Update Frequencies

Intro

Each NCAA Men's Basketball (NCAAMB) API endpoint updates at a variable frequency, in terms of both its cache and its data.

For example, a Game endpoint may have a 3-second cache during a live game. After the game concludes, this shifts to a 600-second cache, and after seven days, to 4 hours. Alternatively, a Standings endpoint may have a 10-minute cache, with the data updating when games conclude.

Given your limited amount of API requests and QPS, these frequencies should be understood and factored into your pull rate.

Use this section to help determine the best pull frequency for your needs.

Time-to-Live (TTL) and Data Updates

Understanding the distinction between TTL and data updates is crucial for designing an efficient and reliable NBA API solution. TTL is focused on the length of time an object is cached, whereas data updates are concerned with the actual data within the API.

Time-to-Live (TTL)

Time-to-Live (TTL) defines the maximum duration a response may be served from cache before revalidation. TTL values are returned in the Cache-Control header for each REST feed. For example:

Cache-Control: public, must-revalidate, max-age=300

This indicates a TTL of 300 seconds.

TTL is an upper bound, not a guarantee. When underlying event data changes, our system proactively invalidates and replaces the cached object immediately, even if the TTL has not expired.

Data Updates

Data Updates refer to the changes made to the underlying data that the API provides access to. This can occur through various operations such as creating, updating, or deleting our sports data.

Data updates are critical to ensuring that the API delivers the most current and accurate information. Data entry workflows and processes specific to NCAAMB data will affect your suggested request frequency.

Additional Frequency Resources

Visit our Headers documentation to learn how to interpret and use header responses to access the freshest sports data.

Frequency Chart

What is the right request frequency for your use? Which endpoints should you pull to get the most efficient use of your allotted calls?

The below chart provides answers to these questions, with a breakdown of the cache and data updates for every NCAAMB API endpoint, as well as our recommended pulling frequency.

