The Promode League

League Format

1. The Promode League is an open league with no special clan invitations.
2. All matches for the first season of The Promode League will be played using the Quake3 mod, CPMA (Challenge ProMode Arena).
3. All matches for the first season of The Promode League will use mode 2v2.
4. The league is divided into European and North American divisions, which are further split into groups of four teams. Administrators will determine the groups.
5. The league will consist of a regular season, lasting three (3) weeks, at the end of which the top two teams from each group, as determined by the seeding process described below, will advance into bracketed playoffs.
6. During the regular season, all matches will consist of three games. Each game must be played. This is because playoff seeding is determined, first and foremost, not by the number of wins your clan has during the season, but rather by points collected from individual map victories. The playoffs work a bit differently and details are outlined below.

Player Eligibility & Rosters

1. The Promode League has no geographic or age based restrictions for participation in the tournament. However, players must understand that all matches are to be played on official game servers.
2. A team may join the league any time before the signup deadline, April 23, 2017.
3. In order for a clan to join the league, they must provide, at a minimum:
   • Clan name and tag.
   • Roster.
   • Designated Captain.
4. A team may only submit a maximum of three (3) players to any given roster.
5. Players may only compete for one (1) team at a time in The Promode League. A person may not drop from one team to join another team once the season has begun.
6. Clans may submit to the competition two different teams of players, under the understanding that there can be no mixing of players between team rosters, including cases of coaches and substitutes. If you are not on the roster for that specific, single team, you cannot play for them, regardless if you're in the same clan as they are.
7. Players are only eligible to compete after they’ve been added to their team’s roster by a league administrator. Players not listed on a team roster are not eligible to play unless ruled otherwise by a referee. It is the responsibility of a clan Captain to keep administrators updated on the status of their roster.
8. Players must play their matches under the name listed in the roster, along with appropriate clan tags.
9. The Promode League will only accept the first sixteen (16) eligible teams. All teams which add subsequently will be placed in a public waiting list. In the scenario where there is enough interest to hold a second Division, staff are agreeable, the there will be public announcement of same.

Playoff Format

• The top ranked teams from the league, as determined by the rules for seeding, will advance to the single-elimination playoffs.
• Playoff matches will begin in the week immediately following the conclusion of the regular season.
• All playoff matches will follow a "best of 3."
• The match point system used during the regular season will no longer apply in the post-season. Only the team who wins each match series will advance to the next round, with the loser being eliminated from the tournament.

Match Format

1. All matches will be played with teams consisting of two (2) players, and two (2) players only.
2. All matches during the regular season will consist of three games regardless of the outcome of the first two maps. A team earns points for every map that is played, using the following system:
   • Three (3) points for a win.
   • One (1) point for a loss.
   • Zero (0) points for a forfeit.
3. Keep in mind the point system works on a map by map basis, and so it’s possible to gain a maximum of nine (9) points from a single match. Should a team decide not to play the third game in the series, they will receive a forfeit for that map, and thus lose the opportunity to gain an extra point.
4. Games will last fifteen (15) minutes, with a five (5) minute overtime when necessary. The team with the highest total frags at the end of the game will receive a win for that map, and gain three (3) points. The team with the least frags will receive a loss, but also one (1) point for having completed the map as scheduled.
5. All matches must be played on The Promode League servers and use mode “2v2.”
6. One can expect the The Promode League servers to generally be configured properly. Regardless of this, any clan who declares themselves ready and begins a game, automatically accepts the server settings as they stand. Once the game begins, a team cannot dispute the outcome of the match henceforth on the basis of server settings, unless ruled otherwise by a referee in extreme circumstances, whereby the mishap significantly affected the outcome of the match.

