Overwatch Rules

Season Format and Schedule 

• A regular season will consist of 9 weeks of competition
  • 1 week scrimmage
  • 8 weeks of competitive play 

• Match Structure
  • Each match will consist of a best of 3 in which the maps played are predetermined according  to the Overwatch Season Map Rotation Guide
  • One point is awarded per map win
    
• Game Settings
  • Matches will be played on the "Competitive" ruleset with Killcam off
  • Matches will enforce limited roles with two of each role per team. Roles include two  damage, two tank, two support 

• Spectating
  • Coaches may spectate and coach during a match with restrictions
  • Coaches spectating must only be allowed to spectate their team using the "Spectate Color  Only" option 

• Equipment Rules
  • XP League will provide the following hardware for each Player for each match:  ▪
    • Gaming PC Monitor 
    • Headset with microphone
    • Competition “desk” 
    • Chair
    • Mouse
    • Mousepad 
      
      
• Player Provided Equipment
  • Plays have the option of using their own keyboard, mouse, mousepad, and mouse  bungee
  • Wired Controllers are allowed 
    
    
• Macros, Turbo Controllers
  • Players are not allowed to use software, hardware, or any tool that would allow them  conduct multiple inputs with a single action. 1 Action = 1 Input. 
  • Consideration may be provided to players with accessibility needs. 

• Player Apparel
  • Uniform: The Player uniform consists of the XPL-sanctioned Team jersey and must be worn  by all Players competing in live competition. The jersey must be fully visible, front and back,  during competition. 

• Substitutions Generally: Teams may make substitutions from their Reserve Roster during a match  only between maps and at game breaks. Players who have been substituted out of a match may  be substituted back in to the match at a later time 
  
  
• Behavior.
  • All Team Members and Owners must at all times observe the highest standards of personal  integrity and good sportsmanship and act in a manner consistent with the best interests of  the League. Team Members and Owners are required to behave in a professional and  sportsmanlike manner in their interactions with other competitors, League officials, and  members of the XP League Office, the media, sponsors and fans.  

  • Team Members and Owners may not use obscene or offensive gestures or profanity in their  tags, player handles, game chat, live play communications, lobby chat, shoulder content,  interviews, or other public-facing communications of any kind. This rule applies to English  and all other languages and includes abbreviations and/or obscure references.  

  • Team Members and Owners are expected to settle their differences in a respectful manner  and without resort to violence, threats, or intimidation (physical or nonphysical). Violence is  never permitted at any time or place, or against any person including competitors, fans,  referees and officials.  

  • The obligation to behave in a professional and sportsmanlike manner includes an obligation  on the part of Players and Team Mangers to arrive on time and ready to complete for all  games, matches and tournaments in the League Schedule. It also prohibits forfeiting a game  or match without reasonable cause. For the avoidance of doubt, arriving on time includes  arriving in sufficient time to receive the media and League obligations for that match day,  check in with League Office personnel, and to ensure there is enough time to provide  starting rosters, receive Player Peripherals, and all other tasks necessary to keep the match  day on schedule.  

  • XP League is a place for players from around the world, from different cultures, and from  different backgrounds, to come together to compete and share their passion for our game.  Participants in our competitions should be focused on bringing the world together through  epic entertainment, celebrating our game, players, and fans, and building diverse and  inclusive communities. Players, Team Managers, and Owners must refrain from disruptive or  divisive behavior, commentary, or other forms of expression during official League and  Team events (including without limitation any Official Game) or on any official League or  Team channels (e.g., match broadcasts, League or Team shows, and official League and  Team-branded websites and social media channels). Throughout the period on match day  that a Player, Team Manager, or Owner is visible to the League’s and/or Team’s live and  camera audience(s), they may not wear, display or otherwise convey personal messages  without express XP League Office approval, which approval shall not be granted for political  messages. 
    
    

• Cheating and Game Integrity. 
  • Players must compete to the best of their skill and ability at all times. Any form of cheating  by any Players, Team Managers or Owners will not be tolerated. All Players, Team Managers  and Owners are prohibited from influencing or manipulating any Game match (whether a  League match or otherwise) with the intent that any aspect of the match is determined by  anything other than the competitive merits. Examples of cheating or behavior impacting  game integrity are not exhaustive, and include without limitation: 
    • Collusion, match fixing or any other action to intentionally alter, or attempt to alter,  the results of any game, match or tournament (or any components thereof); 
    • Attempts to interfere with another player’s connection to the game service through  Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) or any other means; 
    • Allowing an individual who is not the registered owner of a Battle.net Account to play  on that Battle.net Account in a Game and/or playing in a Game while logged in to a  Battle.net Account registered to someone else; 
    • Bot use, spot timing (e.g., not throwing the game, just timing a shot so bettors win),  wintrading, drophacking, queue sniping and soft play on the ladder, ghosting (i.e., a  game spectator illegally provides information about an opponent’s positions and/or  movements), inducing another Player to lose a match, and receiving leaked scrim  footage and/or confidential or proprietary information of another Team; 
    • Misuse or hacking of game servers; 
    • Violent, threatening or harassing behavior in any Game or League setting, including  Team housing; 
    • Possession of a weapon at League or team facilities or any other League setting; Inappropriate use of League equipment
      
