Intramural League

1. Competition Eligibility

1.1 Qualifying Participants

Tournament participants must be an active and current member of Florida State University, Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, or Tallahassee State College in some capacity. This includes students, staff, or faculty members. This does not include alumni.

1.2 Account Requirements

Eligible Nintendo Account

Players must have a Nintendo account in good standing and eligible for competitive games in order to compete. This same account must be used for all matches during official competition. Players may not have more than one account listed on the roster.

Account Bans

If a player receives a ban due to in-game behavior or Terms of Service violations, that player is not eligible to participate in the season until the ban is lifted. If a player receives a permanent ban during the season, they are no longer eligible for the remainder of the season. This rule applies to all accounts owned by a player, not just their registered account.

1.3 Player Inactivity

Inactive players or players who are not in communication with the Intramural Host, League Staff, and their opponent will forfeit their matches and be eliminated from the tournament.

2. Participant Rules

2.1 Roster Size

Players will register as individuals through GGLeap software. Players are not permitted to replace themselves with substitutes during the competition.

2.2 Competition Listing

All tournament participants will be displayed on the competition website, Garnet Gaming Lounge competition page , as well as on the competition Excel spreadsheet in the intramural Discord channel. The competition listing will reflect all participants' status in the tournament.

2.3 Account Name Restrictions

Account names may not contain vulgarities, obscenities, or anything that could not be displayed under the Florida State University image. These restrictions will be applied solely at the discretion of the Intramural Hosts and GGL Staff.

2.4 Name Approval

Intramural Hosts and GGL Staff reserve the right to modify participants' names if they do not reflect the standards expressed in Section 2.3 or are not acceptable under university administration requirements.

A player will be notified by the Intramural Host or GGL Staff if their name must be changed and will be permitted to select an acceptable name.

3. Match Process

3.1 Definition of Key Terms

Game

A single competition played between two players. A game consists of one competition in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Match

Tournament play between two players that may consist of multiple games.

Best-of-X

A type of match consisting of multiple games wherein players play until one player wins a majority of the specified number of games.

Double Elimination Bracket

A bracket in which players compete against other players. A player will be eliminated from the Double Elimination Bracket after losing two matches.

Bracket Reset

A scenario in which a player who has not previously lost a match in a Double Elimination Bracket loses a match in the Grand Finals, requiring an additional Grand Finals set.

3.2 Tournament Structure

The Intramural League will consist of a single Double Elimination bracket. Players will compete in a traditional tournament bracket. The winner of each match will advance in the bracket, while the losing player will move to the loser's bracket or, if already in the loser's bracket, will be eliminated from the Intramural League.

All Double Elimination Bracket matches will be Best-of-Three (Bo3) series unless otherwise specified in these rules.

3.3 Competition Structure

The Intramural Host and competition staff may change the structure of the Intramural League before competition begins in accordance with the goal of making the Intramural League sufficiently competitive and enjoyable.

3.4 Competitive Version

The Intramural League will use the current official version of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate available for competitive play at the time of the tournament.

3.5 Setup and Player Responsibilities for Matches

All players are expected to be ready to begin their match at the agreed-upon match time. Readiness includes, but is not limited to:

• Being present in the Garnet Gaming Lounge.
• Being ready to enter the game.
• Having completed required game or system updates.
• Having configured the required in-game settings.
• Having all required controllers and peripherals ready for use.

3.6 Schedule Adjustments by Hosts

Intramural Hosts and GGL Staff, in their sole discretion, have the right to adjust the match schedule at any time to preserve the pacing of the tournament or to remedy circumstances that may detract from the viewer experience.

3.7 Match Scheduling

Matches occur during specific date ranges according to their location in the bracket. These dates are listed below.

The first round begins on September 14. Players may agree to schedule matches at any point during the applicable round.

Scheduling matches will occur through written messages between the players. Once an agreement has been reached, players must send a screenshot of the agreed-upon time and date in the appropriate channel of the Intramural Discord.

The agreed-upon time will be considered the official match time for purposes of lateness and forfeits.

If players cannot agree upon a time within the applicable round, the match must be played at the default time listed below. Players may not schedule matches outside of the specified round because doing so may negatively impact the tournament bracket.

3.8 Final Match

The final match, Round 10, must occur during the specified date and time. This is to guarantee that production staff can be present for the match to be streamed on the Garnet Gaming Lounge social media channels.

