View the league’s Middle School and High School Competition Rulebook.
Introduction and Purpose
These Official Rules (Rules) of the PlayVS Scholastics Esports League apply to each of the teams who have registered and met the requirements for the 2024-2025 school year, as well as their head coach, assistant coaches, vice principals, athletic directors, Starters, Substitutes (collectively Team Members), and other members.
1. Game Rules
1.1 Definition of Terms
1.1.1 Game. An instance of competition that is played until a winner is determined by one of the following methods, whichever occurs first: (a) completion of the countdown timer or objective achieved, (b) Team Surrender, or (c) Team Forfeit.
1.1.2 Round. An instance of individual competition, often between individual team members. The player or team that wins the majority of available rounds will be determined the winner of the game.
1.1.3 Set. A series of games that is played until one player wins a majority of the total games (e.g., winning two games out of three “best-of-three”). The winning player will receive a win tally in favor of their team for the match.
1.1.4 Match. A group of sets that is played until one team wins a majority of the total sets (e.g., winning two sets out of three “best-of-three”). The winning team will either receive a win tally in a league format or advance to the next round in a tournament format.
1.1.5 League. A group of teams that regularly play against one another. There are two distinct types of PlayVS leagues: (a) Recreational and (b) Competitive.
1.1.6 Phase. A section of scheduled league play that comprises a season. There are distinct phases for leagues, with each phase having its own league format.
1.1.7 Season. Scheduled league play that will occur over a predetermined amount of time.
1.2 Roster Requirements
1.2.1 Roster Submission
Team members must be eligible to compete on behalf of their school as listed in Section 2. Team Member Eligibility of the league's Competition Rulebook.
Each League page will list the number of players necessary to fill a team’s Roster and Bench. No individual may simultaneously hold two or more roles as listed above. All players and coaches are expected to be present physically or virtually for all official PlayVS matches. The Roster and Bench must be finalized before the Roster Lock Date, as listed in Section 3.4 Roster Submission of the league’s Competition Rulebook.
1.2.2 Substitutions
NBA 2K25 is a solo esports title, meaning there may only be one Active Player in a match at any given time.
However, teams needing to adjust their roster due to their unique competitive situation can utilize the two (2) bench spots should roster changes need to be made. Substitutions must be made before confirming competing players for a given match. Once a game of record is established, the starting player may not be changed. Once the game is complete with results reported, a player substitution may be made using the PlayVS Match Assistant if necessary for the following game.
Roster updates may only occur during the first 4 weeks of the regular season. All solo esports team rosters will lock at the beginning of Week 5, and player additions/removals will no longer be permitted.
1.3 Game of Record
A Game of Record (GOR) in NBA 2K25 is established under the following conditions:
1.3.1 Initial jump ball happens.
1.3.2 The clock ticks for at least one (1) second.
Once GOR is established, game restarts will only be allowed under limited conditions as listed in Section 7.4 Game Restart of the league’s Competition Rulebook.
1.4 Stoppage of Play
1.4.1 Directed Pause
At any time, League Officials may order the pause of a match at the sole discretion of League Officials. Teams may complete the current game and finalize the results.
1.4.2 Player Pauses
Pauses are bound to the features & limitations inside NBA 2K. Excessive pausing is subject to penalties at the sole discretion of League Officials.
1.4.3 Game Disconnection
The game will automatically close if a player disconnects from the online match. The connected player must take a screenshot to capture the score & time remaining in the match when the disconnection occurred.
Once the player can reconnect, the online match must be recreated. Players will subtract the time completed in the previous match and then complete the remaining time of the original game with the newly created online match. Once the remaining time has lapsed, players will add the total scores of the two games to determine the winner.
For example:
Player A disconnects in the 2nd quarter of Game 1, with 1 minute remaining. Player B takes a screenshot to confirm the score of 24-21, with Player B in the lead. Player B will then select OK to go back to the Locker Room and resend an invite to Player A.
There are still 11 minutes of in-game time left in the match, so the game is recreated with the same teams as in Game 1, and the players complete the first and second quarter of the recreated Game 1 (10 minutes of in-game time). After a minute has passed in the third quarter, the game is stopped and the score of 28-26 with Player A in the lead is logged.
The players combine the scores of both games for an overall score of 50-49, with Player B having the overall higher score. Player B has won Game 1, and the match continues to Game 2.
1.5 Match Format
Format: Best-of-Three (Bo3) Games
Team Size: 1 Player
Settings:
Game Style: Superstar
Quarter Length: 5 minutes
1.5.1 Phase Details
All matches within the season will share the same Match Format as listed above, regardless of phase.
For a detailed breakdown of each phase available for the league, see section 5.2 Phase Details of the league’s Competition Rulebook.
2. Player Equipment
2.1 Equipment
Each player on the Starting Roster must have access to school-provided equipment or must be permitted by the school to provide their own equipment in the following categories:
2.1.1 Playstation 5 or Xbox Console (X|S)
2.1.2 Monitor/Television
2.1.3 Headsets and/or Earbuds and/or Microphones
2.1.4 Table and Chair
2.1.5 Compatible Controller
2.1.6 Online Subscription/Stable Internet Connection
2.1.7 Copy of NBA 2K25 for either Playstation 5 or Xbox Console (X|S)
2.2 Cross-play
Cross-play will be available for players only on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Teams may elect to use either of the two consoles to compete.
3. Match Process
3.1 Pre-Match Setup
Teams must adhere to Section 6.2 Pre-Match Setup in the league’s Competition Rulebook as they prepare to join their match.
3.2 Match Setup
For all matches, players must add their opponent as a Friend to send game invites.
3.2.1 Create Lobby
Start NBA 2K25.
Navigate to PLAY NOW.
Select Quick Play.
To use teams with injured players, the lobby may be loaded with Injury-Free Rosters by using the in-game Load Rosters feature.
Invite your opponent and create the lobby with the settings in Section 1.5.
3.2.2 Side Selection
Each team will compete as either “Home” or “Away” [referred to as “Side(s)”] for each game. Side selection for each game is as follows:
Game 1: Home Team on Match Lobby selects side.
Game 2: Away Team on Match Lobby selects side.
Game 3: Loser of Game 2 selects side
For Playoffs, the Higher Seeded team will receive side selection for Game 3.
3.2.3 Team Selection
Players will select from any Current NBA team and play. Players may choose a different NBA team for each game they play. Both players can also choose the same team. Classic, All Time, and other alternative teams are not allowed.
3.3 Match F.A.Q.
3.3.1 Spectating
In order to avoid giving any team an advantage, spectators should be removed from spectating unless both coaches have agreed to allow for a spectator by following section 7.7 Match Spectating from the league’s Competition Rulebook.
3.3.2 In-Game Content Updates
NBA 2K25 is a live-service multiplayer game that may release new content patches with updated team rosters while the season is occurring.
Any players or teams currently disabled in-game by 2K will not be available for use during official PlayVS matches. All PlayVS matches will occur on the most up-to-date patch, and any team is eligible for use in PlayVS matches unless otherwise stated by League Officials.
4. Post-Match Process
4.1 Results
If the match is completed using the PlayVS Match Assistant tool, then in-game statistics and results will be recorded at each game's conclusion.
In the event that the PlayVS Match Assistant cannot be used, then statistics will not be tracked, and the match results will need to be submitted manually within 1 hour of match completion. Players should take screenshots of the match results and share those with their coaches.
In the event of an error, coaches must contact PlayVS directly.