      
• 6.3. Illegal and/or Detrimental Conduct. 
  • Players, Team Managers and Owners are required to comply with all Applicable Laws  at all times. 
  • A Player, Team Manager or Owner may not engage in any activity or practice which (i)  brings him or her into public disrepute, scandal or ridicule, or shocks or offends a  portion or group of the public, or derogates from his or her public image, or (ii) is, or  could reasonably be expected to be, detrimental to the image or reputation of, or  result in public criticism of or reflect badly on, the Blizzard Group, the League Office,  or any of their respective Representatives, the League, the other Teams or their  respective sponsors or members, the Game or any other product or service of the  Blizzard Group. A non-exhaustive list of such types of misconduct are as follows:
    • Actual or threatened violence toward a person, including domestic violence,  partner violence, dating violence and child abuse; 
    • Sexual assault and other types of sexual offenses; 
    • Illegal possession or distribution of a weapon; 
    • Possession, use or distribution of performance-enhancing substances; 
    • Conduct that poses a danger to the safety of another person; 
    • Animal cruelty; 
    • Theft and other property crimes; and
    • Crimes involving dishonesty.
      
      
• Each Team Member and each Owner acknowledges that the League Office and Team  Entities may have an obligation under Applicable Law to report illegal activities to local  law enforcement authorities or respond to formal inquiries from law enforcement or  judicial authorities in jurisdictions where suspected violations of law have taken place.
  
  
• Anti-Harassment. 
  • XP League Office is committed to providing a competitive Game environment that is  free of harassment and discrimination. In furtherance of this commitment, Players,  Team Managers and Owners are prohibited from engaging in any form of harassment  or discrimination (either inGame or outside the Game), including without limitation  that which is based on race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability,  sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other class or characteristic.
    
    
• Gambling.
  • Gambling on the outcome of XPL Game games, matches or tournaments (including  any components thereof) can pose a serious threat to the integrity of, and public  confidence in the League. Players, Team Managers and Owners as well as employees  of the XP League Office are not allowed to place, or attempt to place, bets on any games, matches or tournaments (or any  components thereof) involving the Game,  associate with high volume gamblers, or deliver information to others that  might influence their bets, or  offer or accept any gift or reward to or from anyone for services promised,  rendered, or to be rendered in connection with any Game match, including  services related to defeating or attempting to defeat a competing Team or  services designed to throw, fix or otherwise influence the outcome of any Game  match, League Event or otherwise. 
  • This rule also prohibits Players, Team Managers and Owners from participating  in anyone else’s betting activities, asking anyone to place bets involving the  Game (including without limitation XP League games, matches or tournaments,  or any components thereof) on a Player’s, Team Manager’s or Owner’s behalf,  or encouraging anyone else to bet involving the Game (including without  limitation League games, matches or tournaments, or any components thereof). 
  • Players, Team Managers, and Owners likewise are prohibited from engaging in  any fantasy esports leagues or games involving the Game in which the any fantasy esports leagues or games involving the Game in which the participant pays any form of entry fee in exchange for an opportunity to win a  cash prize or other thing of value. 

• Alcohol and Drugs.

  • The use, possession, distribution or sale of illegal drugs is strictly prohibited. Team  Members are prohibited from being under the influence of any substance of abuse,  including alcohol or marijuana, while the Team Member is engaged in League Events  or on premises that are owned by or leased to the Team or League Office.  

    • The unauthorized use or possession of prescription drugs by a Player is prohibited.  Prescription drugs may be used only by the person to whom they are prescribed and  in the manner, combination and quantity as prescribed. Prescription drugs may only  be used to treat the condition for which they are prescribed and may not be used to  enhance performance in a game, match or tournament. 
      
      

• Non-Disparagement.  
  • Teams, Team Members and Owners have the right to express their opinions in a  professional and sportsmanlike manner. 
  • Teams, Team Members, and Owners may not at any time make, post, publish or  communicate to any person or entity or in any public forum any false, defamatory,  libelous, or slanderous remarks, comments or statements concerning any member of  the XP League Office, any of their respective Representatives, the League, the other  Teams or their respective sponsors or members, the Game or any other product or  service of XP League.  
  • This Section does not, in any way, restrict or impede a Team, Player, Team Manager or  Owner from complying with any Applicable Law or a valid order of a court of  competent jurisdiction or an authorized government agency.