Scheduling

1. Every group will be assigned a group referee who they are to report: the dates, and times of their scheduled matches, the results of any games they play, as well as discuss any and all disputes.
2. The complete schedule will be posted prior to the start of the season, and will be provided to registered teams on April 25, 2017.
3. Every team is expected to play a minimum of one (1) game per week.
4. If teams are agreeable to scheduling their games earlier/later than their allotted week, then it will be permitted so long as they inform a referee.
5. Teams will not play each other more than once during the regular season.
6. Teams are responsible for scheduling their matches. Teams can reach each other using the CPMA Discord server and The Promode League Discord server.
7. Once a team schedules a match, they must immediately inform a league administrator of the date and time, thus allowing us a chance to schedule the availability of a referee.
8. Teams who cannot contact their opponent or receive little response should inform administrators continuously of their efforts, so that the situation is tracked properly by the league.
9. If teams are unable to agree upon a date/time themselves, they may request that an administrator help negotiate the issue. Teams who are unreasonable with regards to scheduling and make unreasonable demands, such as insisting on a single date and a single time regardless of all efforts, may be considered as non-compliant and subject to an automatic forfeit, at the discretion of a league administrator.
10. If no agreement can be found, an administrator may simply choose a date/time and require both teams to play on it or risk forfeiture.

Forfeits

1. Clans who cannot field two (2) players for a match are subject to forfeit unless a reschedule is negotiated between teams, with the assistance of a referee. Ringers are not allowed in official matches.
2. Clans that make little or no effort with regards to scheduling or who unreasonably complicate the scheduling process run the risk of forfeit, at the mercy of the subjective decisions of an administrator. The more constructive communication you engage in with league administrators, the less likely you’ll be subject to such decisions.
3. Offensive, rude, or otherwise belligerent behavior will not be tolerated, towards both referees and also other players. A person and possibly his entire team may become subject to forfeitures and possible expulsion from the league should they grossly engage in such activities.

Streaming

By playing in The Promode League you automatically agree to the recording and distribution of demos by referees. You also agree to allow for the presence of streamers. Only referees may force such services to leave a match server if they feel it is appropriate.

Disputes

First and foremost, clans are encouraged to find mutually acceptable solutions without the aid of an administrator, so long as they fall within the boundaries of The Promode League rules. If however, teams cannot find agreement, they may ask for real-time assistance from a referee who will discuss the problem with the two team leaders and , if necessary, other administrators, and then render a decision.

Map Selection

All matches played in The Promode League will be from the following list:

• Left Behind (ct3dm5) (Map Profile)
• Sanctum (q3shw27) (Map Profile)
• The Hot Place (pukka3dm1) (Map Profile)

During the regular season, there will be no map selection process. All matches will consist of three games, played on the maps in the following order: Left Behind (ct3dm5), Sanctum (q3shw27), The Hot Place (pukka3dm1). During the playoffs, map selection will follow a different process. The league will move to a “best of 3” series format. Teams will use a coin-toss (“callvote random 2” (head/tails)), and the winner will select the first map, and the loser will select the second map.

Detailed Match Protocols

Pre-Match

1. Players must have their autoaction set to "7" e.g.
   Code:

   cg_autoaction 7
   This will ensure that demos are recorded, and end of game screenshots are taken.
   
   
2. All games should be played on servers as neutral to both teams as possible. To accomplish this goal, the following must happen:

• Each team will submit two (2) potential servers to the other, with their average ping time if available.
• Teams will have approximately fifteen (15) minutes to decide upon a fair server. If they cannot agree, contact your group referee, who will take over the server selection process.
• Once a server is selected, all games for that match must be played there, unless extraordinary circumstances force a referee to deem otherwise. If the match must be stopped or moved to a new server, all completed games leading up to that point will still count as valid, all partial games will be rendered void. Keep in mind however, that only a referee can make this decision.
• All matches must begin, at the very latest, within thirty (30) minutes of the scheduled match time. If after thirty (30) minutes the match has failed to begin, the referee will render a decision on the next course of action. He may choose to issue forfeits to one or both teams, or to negotiate a reschedule, depending on the circumstances. All such issues will be handled on a case by case basis and are at the full discretion of the referee.
• Once a server is decided upon, if the game is a playoff match, teams will choose their map using the map selection process described above.
• During cross-continental play teams will use coin-toss, the winner of which can either select the map or the server. The subsequent map will see teams reverse map/server selection. If a third map is required, then teams will once again use coin-toss, where the winner will select the server.

