TC Official Rules and Guidelines
LAST UPDATED MARCH 11th  2008

Conduct and Sportsmanship

   One of the most important components to TeamCompete is its robust and active community. To help grow and maintain this community, our members need to support one another, as all of you belong to the TeamCompete Community and all must represent themselves in the most professional manner possible. It is necessary for our participating teams to recognize that you are the league and this league is you. The way you behave and carry yourself as well as your team will effect the overall representation and conduct of the ladders themselves. This is why it is imperative for all members to conduct themselves in a mature, and responsible fashion at all times. Also, players are asked to display positive sportsmanship while participating on the site. In order to help promote the site, players should practice good sportsmanship, especially during matches. It only takes one bad apple to ruin a team’s entire experience. Players need to support each other as best they can because all of us belong to the TeamCompete Community. We all don’t have to like each other but at a minimum, we must support each other because we all make up this league and it takes all of us to continue to develop it. Anytime you participate in TeamCompete related activities, this level of behavior is expected. We all need to represent ourselves in the most professional manner in order to show the world we mean business. The above applies including the following: 

·         You cannot make extreme offensive comments concerning race, gender, nationality, or religion in any way, shape or form. This is common sense. Trash talking is allowed, however, a person’s ethnic background has absolutely nothing to do with their gaming skills. Leave it out. 

·         You cannot share violent or pornographic images anywhere on the site. If your not comfortable sharing an image with your grandmother, it probably shouldn’t be on the site. 

·         You cannot negatively manipulate the site or games to give you or your team an unfair advantage. This covers all sorts of cheating. Just don’t do it. 

·         You must always remember to represent yourself and the site in a mature manner that helps promote growth and development. You must recognize that you are the league and this league is you. Your actions will determine whether or not other gamers choose TeamCompete as their home for professional gaming.

 ·         Please remember to refrain from making false accusations in public settings on TeamCompete about teams cheating, or possibly cheating. Would you like someone spreading rumors and ruining your team’s hard earned reputation? Didn’t think so. It also makes TC look bad, which isn’t good for anybody.

·         Also please remember that the TeamCompete staff is voluntary and are here to help you, the community in any way possible. However staff abuse WILL NOT be tolerated in any form. You will likely find yourself facing disciplinary action should you bad mouth TC staff, abuse them, that goes for onsite as well as in game situations. If an admin or Ops Manager  is asked to help resolve a dispute they are expected to be treated with the utmost respect. Anything less will NOT ne tolerated. 

·         And lastly, you must remember to have fun! Despite the competitive and professional atmosphere that is promoted, it is and always will be just a game. Enjoy it.

Team Traits to look for and emulate 

Here are some common traits the top teams on TeamCompete exhibit during match play. 

Sportsmanship - No trash talking, shooting dead corpse, wishing you luck win or loose, sticking around after the match to talk about the match. Shows respect to all players both in matches and on the forums. 

Honorable - Does what they say they are going to do. Is on time to matches, and plays within the rules at all times. 

Fun - Has a good time during the match. Talks to the other team as well as their own team mates. NO TRASH talking in the dead rooms and absolutely no disrespecting any teams players.

Competitive - Walks that line of having fun and yet keeps it serious enough to make the match competitive. 

Organized - Team shows up on time, knows the match settings and game & TeamCompete rules, which ladder/league and has all their roster issues addressed TeamCompete is proud of the community we are developing and enjoy sharing that community with like-minded teams. If you follow the above guidelines, you will find you are accepted very quickly and will enjoy your time on TeamCompete. We look forward to you cooperation and for your participation. 

Matchplay

There are many forms of communication available to you to find matches. TEAMCOMPETE’s new match finder, PM’s on the site to other match captains, posting a challenge thread on the forums and adding team captains your xbox live friends list are the more popular ones.

