VALORANT

SPRING 2026 - RULES

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THIS TOURNAMENT IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH, SANCTIONED OR SPONSORED BY RIOT OR ANY OTHER GAME DEVELOPER OR PLATFORM.

1. COMPETITION

1. PLATFORMS
   1. Windows PC Only
2. ACTIVITY: 5v5 Standard
3. SERIES LENGTHS
   1. Game: A single competition between two teams each with 5 players (5v5).
   2. Match: Point accumulation series of 2 games (best of 3 for postseason).

2. PLAYERS

1. ROSTER
   1. Each team’s roster must consist of at least 5 players (more is strongly advised) and no more than 10 players.
   2. Players are only allowed to be added to a team that was created by a coach or advisor officially representing their school.
   3. A player is allowed to represent only one team’s roster in the same MiHSEF Valorant competition.
2. SUBSTITUTIONS
   1. Any number of players may be substituted between games (NOT rounds within a game) in a match as long as they are rostered and meet the requirements of that specific team.
3. PLAYER COUNT
   1. Both teams participating in a match must provide a minimum of 4 players (out of 5) at the beginning of the first game and at least 4 for each consecutive game.
   2. During a game, if a team should lose 2 or more players that have disconnected with the intention of no longer playing in the match at the same time, that team will forfeit the remainder of the game to the opposing team.
   3. If a team is unable to field the required number of players for additional games in the series, then they will forfeit the remainder of the match. You will indicate a forfeit when submitting game and match scores.

3. PRE-MATCH

1. LOBBY
   1. The designated home team , shown in the discord match channel, will create the lobby, do map Pick/Ban outlined below, and invite the captain of the opposing team.
   2. The away team will pick maps as listed in Pick/Ban outlined below.
   3. The team that did not choose their side in the preceding game will then choose their side for each game thereafter.
   4. The match settings to be used are as follows:
      1. Lobby: Custom (closed)
      2. Mode: Standard
      3. Options
         1. Allow Cheats: Off
         2. Tournament Mode: On
         3. Overtime: Win by Two: On
         4. Play Out All rounds: Off
         5. Hide Match History: Off
      4. Replays are allowed
      5. Server Region: Illinois
   5. In the event incorrect players are present or incorrect settings are loaded in the lobby, the match should be stopped and reset. If a game is completed before realizing the error, the game results stand and the teams should continue to the next game.
2. SPECTATING/COACHING
   1. Teams are not allowed to spectate in the game beyond the use of the coaching slot. If teams want to stream the game the following options are available:
      1. Use the coaching slot
      2. Use the NDI plug-in for OBS
   2. Each team is allowed one person in the coaching slot as a coach (if not streaming) under the condition that coaches can only communicate with their teams:
      1. Before, after or between maps
      2. During any and all timeouts called by either team

4. GAMEPLAY

1. MAP SELECTION

   1. Pick/Ban
      1. Maps during each week will be determined by a pick/ban system. The procedure is as follows.
         1. Home team bans.
         2. Away team bans.
         3. Home team bans.
         4. Away team bans.
         5. Home team bans.
         6. Last two maps remaining will be played.
         7. Away team chooses the first map to be played. Home team will choose attack or defense.
         8. Away team chooses attack or defense on the second map.

2. SCORING

   1. Point Accumulation
      1. Points will be accumulated PER Match
         1. If a team wins both games, they receive 5 points.
            1. The opposing team will receive 1 point.
         2. If the teams each win 1 game (resulting in a match tie):
            1. The team with the majority of rounds won in the two games combined receives 3 points.
            2. The team with fewer rounds won in the two games combined receives 2 points.
            3. In the event that both teams have won the same number of rounds, the team with the most cumulative eliminations across both games will receive the 3 points.
               1. In the event that both teams have the same number of cumulative eliminations across both games, the number of cumulative plants will be the deciding factor.
   Scoring Example

