Rules and Integrity

A verified match in Check Up is a completed NBA 2K26 game where both players submit results through the platform. Verification is what separates Check Up from pickup games. If it is not verified, it did not happen.

Match format: all ranked matches are played in Pro-Am or Rec mode with default rules. No custom sliders, no shortened quarters, no house rules. If both players agree to a friendly with modified settings, that is fine, but it will not count toward MMR.

After the game ends, the winning player (or both) uploads a screenshot of the box score. Go to your player panel, hit Upload, and either drag in the screenshot or take a photo with your phone. The OCR engine reads player names, stats, and the final score. If the system cannot parse something, it flags the match for manual review.

Both players must be registered and gamertag-linked for a match to verify. If you play someone who is not in the system, that game cannot be logged. Encourage your opponent to sign up before you queue.

Screenshots must show the full box score with both teams visible. Cropped or edited screenshots get rejected. The system runs basic tamper detection, and staff reviews flagged images. Submitting a doctored screenshot is treated the same as cheating and results in a ban.

Disputed matches go through the protest system. Either player can flag a result within 48 hours. A staff member reviews the evidence and makes a ruling. Most disputes come from disconnect issues. If the game disconnects before halftime, it is a no-contest. After halftime, the leading team gets the win unless both players agree to replay.

Verification typically completes in under two minutes. You will see the match appear in your match history and your MMR update on the stats page once it is processed.

Check Up exists because players wanted a league where competition is taken seriously and everyone is treated with basic respect. The code of conduct is short on purpose. If you would not do it in a real gym, do not do it here.

Sportsmanship comes first. Talk trash if that is your style, but keep it about the game. Personal attacks, slurs, threats, and harassment will get you removed. This applies in Discord, in-game chat, and anywhere you are representing the league.

Cheating is a permanent ban. This includes manipulating screenshots, using glitch exploits that have been added to the banned list, boosting MMR through fake matches, or using any third-party tool that modifies gameplay. Staff does not issue warnings for cheating. First offense, gone.

Griefing covers intentional disconnects to avoid losses, stalling games, and repeatedly dodging matched opponents. A pattern of griefing results in a temporary ban (7 days for a first offense, 30 days for a second, permanent for a third).

Account integrity matters. One player, one account. Alt accounts used to manipulate matchmaking or dodge bans are terminated on discovery, and the main account catches an additional penalty.

If you see someone breaking the rules, use the report system in your player panel or tag a staff member in Discord. Reports are reviewed within 24 hours. All enforcement actions are logged, and players who receive a ban can appeal through the appeals process (see the Appeals article in this section).

The goal is not to police the fun out of competition. It is to make sure the scoreboard means something and that people keep coming back. Play hard, be decent, handle your losses. That is the whole code.

This article is the single reference for every standing rule in Check Up. Individual wiki articles cover specific topics in depth, but this page collects all active rules in one place. If a rule here conflicts with something stated elsewhere, this page is the authoritative version.

Match format: all ranked Check Up matches are played in 5v5 Pro-Am mode using default NBA 2K26 game settings. No custom sliders, no adjusted quarter length, no modified rules. If both teams agree to a non-standard setup for a friendly, that is fine, but the result will not count toward standings or MMR. Only Pro-Am results submitted through the platform are eligible for verification.

Roster size: each team fields five starters. Rosters can carry between five and eight players to allow for substitutes and scheduling flexibility. If a roster drops below five eligible players due to bans, inactivity, or departures, the team has 48 hours to fill the open spots from the free-agent pool before forfeiting scheduled matches.

Game settings: default Pro-Am settings with no modifications. Camera angle, controller settings, and personal display preferences are up to the individual player. Any setting that alters gameplay mechanics (sliders, fatigue toggles, injury frequency) must remain at the default value. Staff reserves the right to void a match played with non-default settings.

Timeout policy: each team gets two timeouts per half. Timeouts are called through the in-game timeout system only. Pausing the game outside the timeout system is treated as a disconnect unless both teams agree it was unintentional. Repeated abuse of the pause function results in a warning on first offense and a forfeit on subsequent offenses within the same match.