Once you establish a date and time for a match, here are some proven techniques to have the most fun during your match.Establish a match captain or coordinator for both teams. Once the meet and greet pleasantries have been completed, have everyone else mute the other team so only the match captains can communicate.Match captains should review the settings and rules of the match. The TEAMCOMPETE default rules are used by most teams on TEAMCOMPETE, but you are free to make adjustments if both teams agree to them. If either team does not agree, the default settings and rules should be followed. It is the teams responsibility to review the other teams roster for compliance with TeamCompete rules. If a player on either team is not properly listed on the team roster on TeamCompete, the captains should discuss the person at issue. “Subs” are allowed in TeamCompete matched only if the opposing team captain agrees to them. TeamCompute default rules do not allow them.[PW1]    

Once the match is complete, it is considered good sportsmanship to un-mute the other team and give compliments where they are due. If you stay in the room for a few minutes and have some fun with the other team before leaving, it leaves a much better impression of your team than if you all just leave. Teams should be careful not to play the same team too often. A general guideline would be more than 2 times per night or more than 6 times in a given week. This practice gives the appearance of stacking your record. Especially if one team is doing the majority of winning. This is not a hard fast rule, but if adhered to, should avoid any appearance of wrongdoing. Should a problem during a match arise, such as an accusation of using a glitch or cheating in some other way, you have two choices. If you have video proof (many teams are recording their matches now) of the infraction you can stop the match at that point and provide the proof to a TEAM COMPETE admin for review. Based on the evidence, TEAM COMPETE will make a ruling on that match. If you do not have proof of the infraction, we suggest finishing that side of the map. When you get back into the lobby, ask the match captain from the other team to have a private chat through xbox live. Explain what you saw to the match captain and decide what you want to do based on how they deal with the situation. If it appears they are going to deny and not address the issue, it is your right to terminate the match at that point with the understanding you will be forfeiting the match. Our suggestion is to finish the match as best your can and simply not play that team again. Without video evidence of a cheat/glitch being used, there isn’t much TeamCompete can do. On TeamCompete, we use the honor system when reporting match results.

The winner of the match has the responsibility to record the win. Please be careful when reporting the result. Make sure it’s the correct ladder and against the correct team. The loosing team does not have to do anything. Should an error occur during the recording process, please fill out a support ticket immediately so TeamCompete can fix the error in a timely manner. Please record all match results within 24 hours. On TeamCompete it is considered poor sportsmanship to recruit players while on another team roster. If a player approaches you about playing on your team, it is best to ask that player if they are playing for another team or on another team roster. If they are, we suggest telling that player to leave their current team before talking about it. It is even better if you contact that player’s captain and find out what the issues, if any, there might be if you talk to that player. By doing so, you are giving notice to the team they are leaving and being upfront about your discussions with that player.   

Names and Titles

Since this is a gaming site and not a Frat House or Sports Bar, the NAMES you elect for your Gamertag and your Team should conform to general standards of decency.  Since decency is not a term that can be specified for all instances, we will adhere to a simple test in making a determination as to the suitability of a name.  “If the name is something that we would be comfortable explaining to our mother and grandmother then it is something that generally passes the test for decency”.  Be reasonable and we will be as well.  But TeamCompete reserves the right to remove any name or tagline considered offensive or in poor taste for any reason whatsoever.   

 Staff Interactions

TeamCompete has maintained a strict policy of utilizing only Admins and staff that are NOT actively participating in a team or league to avoid any perception of or possibility of a conflict of instance.  Admins are VOLUNTEERS and contribute countless hours in managing and administering the site.  They are to be treated with RESPECT at all times and will reciprocate the same in return.  Disrespect or indifference to Admins or guidance provided by Admins shall be considered grounds for removal from the site.  Problems with any specific staff member can be brought to TeamCompete via email or PM to  the head admin or any number of well publicized staff members.  There will be roles/jobs for Admins that will be fulfilled by individuals who are participating in matches on a team as well.  In every instance where an Admin who is an active gamer is utilized, the role will be bounded to preclude ANY DECISION MAKING that would impact any team so as to keep them out of a potential conflict of interest situation. Accusations against any TeamCompete staff regarding a bias, prejudice or special treatment will not be tolerated and may be considered grounds for removal.  Questions of any suspected impropriety should be brought to the head admin or management directly and will not be dealt with in any fashion via any other means.  Take a personal vendetta or private bitch to the forums to make a public point and you will risk removal from the site for not taking your complaint to TeamCompete as outlined.  If a valid complaint is registered with TeamCompete against any staff individually or as a unit it WILL be completely and objectively investigated and reported to the affected individuals or communities upon completed review. 

 Site and Member Interactions
TeamCompete maintains forums for use by members for individual and team interactions.  We do not run our business through the forums and will not prowl the forums looking to answer specific questions posed.  Our Moderators will continuously be on alert for any questions that can and should be forwarded to an Admin or other staff member for PM reply to the poster---but TeamCompete will neither commit to or be held responsible to responding to complaints, questions or rants posted in a forum.  There are ample direct links to bring a question to the staff or report an issue through the trouble ticket system.  Use them.  We’re not into the forum war business and won’t get into it with you.  TeamCompete Staff will make every effort to contact team captains or individuals directly via PM or email should contact be requested or required.  

