Team Payments and Salary Cap: How it works

There’s no fixed salary cap in Super League Basketball. Instead, the amount a club spends on player salaries affects how many non-national players it can field in SLB competitions.

In simple terms:

  • Clubs spending less than £1,018,950 gross can field up to 6 non-national players.
  • Clubs spending between £1,018,950–£1,390,200 gross in total player payments: up to 5 non-national players can be fielded.
  • Clubs spending more than £1,390,200 gross: up to 4 non-national players can be fielded.
  • Clubs can rotate which non-national players they use during the season.
  • A maximum of 12 different non-national players can be registered across the season.
  • These restrictions apply only to SLB competitions. They do not apply to European competitions, where clubs must follow the relevant competition’s own eligibility rules.

What counts towards the total?

SLB looks at the total player payments made by a club, rather than simply looking at the headline salary of each player.

SLB considers all money and financial incentives offered to a player, not just their salary. This can include wages, bonuses, signing-on fees and other payments made by the club or organisations connected to it, including sponsors, owners and loaning clubs.

This shall include all payments, to the player or any party related to the player, irrespective of whether a player has a separate contract to participate in local, national, European or international competitions for the Club. This shall exclude tax, employee’s national insurance, and Benefits in Kind as defined by H M Revenue and Customs.

What happens if a club’s spending changes?

Clubs must declare their expected player payments before the season and keep SLB updated if those payments change.

If a club’s projected spending moves towards or over one of the thresholds during the season — for example, because they sign a new player or amend a contract — player registrations may be temporarily delayed while SLB checks which threshold applies.

Clubs are therefore responsible for monitoring their projected spending throughout the season.

Keeping things fair

Clubs must provide SLB with the information and documentation needed to verify their player payments. SLB can carry out audits where necessary, including through an independent auditor.

All information submitted under the Team Payments Regulations is treated as confidential.

Want the full details?
[Read the full SLB Operating Rules →]