd ranked teams, where the pace, physicality, and officiating demands may be very different.
10. Multi-Court Facilities Must Be Used Efficiently
CMBA tries to organize multi-court facilities into logical, continuous blocks.
Avoiding unnecessary gaps allows more games to be scheduled, improves referee flow, and makes better use of limited gym time.
11. Coaching Conflicts Are Considered When Possible
CMBA will try to accommodate coaches involved with multiple teams when possible.
With approximately 416 teams, it is not possible to guarantee that every coaching conflict can be accommodated each week.
12. One Change Can Affect Many Teams
A single schedule change can affect both teams involved, their other opponents, required breaks, referee assignments, facility flow, gender blocks, and available court times.
An open time slot does not always mean a game can simply be moved into it.
The Overall Goal
CMBA's goal is to create the best overall schedule for the entire league.
Every weekend requires balancing competitive matchups, two guaranteed regular-season games per team, proper game spacing, appropriate facilities, referee coverage, gender groupings, travel, and limited gym availability.
Not every preference can be accommodated, but every schedule is built to create the fairest, most competitive, and most practical experience possible for all teams.