Player and Roster Guidelines 

As a member of TeamCompete, you are expected to comply with the following rules pertaining to player and roster guidelines. The preceding rules will be upheld and pertain to each and every member regardless of team status or association with other members and/or staff. If for any reason a guideline is broken, TC staff will investigate the issue and make a ruling whether a member is or is not reprimanded.  

·         Substitutions – A player CANNOT participate in a match as a registered member of a team’s roster until 24 hours AFTER the member is added to the roster. No exceptions.  

·          If a member is subbed for a regular season match, the member must be registered on the team roster. However, for the member to be registered on another team roster there will be a 24 hour waiting period before he will be eligible to play in a regular season match. Teams are allowed 2 subs for matches of 5 vs. 5 or less, and 3 subs for matches 6 vs. 6 or more.  

·         Changing/Joining Teams - If a member is currently listed on another team roster and decides to leave that team in order to join under a new team he will be ineligible to play any regular season matches for a period of 24 hours. For instance, if you have a match on Jan. 2^nd, then that player must be added on Jan. 1^st. If a member joins the team after the playoff eligibility date, he will be unable to participate in any possible playoff matches. If a member believes they have a special case and should be an exception to the rules, he/she should contact an Administrator promptly. This applies for any member joining a team, regardless of whether they were on a team previously or not.  

·         “Clan Hopping” – TC Discourages the practice of clan hopping in general but recognizes that there are teas out there that desire to win at al costs.’ Each member will be permitted to participate on one ranked team per game. However, a member is not permitted to leave Team A, Join Team B, and then leave Team B to rejoin Team A with in a 24 hour period. This activity is known as clan hopping and will not be permitted. 

·         One Tag, One Team - A member will not be permitted to be an “active” player on any team outside of his current team and current gamertag for a particular game. An active player is defined as: Any member trying to use another gamertag created by him, a gamertag created by a friend or family member, any gamertag that the member may have access to that is not registered to him or a gamer tag that is made and used under another IP address with same or similar address numbers. Basically, one gamertag per player per game. You may be on different teams for different games if you choose. You may also use a different gamertag for a different game as well. If you are found to abuse this rule we will ban you for a set period of time depending on the violation. 

·         Roster Eligibility for Playoffs and Tournaments – At times there will be specified DATES for roster membership prior to Playoffs, Tournaments or special events.  The purpose of establishing a Roster Eligibility Date is to preclude teams participating for a portion of a season and then collapsing prior to an event to join another team more likely to make the cut or eligibility for the event in the last days prior to event kickoff.  It is separate and in addition to the 24 hour rule outlined above and will only be in effect if specifically called out in the rules for the season/playoff or event.   

Disputes, Violations and Penalties

Unfortunately, rules will be broken. It is to our hope the majority of our members, if not all, will abide by these guidelines.  However, we realize that is not always the case. We would like to remind our users that TeamCompete is a private business. We may be free of charge, but that does not mean you can get away with everything. It is a privilege to play on TeamCompete, not a right. We hold true to a strict no tolerance policy and will remove any players that we view as detrimental to the community and the daily operations of our business. The more time we have to spend taking care of people who break the rules, the less time we have to spend with the people who actually need our help and assistance. We will not waste our valuable and precious time on members who do not understand this concept. Don’t break the rules, and you won’t have anything to worry about. 

• Video Recording Matches - First and foremost TeamCompete strongly recommends that you video record every single one of your matches if possible. When problems arise, it will make your life a lot easier if someone is recording the match, in addition it will strongly discourage your opposition from trying anything against the rules if they know you are recording the match.

