Introduction and Purpose
These Official Rules (“Rules”) of the PlayVS High School Esports League apply to each of the teams who have registered and met the requirements for the 2022-2023 school year, as well as their head coach, assistant coaches, vice principals, athletic directors, Starters, Substitutes (collectively “Team Members”), and other members.
Table of Contents
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 Set. A series of games. The winning player will receive a win tally in favor of their team for the match.
1.1.3 Match. A group of series (or "sets"). The winning team will either receive a win tally in a league format or advance to the next round in a tournament format.
1.1.4 Block. Scheduled league play that will occur over an approximately two- or three-week period of time in the Regular Season. Each block consists of 2-3 matches that must be completed by the last scheduled week of the block. Performance in a schedule block will be used to determine a team’s opponents for the subsequent block.
1.1.5 Phase. A section of scheduled league play that comprises a season. There are three distinct phases: preseason, regular season, and playoffs. Each phase has its own league format.
1.1.6 Season. Scheduled league play that will occur over an approximately three-month period of time.
1.2 Roster Requirements
Each team is required to maintain, at all times during the season, one coach, and one player in the starting lineup (“Starters”). For the avoidance of doubt, Starters and Substitutes are subject to the same roster eligibility requirements. No individual may simultaneously hold two or more of the roles listed above.
The Starters are considered collectively as the “Starting Roster.” The Starting Roster will not be required to be on-site for every official game that the team participates in unless dictated by the school’s administration, district, and/or athletic association.
The Starting Roster will be displayed on www.playvs.com. The Starting Roster on the PlayVS website will be considered the most up to date roster that could be applied within a reasonable time. Roster eligibility is at the discretion of League Officials.
All players associated with a school are considered collectively as the "Complete Roster."
A player is only allowed to compete for the school that he or she is enrolled in. A player will not be allowed to compete for more than one school simultaneously and therefore cannot be listed on the roster of more than one school. To verify that these players are officially enrolled at their school, each player must be verified by the team's coach or another member of the faculty. For the avoidance of doubt, the verification of a player is an agreement to a summary of some key terms of the Rulebook needed by the league to verify eligibility and confirm agreement by player and team.
1.3 Game of Record
A game of record (“GOR”) refers to a game where both players have loaded in and which has progressed to a point of meaningful interaction between opposing teams. Once a game attains GOR status, the period ends in which incidental restarts may be permitted and a game will be considered as “official” from that point onward. After the establishment of GOR, game restarts will be allowed only under limited conditions (see section 7.4 of the High School Competition Rulebook).
Examples of conditions which establish GOR:
1.3.1 Initial jump ball happens.
1.3.2 The clock ticks for at least one (1) second.
1.4 Game Format
1.4.1 Preseason
This phase consists of each team enrolled in the league competing in one official practice week. Results of this match will not be recorded however this match is required in order to properly test equipment and player game connections.
Team Size: 1 vs 1
Format: Best of Three(Bo3)
Settings
Game Mode: Private Match
Game Style: Superstar
Quarter Length: 5 minutes
1.4.2 Regular Season
This phase consists of each team competing within a state in a season format against opponents within their region. Ranking in the league will be determined by each team's win-loss ratio.
Team Size: 1 vs 1
Format: Best of Three(Bo3)
Settings
Game Mode: Private Match
Game Style: Superstar
Quarter Length: 5 minutes
1.4.3 Regular Season Tiebreakers
The ranking of the teams will be determined by the standings of Wins and Losses. Tiebreakers are covered in Section 5.3 of the High School Competition Rulebook. More information about Tiebreakers can also be found here.
1.4.4 Playoffs Format
This phase consists of the top teams from each league and is limited to two NBA 2K23 teams per qualifying school.
If a school has multiple teams competing in the league, only the top-ranked team from that school will make it through into playoffs. These teams will compete in a single-elimination tournament until only two (2) teams remain. Each match will be a Best-of-Three (BO3).