Disconnect handling: if a player disconnects before halftime and cannot rejoin within five minutes, the match is ruled a no-contest. Neither team gets a win or a loss. If a disconnect happens after halftime, the team leading at the time of disconnect is awarded the win unless both teams agree to replay. If the game is tied at the time of a post-halftime disconnect, the match is voided. Intentional disconnects to avoid a loss are treated as griefing and follow the griefing penalty structure (7-day ban for first offense, 30-day for second, permanent for third).

Stat verification: both teams must submit a box-score screenshot after every match. The screenshot must show the complete stat line for all ten players and the final score. Cropped, edited, or partial screenshots are rejected. The OCR system processes the image, and if it cannot read the data cleanly, the match enters manual review. Falsifying or tampering with a screenshot results in a permanent ban with no warning.

Disputes exist so that players have a fair path to challenge match results they believe are wrong. Whether the issue is a disconnect, a scoring error, or suspected foul play, the dispute system gives both sides a structured way to present evidence and get a ruling from staff.

To file a dispute, go to your match history in the player panel, find the match in question, and hit the Dispute button. You have 48 hours from the time the match was recorded to open a dispute. After that window closes, the result is considered final. When you file, the system asks you to select a reason (disconnect, wrong score, suspected cheating, or other) and attach any supporting evidence. Screenshots, clips, and timestamps all help. The more context you provide upfront, the faster staff can make a call.

Once filed, the dispute enters the review queue. A staff member is assigned within 24 hours. The reviewer looks at the submitted evidence from both players, checks OCR data and any system logs tied to the match, and may reach out to either party for additional context. During review, the match result is temporarily frozen. It still appears in your history, but MMR changes from that game are held until the dispute is resolved.

There are four possible outcomes. First, the original result stands if the evidence supports it. Second, the result is overturned and the correct winner is recorded. Third, the match is voided entirely and treated as if it never happened, which is common for disconnects before halftime. Fourth, both players receive a warning or penalty if the review uncovers rule violations by either side.

If you disagree with the ruling, you can appeal once. Appeals go to a senior staff member who was not involved in the original review. The appeal must include new evidence or a clear explanation of why the first ruling was incorrect. Restating the same argument without new information will result in the appeal being denied. Appeal decisions are final.

Most disputes are resolved within 48 hours of filing. The system tracks dispute history on your profile. Filing legitimate disputes carries no penalty, but players who repeatedly file baseless disputes to delay MMR losses may receive a warning or temporary restriction on the dispute system.

This article walks through real enforcement actions taken in Check Up with all identifying details removed. The goal is not to call anyone out. It is to show exactly where the lines are so you do not cross them. Every example here resulted in a ban that was reviewed and upheld by staff.

Case 1: Screenshot tampering. A player edited a box-score screenshot to swap the winning and losing teams before uploading it. The OCR system flagged inconsistencies between the stat totals and the final score. Staff confirmed the edit using metadata analysis. Result: permanent ban, no warning. Tampering with match evidence is treated the same as cheating. There is no gray area.

Case 2: Alt account for MMR manipulation. A Diamond-tier player created a second account, tanked its rating into Bronze, then used it to farm easy wins in matchmaking. The system flagged the alt when both accounts logged in from the same IP and device fingerprint within minutes of each other. Result: both accounts permanently banned. The player's tournament winnings from the affected period were voided.

Case 3: Repeated intentional disconnects. A player disconnected from six matches over a two-week span, always while trailing in the second half. The first two were treated as technical issues under the standard disconnect rules. When the pattern continued, staff reviewed the timing and context of each disconnect. All six occurred within 30 seconds of the opponent taking a lead of 10 or more points. Result: all six matches reclassified as forfeit losses, 7-day suspension, and a final warning.

Case 4: Harassment in Discord. A player sent repeated hostile messages to an opponent after a loss, including personal insults that went well beyond normal trash talk. The targeted player reported it with screenshots. Staff reviewed the messages and confirmed they violated the code of conduct. Result: 30-day ban from all Check Up platforms including Discord. A second offense of the same type would be permanent.