During Match

1. Games will last for fifteen (15) minutes, with five (5) minute overtimes when necessary. Between games during each match, teams may take a five (5) minute break but they should not leave the designated server or risk forfeit.
2. Each team will receive a single two (2) minute timeout for each map to use for any legitimate reason. A team may not intentionally abuse their timeout to disrupt the actions of their opponent or risk disciplinary action.
3. Teams may issue a time-out, but only referees may issue a time-in, to ensure that all players are fully entitled to the full two (2) minutes. Referees may pause and unpause the game for any means necessary at their own discretion. A referee will typically not pause when spectators or coaches/substitutes drop from the server.
4. The only persons allowed on a server during match time are the players for each team and their one coach or substitute. This is in addition to the normal presence of league administrators acting as referees, and also streamers.

Substitutions

All players substituted into the game must be on the official team roster and meet the rules of eligibility described above. Teams may make an unlimited amount of substitutions between games; assuming new players meet the eligibility requirements. Should players drop during the middle of a game, and a referee is present, then the referee will issue a three (3) minute pause to allow for a substitution, or for the dropped player to reconnect. A referee will not wait longer than three (3) minutes, and should no substitution take place in the allotted time frame, the game will continue with less than two (2) players until a substitute connects or the map ends. Teams are permitted the same discretion if no referee is present. Once the map is over the next game cannot be played with anything less than two (2) players, and if a team is unable to field a full roster they will automatically forfeit the following games the series.

Post-Match

Teams should immediately notify a league referee of their match results, and upload their individual POV demos to their respective clan channels provided in The Promode League Discord server.

Conduct

Clans and members that do not display proper sportsmanship towards other clans will be considered for expulsion. Activities that would warrant this consideration include: excessive message spamming (team talk only please) or other in-game abuse, public defilement of other clans, and in particular the use of vulgar or racist remarks. In extreme cases this rule may apply to any electronic communication and through any medium that involves members of The Promode League or its administrators. However please note that we are not in the business of censorship, and the above rules are generally restricted to a match environment, except in circumstances that an administrator deems to be violent and/or flagrant derision of The Promode League members. Decisions in this matter will be left to the subjective analysis of the administrators. That said, clan leaders are held directly responsible for the actions of their clan members. If a member of their clan is found to be guilty of violating sportsmanship etiquette, administrators will deal directly with that clan's representative, who is expected to immediately address the issue in a pro-active and positive manner.

Cheating

For obvious reasons, cheating will not be tolerated under any circumstances. If you are caught cheating in a match setting, you and your clan will be removed from the tournament. Any player that is caught cheating in a non-match setting with conclusive evidence to back that assertion will be immediately removed from the league, and depending on the circumstances, that person’s clan will be subject to disqualification as well. Simply put, if you think something is wrong or illegal, don’t do it.

Inactivity

Clans who show excessive inactivity or forfeit two or more matches in succession may be disqualified from further participation in the league without notice.

Playoff Seeding

The seeding for playoffs are based on the following:

1. Points accumulated by map wins.
2. Head-to-Head competition.
3. Division record.

Rules Amendments

The Promode League reserves the right to change, without early notice, any of the aforementioned rules at their sole discretion. Any changes that are made will be documented in this section for player reference. Remember that clans are expected to have full knowledge of the rules and regularly check for updates. By playing in the league it is assumed that you have read and understand these rules, and as such, ignorance of these rules will not be found to be an acceptable excuse for misunderstandings encountered during the season. The playoff seeding system was altered a bit to help remedy the issue where the top and bottom team (in a points group) based on season net score had played each other during the season with the bottom team winning. The third criteria is now division record.