Endpoint	TTL / Cache	Data Updates	Recommended Pull (Non-Live)	Recommended Pull (Live)
Daily Change Log	4 hours	Entries populate every 20 minutes for changes to teams, players, game statistics, schedules, and standings. Start time of the log is 05:00:00 UTC; end time is 04:59:59 UTC	Pull every ten minutes or less, depending on your use case.	Not applicable
Daily Schedule	10 minutes for days with active games (games in non-`closed` status) 4 hours for days without active games	Schedule info updates in realtime as changes are made	Pull every hour or less during the current day, depending on your use case.	Not applicable
Game Boxscore	60 seconds when a game is in `scheduled` status 3 seconds when a game moves to `inprogress` 600 seconds when a game moves to `closed` 30 minutes when seven days have passed since `closed`	Realtime	Pull on an as-needed basis. Feed can be ignored until 10 minutes before the scheduled game start, depending on your use case. Utilize the daily change log to capture data changes after a game has ended.	Can request as fast as every 3 seconds (matching the TTL) when a game is live. Game feeds should be requested 10 minutes before the scheduled start.
Game Play-by-Play	60 seconds when a game is in `scheduled` status 3 seconds when a game moves to `inprogress` 600 seconds when a game moves to `closed` 30 minutes when seven days have passed since `closed`	Realtime	Pull on an as-needed basis. Feed can be ignored until 10 minutes before the scheduled game start, depending on your use case. Utilize the daily change log to capture data changes after a game has ended.	Can request as fast as every 3 seconds (matching the TTL) when a game is live. Game feeds should be requested 10 minutes before the scheduled start.
Game Summary	60 seconds when a game is in `scheduled` status 3 seconds when a game moves to `inprogress` 600 seconds when a game moves to `closed` 30 minutes when seven days have passed since `closed`	Realtime	Pull on an as-needed basis. Feed can be ignored until 10 minutes before the scheduled game start, depending on your use case. Utilize the daily change log to capture data changes after a game has ended.	Can request as fast as every 3 seconds (matching the TTL) when a game is live. Game feeds should be requested 10 minutes before the scheduled start.
League Hierarchy	4 hours	Hierarchy updates appear as they are updated in the database.	Pull daily or less, depending on your use case.	Not applicable
League Leaders	30 minutes	League Leaders update on a 20-minute timer. Updates are triggered around 5 minutes after a game is `closed`	Pull on an as-needed basis. Utilize the daily change log to capture data changes after a game has ended.	Pull 20-25 mins after a game is moved to `closed` to receive the quickest updates
NET Rankings	30 minutes	NET rankings release 1 month after the start of the season. The feed updates daily when new rankings are available from the NCAA.	Pull on an as-needed basis.	Not applicable
Player Profile	30 minutes	Stats update around 5 minutes after a game moves to `closed`	Pull on an as-needed basis. Utilize the daily change log to capture data changes after a game has ended.	Pull 5-10 mins after a game is moved to `closed` to receive the quickest updates
Rankings (By Week)	60 minutes	Rankings update within 15 minutes after their release to the public, typically on Mondays.	Pull every hour or less, depending on your use case.	N/A
Rankings (Current Week)	60 minutes	Rankings update within 15 minutes after their release to the public, typically on Mondays.	Pull every hour or less, depending on your use case.	N/A
RPI Rankings	60 minutes	RPI Rankings update overnight around 11 AM UTC.	Pull every hour or less, depending on your use case.	N/A
Schedule	10 minutes for seasons with active games (games in non-`closed` status) 4 hours for seasons without active games	Schedule info updates in realtime as changes are made.	Pull every hour or less, depending on your use case. Note that this feed should be used for schedule info prior to a game start. For status of a live game, reference a "game" endpoint.	Not applicable
Seasonal Statistics	30 minutes	Seasonal stats update around 5 minutes after a game moves to `closed`	Pull on an as-needed basis. Utilize the daily change log to capture data changes after a game has ended.	Pull 5-10 mins after a game is moved to `closed` to receive the quickest updates
Seasons	4 hours	New seasons appear as they are added to the database. Season statuses update during the day of a status change.	Pull on an as-needed basis.	Not applicable
Standings	10 minutes	Standings update on a 10-minute timer after a game moves to `complete`.	Pull every hour or less, depending on your use case.	Pull 10 mins after a game is moved to `complete` to receive the quickest updates
Team Profile	30 minutes	Updates in realtime as changes are made to rosters or player profiles.	Pull every hour or less, depending on your use case.	Not applicable
Teams	4 hours	New teams appear as they are added to the database.	Pull on an as-needed basis.	Not applicable
Tournament List	3 seconds	Each NCAAMB Playoff `tournament` entry is available shortly after the regular season schedule is released.	Pull on an as-needed basis.	Pull daily or less, depending on your use case.
Tournament Schedule	3 seconds	Schedule info updates in realtime as changes are made. The initial tournament schedule schedule (with TBD matchups) will be available shortly after the regular season schedule is released. Teams advance to the next round on a 2-minute timer after the previous game moves to `complete` status.	Pull on an as-needed basis.	Pull every hour or less, depending on your use case. Note that this feed should be used for schedule info prior to a game start. For status of a live game, reference a "game" endpoint.
Tournament Statistics	3 seconds	Tournament stats update around 5 minutes after a game moves to `closed`.	Pull on an as-needed basis. Utilize the daily change log to capture data changes after a game has ended.	Pull 5-10 mins after a game is moved to `closed` to receive the quickest updates
Tournament Summary	3 seconds	Schedule info updates in realtime as changes are made. Brackets and seeds are available shortly after they are made official.	Pull on an as-needed basis.	Pull daily or less, depending on your use case.
Transfer Portal	4 hours	Transfer portal updates appear as they are updated in our database.	Pull on an as-needed basis.	Not applicable

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Important Note
Pull recommendations are based on a typical customer's needs. We suggest starting with our recommended rate and adjusting as necessary according to your needs.