3.9 Match Reschedules

Players may agree to reschedule their matches to a different time, provided that the match begins before the applicable round deadline.

Rescheduling will occur through written messages between all involved players. Once completed, players must send a screenshot of the agreed-upon reschedule in the appropriate channel of the Intramural Discord.

If players agree to a reschedule, the agreed-upon time will be considered the official match time for purposes of lateness and forfeits.

If players cannot agree on a different time, the match must be played at the default time listed in Section 3.7.

Intramural Hosts and GGL Staff reserve the right to uphold or reject reschedule requests at their sole discretion.

To avoid misuse of the reschedule process, any reschedule request accepted less than 24 hours before the proposed reschedule time must be confirmed a second time by the rescheduling player before becoming official. Intramural Hosts and GGL Staff may invalidate a reschedule request that does not meet this requirement.

3.10 Lateness Penalties

A player will automatically forfeit their match if they are not present in the Garnet Gaming Lounge and have not communicated their whereabouts to the Intramural Host or League Staff within five minutes of their official match start time.

Intentionally delaying the game start will still subject the player to applicable penalties.

3.11 Pause Process

Players may pause the game for technical issues subject to the limits expressed in Section 3.12.

After a pause, the pausing player must verbally declare the reason for the pause. When the pausing player is ready to resume play, both players must verbally declare that they are ready before the pausing player may unpause the game.

3.12 Pause Allowance

Players may pause the game for a maximum of three minutes or two independent pauses, whichever limit is reached first.

Pausing beyond the allowed limit will be considered unfair play, and penalties may be applied at the discretion of tournament officials.

3.13 Abuse of Pause Requests

If a player is determined to be attempting to abuse the pause mechanic to gain an unfair advantage over their opponent, they will be subject to penalties in accordance with Section 5.7.

Examples of abuse include, but are not limited to:

• False calls for pauses.
• Repeated calls for pauses for the same issue.
• Using pauses to intentionally disrupt the opponent.

3.14 Match Location

Players are required to play their Intramural matches in the Garnet Gaming Lounge.

3.15 Player Equipment Responsibility

Players are not responsible for problems occurring with GGL-provided equipment. Pauses and reschedules resulting from malfunctions of GGL-provided equipment will not be held against the affected player.

Players are responsible for ensuring the proper performance of their own peripherals. A problem with a player's personal equipment is not an acceptable reason for lateness or pausing beyond the player's allowance, regardless of the root cause of the problem.

3.16 Final Match Streaming

The final match of the Intramural League will be streamed by Garnet Gaming Lounge staff and the Esports at FSU Productions Team.

4. Lobby and Game Setup

4.1 Lobby Setup

The following game settings must be used:

• Ruleset: 3 Stock
• Time Limit: 7 minutes
• Items: Off
• Stage Selection: Anyone
• Stage Hazards: Off
• Final Smash Meter: Off
• Spirits: Off
• Damage Handicap: Off
• First To: 1 Win
• Launch Rate: 1.0x
• Underdog Boost: Off
• Score Display: Off
• Show Damage: Yes
• Custom Balance: Off
• Echo Fighters: Separate
• Radar: Big

5. Map Rules

5.1 Map Identity

Maps are separated into Starter and Counterpick maps. Only Starter maps may be used for the first game of a match. For all following games, both Starter and Counterpick maps may be selected.

5.2 Starter Maps

• Battlefield
• Pokémon Stadium 2
• Small Battlefield
• Town and City

5.3 Counterpick Maps

• Final Destination
• Smashville
• Hollow Bastion
• Yoshi's Story
• Kalos Pokémon League

5.4 Map Selection Order

For all matches except the Grand Final, players will use either a die roll (evens or odds) or a coin toss (heads or tails) to determine who selects the first map.

The winner of the dice roll or coin toss may choose to relinquish first map selection to the other player.

For the Grand Final, the player coming from the Winner's Bracket will choose the first map.

For all games after the first game in a match, the player who lost the previous game shall choose the map.

6. Score Reporting

After each match, the winning player is responsible for reporting the score on the tournament platform, GGLeap, and in the appropriate Intramural Discord channel.

7. Restrictions on Gameplay Elements

Restrictions may be added at any time before or during a match if there are known bugs with characters, skins, maps, or other gameplay elements, or for any other reason determined at the discretion of the Intramural Host.