The top 50% of teams in each league will advance to the Playoffs. In the event that the top 50% of teams does not fall on a standard bracket count (64, 32, 16, 8), the number of teams will be rounded down to the nearest bracket count. No more than 64 teams will advance to playoffs from a single league.
This phase consists of the top teams from each league. These teams will compete in a single-elimination tournament until only two (2) teams remain. Each match will be a Best-of-Three (BO3).
Rosters with starters and substitutes must be submitted, “locked,” one week prior to the playoff phase.
Teams with missing results and/or forfeits in more than 2 matches will be disqualified from the playoffs.
Competition Type: Single-Elimination Tournament
Team Size: 1 vs 1
Format: Best of Three(Bo3)
Settings
Game Mode: Private Match
Game Style: Superstar
Quarter Length: 5 minutes
1.4.5 Finals Format
This match consists of the top two teams from each league as decided by Playoffs. The Finals will be a single Best-of-Three (BO3) match. The team to achieve two game wins will be awarded the match win and will be declared the League Champion. In the event that a single team reaches two game wins before the start of a third game, the third game will not be played.
Team Size: 1 vs 1
Format: Best of Three(Bo3)
Settings
Game Mode: Private Match
Game Style: Superstar
Quarter Length: 5 minutes
1.5 Substitutions
The solos format of the PlayVS high school competition for NBA 2K23 will not allow substitutions.
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 4/ Playstation 5
2.1.2 Monitor/Television
2.1.3 Headsets and/or Earbuds and/or Microphones
2.1.4 Table and Chair
2.1.5 Playstation Controller
2.1.6 Playstation Plus Subscription/Stable Internet Connection
2.1.7 Copy of NBA 2K23 for Playstation 4/5
2.2 Supported Equipment
Players must compete with the platform their league is in (PlayStation).
3. Match Process
3.1 Pre-Match Setup
3.1.1 Equipment Setup. Restart all consoles at least one hour before scheduled matches and test each game client by loading into a private game lobby.
3.1.2 Technical Failure of Equipment. If a player encounters any equipment problems during any phase of the setup process, the player must alert and notify a coach and a League Official immediately.
3.1.3 Technical Support. Coaches must be available to assist with the setup process and troubleshoot any problems encountered during the pre-match setup period.
3.1.4 Timeliness of Match Start. It is expected that players will resolve any issues with the setup process within the allotted time and that match will begin at the scheduled time. Delays due to setup problems may be permitted, at the sole discretion of League Officials. All players competing must be in the game lobby to be considered “present”. Teams that are over thirty (30) minutes tardy will forfeit their match.
3.1.5 No opponents. Teams may not start a match without opponents present and ready.
3.2 Match Lobby Setup
3.2.1. Before the match, PlayVS will designate a home and away team. The home team is responsible for running the match and inputting the results. This will always be the home team’s responsibility, however both teams are liable for ensuring the results are inputted correctly.
3.2.2. Add your opponent on the opposing team as a friend so you’re able to invite them to the match.
3.2.3. From the PlayStation 4 home screen, navigate to the Friends section and find "Search". Look for the username your opponent has listed on their PlayVS Account in the Match Dashboard. Once you’ve found them, send them a friend request.
3.2.4. Create Lobby
Start NBA 2K23
Navigate to PLAYNOW
Select “Play With Friends Online”
Invite your opponent from the right side and create the lobby with the settings in 3.2.5.
3.2.5 Lobby Settings
Settings
Game Mode: Private Match
Game Style: Superstar
Quarter Length: 5 minutes
3.2.6 Invite your opponent to the match
3.2.7 Select teams and play. Players may choose a different NBA team for each game they play. All-time, all-star, Olympic and historic teams are not allowed.
3.3. Post-Game Process
3.3.1. The winning player will share the results of each game and any screenshots with their coach.
3.3.2. The coach of the team who won the match is responsible for inputting the match results in “Mission Control” within 1 hour of the last game played.