1. Games will be 5v5
2. Two maps determined by the league use during the week’s matches.
   Each map will be played once, with teams alternating starting sides.
   1. Home team starts as defense on map 1
   2. Home team starts as offense on map 2
3. If both teams are registered in the same region, all maps will be played in that region.
   If the teams are registered in different regions, map 1 will be played in the home team’s region and map 2 will be played in the away team’s region.
4. Scores will be entered per map as the final round counts.
5. The hosting team will forfeit any game where they are at fault for incorrect settings that may have affected the result of the game, at the discretion of league staff.
6. Teams may request that they be allowed to concede victory of a game in progress and avoid a forfeiture penalty. A Tournament Official must be contacted to approve this request.
7. Matches must begin within 10 minutes of scheduled time. Teams may take no longer than 10 minutes between maps played. Teams in violation of time requirements will be issued a warning, repeated offensives may incur penalties.

Bot takeover isn’t allowed in the 5v5 bomb defusal mode.

1. In the instance of a player not loading in correctly or other technical issue, teams may initiate a vote to end the round ONLY if it is within a reasonable time frame and the 1st objective has not yet been activated by either team.
2. If unreasonable time has elapsed (never to exceed 30 seconds), or 1st objective has been activated, any started round must continue. In game votes of any kind after 1st objective activation or reasonable time frame will be considered unsportsmanlike conduct.
3. If tech issues occur mid round for a player such as disconnect, headset malfunction, comm failure, ect. The player with said issue may rejoin the round if possible, or another registered teammate may take their place if teams elect to do so.
4. When technical difficulties cannot be resolved mid-match and no registered alternates are available, play must continue with present players or the team will forfeit.
5. If an entire team or server experiences a disconnect or other unforeseen complication to the extent that their ability to play is significantly hindered for reasons outside their collective control, the round may be replayed upon league staff determination if teams are able to display with video evidence the issue/unplayability.

1. Teams must play their matches during the week that they are scheduled to play.
2. Rosters must be posted prior to matches and players must use their own accounts.
3. Having a player use someone else’s account without prior consent from VREL officials will result in a forfeit.
4. If a team does not show up then that team forfeits.
5. If a team has less than 5 players but more than 1, the match can continue.
6. Teams are now required to have matches scheduled by Midnight UTC on Friday of the round to be played. Teams must show availability on 2 days of the week (reasonable to the time zone of another team) to be considered as discussing in “good faith” to schedule a match. This is a minimum standard and DOES NOT eliminate the possibility of your team being forfeited upon staff determination if a compromise still can not be reached. Matches can be played 4v4 if they must be and both teams agree to it! League staff is here to assist with any concerns or questions but it is not the leagues responsibility to schedule match ups for teams. Once again, No team is expected to have to play midnight or later in their time zone unless they choose to. Teams found to consistently create unreasonable scheduling issues among others will be warned and further penalties possibly enforced if issues persist.
7. In matches not being officially cast by VREL, teams may mutually agree to extend wait times to complete matches without penalties. Teams are encouraged to retain a record of such agreements to avoid potential disputes.
8. Forfeits due to personnel issues carry the following penalties:
   1st offense: An extra loss assessed to the team’s record in addition to any match result.
   2nd offense: The team will be suspended for no less than one week.
   3rd offense: The team is removed from the tournament

1. All players are required to record their matches, and may be required to submit the recording to league officials.
2.  If there is a conflict of reported score, recordings will be used to determine outcome. If no team can supply a video they will both receive a violation and potentially replay the match at the discretion of league officials. If a team violates the recording rule for any reason officials will follow the progressive disciplinary actions that are published.
3. If a complaint is lodged about cheating, exploits, or behavior; recordings will be used in the investigative process.
4. All recorded footage shall be kept for at least one week from the conclusion of the match.

1. No physical positioning that would cause the player model to be out of alignment with the player’s physical position.
2. Microphones must never be muted in-game.
3. Any modification of the game or its code which has not been expressly permitted by these rules or a league representative is prohibited.
4. Player height calibration must match a players actual height to the extent that does not impede character model behavior or interaction of character model with map elements.
5. Use of a modified/jail broken headset or exploit mods will be considered hacking.
6. Violations of cheating and hacking policy will typically be subject to the following penalties:
   1st offense: week suspension
   2nd offense: 3 months suspension
   3rd offense: League ban
   1. This is a general guideline and the league reserves the right to ban immediately upon finding the use of cheats/exploits.
7. Teams in which multiple players are violating these policies, or other particularly egregious instances of cheating, may be subject to escalated penalties.
8. Players are not allowed to shoot another player as they spawn or on the spot they spawn onto. Players should be careful to not position themselves in a way that allows them intentionally see enemy players spawn. Players caught exploiting spawning positions or killing players as they spawn in will be held accountable and subject to discipline as stated in the league rules including but not limited to potential player suspension or round forfeiture. This rule only applies within designated spawn areas on the map, if a map does not have a designated “return to combat” spawn area then this rule does not apply.
9. League administrators reserve the right to assess blatant use of any clearly unintended game behavior as exploits. Evidence of unspecified exploits must be clear and convincing.