Case 5: Glitch exploitation. A player repeatedly used a known movement exploit that was on the banned list to gain a speed advantage in matches. Two opponents reported it with video clips. Staff confirmed the exploit was being used intentionally and consistently. Result: 14-day suspension and all matches where the exploit was used were voided. The player was warned that continued use after returning would result in a permanent ban.

These cases cover the most common ban reasons. The through line is simple: do not fake results, do not cheat the system, do not abuse other players, and do not exploit known bugs. Play straight and you will never end up in an article like this.

Check Up tracks forfeits automatically so that players who dodge games or abandon matches face consequences without requiring a manual report every time. The system monitors three scenarios: no-shows, intentional disconnects, and roster shortfalls.

A no-show forfeit triggers when a player is scheduled for a match (tournament bracket, Draft Night game, or arranged ranked match) and fails to appear within the grace period. The default grace period is 10 minutes from the scheduled start time. If your opponent does not show, the system marks the match as a forfeit in their record and awards you the win. Your MMR adjusts as if you won a normal game. The opponent's MMR takes the loss.

Intentional disconnect forfeits are harder to detect, but the system looks at patterns. A single disconnect is treated as a technical issue and handled under the standard disconnect rules (no-contest before halftime, leading team wins after halftime). But if a player disconnects three or more times in a 14-day window, the system flags the account for review. Staff examines the timing and context of each disconnect. If the pattern suggests the player is pulling the plug to avoid losses, the recent disconnects are reclassified as forfeits and penalties apply.

Roster shortfall forfeits apply to team events. If a team cannot field the required number of players at game time (five for 5v5, three for 3v3), the team forfeits. The system checks roster availability at the start of each scheduled game. Captains receive a warning notification 15 minutes before tip-off if any roster player has not checked in.

Penalties escalate. A first forfeit in a 30-day period results in a warning and a 50-point MMR deduction. A second forfeit adds a 100-point deduction and a 24-hour matchmaking cooldown. Three or more forfeits in 30 days trigger a 7-day suspension from all competitive play. Forfeit history is visible to staff and factors into integrity reviews.

If you believe a forfeit was recorded in error (for example, a legitimate internet outage), you can dispute it through the normal dispute process within 48 hours. Provide evidence of the technical issue and staff will review. Legitimate technical problems are overturned. Patterns of convenient timing are not.

If you get hit with a ban or penalty you think is wrong, the appeals process is your one shot at getting it reversed. Appeals exist so that staff decisions can be checked by a second set of eyes. They are not a do-over button. You need to bring something new to the table or show that the original ruling missed a key detail.

To file an appeal, go to your player panel and open the Notifications page. Any active ban or penalty shows a File Appeal button next to it. You can also reach the appeal form through the Discord bot by using the appeal command. Appeals must be filed within 7 days of the original ruling. After that window closes, the penalty stands and cannot be revisited.

The appeal form asks for three things: your account name, the penalty you are appealing, and your argument for why it should be overturned. This is where you make your case. Include any evidence that was not part of the original review. Screenshots, timestamps, clips, chat logs, or witness statements from other players all count. Restating what you already said during the initial review without adding anything new will get your appeal denied.

Appeals are reviewed by a senior staff member who was not involved in the original ruling. This prevents the same person from grading their own homework. The reviewer looks at the original evidence, the new evidence you submitted, and any system logs tied to the incident. They have three options: uphold the penalty, reduce it, or overturn it entirely.

You will receive a notification with the appeal decision within 72 hours of filing. The decision includes a written explanation of the reasoning. If the penalty is overturned, your account is restored immediately and any MMR deductions from the penalty are reversed. If the penalty is reduced (for example, a permanent ban changed to a 30-day suspension), the new terms take effect right away.

Each penalty can only be appealed once. There is no second appeal or escalation path beyond the senior reviewer. This keeps the system from turning into an endless back-and-forth. If your appeal is denied, the original penalty stands for its full duration. Serve the time, adjust your behavior, and come back ready to compete clean.