   Scenario: 1-1 Split with Round Differential

   Match Component	Team A Performance	Team B Performance	Points Awarded
   Game 1	Wins 13-5	Loses 5-13	-
   Game 2	Loses 11-13	Wins 13-11	-
   Total Rounds	24 Rounds Won	18 Rounds Won	-
   Final Result	Majority Rounds	Minority Rounds	Team A: 3 pts / Team B: 2 pts

   2. Score Reporting
      1. Scores will be automatically pulled in if both teams have at least one account linked when match is completed
      2. Both teams must report and confirm the match score through the LeagueOS website no later than 11:59pm on the same day as the match.
      3. A picture (screenshot) of the results screen at the end of each game must accompany the match score.
      4. Scores not reported by the deadline may result in the team forfeiting the match automatically.
      5. If you are unable to report match scores by the required deadline, please contact a MiHSEF official for assistance.

3. BREAKS

   1. Teams may take up to 10 minutes in between games unless a shorter or longer time period is agreed upon.
   2. If the time period of 10 minutes or the agreed upon length of time passes without extension agreement or return of players, the game will be forfeited.

5. STOPPAGE OF PLAY

1. TACTICAL TIMEOUT
   1. Each team is allowed to call two (2) Tactical Timeouts per game.
   2. Tactical Timeouts may only be called by an in-game player during the buy phase of a round.
   3. Tactical timeouts can only last 60 seconds.
2. TECHNICAL PAUSES
   1. The game may be paused up to 3 times per team (across players) only for the following reasons:
      1. Player Disconnect/Drop
      2. Server Crash
      3. Technical issues (hardware or internet outage.)
   2. You are responsible for pausing for your OWN team and any player on the same team can pause at any given time.
   3. Each team will have a maximum 10 minute pause, combined, for each game. If a team goes over 10 minutes they will forfeit the current game unless the opposing team agrees to an extension.
   4. Before unpausing, each team must confirm the match starting back up, if a team does not get consent to start a match from the other team, this could result in a forfeit. The opponent has up to 2 minutes to agree to resume the game after a request to restart or the opponent will forfeit the current game.
3. PLAYER DISCONNECTS
   1. Should a player disconnect from the game before the first round starts, the game may be restarted by request of either team.
   2. Should a player disconnect from the server after the first round starts, a pause can be taken by that team to allow reconnection. This will count as the one allowed pause per match for that team.
4. GOOD FAITH RESTARTS (a restart that is not required by the rules but is good sportsmanship) are allowed but both teams must use the exact same players and agents as the initial game, otherwise the restarted game will automatically count as the next game in the match. Restarting an entire round or game is not permitted after it has been played.

6. RESTRICTIONS

1. All agents, weapons, sprays, weapon skins, items and weapon buddies are allowed, except those that are currently either disabled in the competitive game mode or banned in the official Valorant tournament rules.
2. New agents cannot be used for 2 weeks after the public release date and time.
3. Any intentional use, or attempted use, by a player of any bugs, exploits, game file modification or third party applications which would give an unfair advantage in the Game is strictly prohibited. MiHSEF will determine the bugs and exploits prohibited by this rule and whether a player has taken advantage of a bug or exploit in violation of this rule. Please see the anti-cheating policy and submission process in the MiHSEF advisor’s packet.

7. PLAYOFFS

1. Play in and each round at the in person state tournament will be a best of 3. The following process will determine the bans and picks from the listed map pool.
   1. Higher seeded team bans one map, Lower seeded team bans one map.
   2. Higher seeded team picks Map One, Lower seeded picks a side for Map One.
   3. Lower seeded team picks Map Two, Higher seeded team picks a side for Map Two
   4. Higher seeded team bans one map, Lower seeded team bans one map.
   5. One map remains, Higher seeded team picks side

MAP LIST

Pearl	Bind	Abyss	Haven
Breeze	Corrode	Split

This list may update as we approach the season in conjunction with ranked play, and may update in season

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Last Updated: February 9, 2026

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