• Problems Arising in Matches - When a problem arises in a match the first thing you should do is talk to the other team about it. If there is a disagreement and the problem cannot be solved through normal modes of communication you should attempt to contact a member of the game staff to come and solve your problem. If a member of the game staff cannot be contacted you should attempt to finish the match if at all possible. You can always dispute after the match if you must. If the issue is too large to continue, postpone the match until an admin can be reached.

 o    It is important to realize that TeamCompete is not running your match.  It is between YOU and the opposing captain.  If you have an issue and can’t work it out between the two of you then expecting us to fix things is not much different that one of you running to “tell” on the other. Unlike in-person matches where you sit across from your opponents, online play requires a certain amount of integrity and honor which we understand not every team will possess. Teachers dealing with after-the-fact issues related to disputes on the playground face similar situations.  TeamCompete will deal with reported cases of abuse of our system or false reporting of scores or other issues related to the use or abuse of the tools we make available. But when it comes to sorting out truth when one team says one thing and another says the exact opposite (meaning at least one side is flat out lying) we are not going to be responsible for sorting that out. If you have a video of the match that provides clear proof of a claim of cheating then we will consider that in making a decision. o    Otherwise, teams are hereby placed on notice that if you get into a situation where you cannot work out issues between the teams and TeamCompete is asked to step in and adjudicate what are YOUR ISSUES, then we will make a binding and non-reviewable call and move on to the next issue on our plate. It is neither our intent nor our stated objective to vouch for the integrity of a team that can create identities using anonymous credentials. That is the risk you take in playing on a site where identity is not known. Appeals will not be heard. 

• Disputes - If you need to file a dispute, be as detailed as possible. Make sure you go over everything in your dispute that you think we need to know and if at all possible submit any physical evidence (pictures, videos, etc…) that you can, this helps tremendously when it comes to disputes. Disputes can be launched via the Challenge system, by selecting “Dispute” instead of reporting a score.

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  • Again, be advised that a dispute is something that YOU could not work out between your team and the opposing team at the time of the match play.  So by definition you have failed as a team to come to amicable resolution with your opponent. Unless there is a glitch in the TeamCompete score reporting system or roster eligibility dates or match rules agreements, then TeamCompete does not have a problem just because you have a grievance or complaint to make.
  • Please understand that when a team has an issue/problem they should go through proper channels to get the issue resolved.  It does not constitute an emergency on TC staff’s part to solve these disputes. All effort should be made to resolve these problems/issues between the teams involved, if that can’t be done then it should be escalated to the Operations Managers and a dispute resolution hearing will be scheduled.
  • We are not going to consider or give any attention to whining, complaining about non-related issues or other poor loser tactics that teams bring up to try and cover up an embarrassing loss or butt-kicking. TeamCompete does not cheat and our systems does not cheat. Your opponents may cheat but do not try to drag TeamCompete into your cheating problem by bringing up anything about cheating on TC or the integrity of the staff or the site.  You will lose outright and get nothing from us if you lead with the “poor me” complaint. It may also result in disciplinary action, especially if TC staff is in any way abused, insulted or accused or favoratism.

• Cheating - Cheating is not allowed in any form on TC, definitions on what is considered “cheating” will of course vary from game to game. If you are unsure of whether something that is occurring is considered cheating, submit it to the TeamCompete staff privately and we will make an official ruling on it.

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  • By the way, cheating is not something that needs pictures or rule books.  If it entails taking unfair advantage of a feature in the software code that is obviously not a real-world possibility or likely to have NOT been intended by the developers (common sense will tell you if shooting through walls would be intended by the developers) then it is cheating. If it entails attempting to be on multiple teams, playing the same team repeatedly to gain wins or fudging rosters then it is obviously cheating. This is not like little lies and big lies. If you cheat you cheat. There are no shades of grey except under very extenuating circumstances.  And we reserve the right to determine exactly what those circumstances are.

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  • Any member that believes they have found a team that may be cheating should report it to our Site Quality Assurance section of the forums. All posts are completely anonymous to the community and will be discussed behind closed doors. TeamCompete MUST be given time to review any situations that could negatively affect a team’s integrity. Members may also contact an Administrator privately if that is more convenient, however please be sure to contact more then just one Admin.

 Penalties – Penalties will depend on the pending violations. Smaller violations will require smaller penalties with leniency while larger violations will be more severe and much less lenient. With cheating, you can expect to be banned and red listed permanently from TeamCompete, as our zero tolerance policy. We recognize the uniqueness of different situations and will make judgments accordingly, especially ones involving video or photo evidence. Possible penalties may include suspensions, bans, red listing, forfeiture of matches/wins, loss of points, and in worst-case scenarios, permanent expulsion from the site.   

Above all, remember this is a gaming community and it is primarily intended as a place to have fun, winning is great but please enjoy the game and the experience first and foremost. Keep it in perspective these are video games not life & death situations. Use the forums to communicate but use them respectfully.  If you have just played a great match make a post about it in the forums and congratulate both teams for a well-played match.  This is a community and we want you to have fun above all else.