8. Game Rules

8.1 Game of Record

A Game of Record (GOR) refers to a game in which both players have loaded and the game has progressed to a point of meaningful interaction between the players.

Once a game attains GOR status, the period during which incidental restarts may be permitted ends, and the game is considered official. After GOR has been established, game restarts will be allowed only under limited conditions.

A game is considered to have achieved GOR status once any of the following conditions are met during the first round of play:

• Elimination: Either player loses a stock.
• Damage: Either player receives more than 30% damage to their stock.
• Time Elapsed: One minute (01:00) has passed from the start of the game.

8.2 Directed Pause

The Intramural Host or GGL Staff may order a pause of a match or execute a pause command at any time for any reason, at their sole discretion.

8.3 Game Restart

If a game experiences a critical bug at any point during the match that significantly alters game statistics or gameplay mechanics, or if external environmental conditions at a live event become untenable, a restart may occur.

Certain circumstances must be met before a restart may occur. The Intramural Host must determine that the bug is both critical and verifiable.

For a bug to be considered critical, the bug must significantly damage a player's ability to compete in the game situation. The determination of whether a bug has damaged a player's ability to compete is at the sole discretion of the Intramural Host.

For a bug to be considered verifiable, the bug must be conclusively present and not possibly attributable to player error. The spectator must then be able to replay the instance and verify the bug.

If a player believes they have experienced a critical bug, they must pause the game and alert a referee or Intramural Host in a timely manner.

If it is determined that a player intentionally delayed reporting a bug in order to seek a potential restart at a more advantageous time, a restart may no longer be granted.

8.4 Restart Procedure

If the Intramural Host determines that a bug is critical and verifiable and that the player followed the pause protocol, the disadvantaged player will be presented with the option for a restart.

If the player accepts, the game will immediately be restarted.

If the restart occurred due to a character bug, settings will no longer be retained regardless of Game of Record status, and the character will be made ineligible for at least the remainder of the day's matches unless the bug can be conclusively tied to a specific game element that can be fully removed, such as a disabled skin.

If a player is offered a restart and declines, that player will be ineligible to request another restart based on the same bug for the remainder of the match.

The Intramural Host and GGL Staff reserve the right at all times to force a game restart if the game environment reaches a level of instability that compromises the competitive integrity of the game.

8.5 Awarded Game Victory

In the event of a technical difficulty that would lead to a partial or full restart, but significant constraints make it impossible to restart the game, the Intramural Host may instead award a game victory to a player at the host's sole discretion.

8.6 Mid-Match Break

Players are entitled to a break of at least five minutes between games of a match.

Players may agree to a longer or shorter break. If no agreement can be reached, lateness time will begin counting at exactly five minutes.

Players are subject to lateness penalties under Section 3.10 if they are not ready to begin after the break period ends.

8.7 Results of Forfeiture

Matches won by forfeit will be reported by the minimum score required for one player to win the match.

• Best-of-Three: 2–0

9. Player Conduct

9.1 Code of Conduct

All players must read and accept the official Florida State University Student Conduct Code. Failure to abide by this conduct code may warrant penalties in the Intramural League at the discretion of the Intramural Host or GGL Staff.

9.2 Reporting Violations

Conduct violations of any kind may be reported to any Intramural Host or GGL Staff member by Discord, email, or in-person discussion at the Garnet Gaming Lounge.

10. Competition Conduct

10.1 Unfair Play

The following actions will be considered unfair play and may be subject to penalties at the discretion of the Intramural Host or GGL Staff.

10.2 Collusion

Collusion is defined as any agreement among two or more players and/or confederates to disadvantage opposing players.

Collusion includes, but is not limited to:

• Soft play: An agreement among two or more players not to damage, impede, or otherwise play to a reasonable standard of competition in a game.
• Pre-arranging to split any form of competition or prize.
• Sending or receiving signals, electronic or otherwise, from a confederate to or from a player.
• Deliberately losing a game for compensation or for any other reason, or attempting to induce another player to do so.

10.3 Hacking

Hacking is defined as any unauthorized modification of the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate game or game system by any player or person acting on behalf of a player.

10.4 Exploiting

Exploiting is defined as intentionally using any in-game bug or any feature that is not working as intended, at the sole discretion of the Intramural Host, to seek an advantage.

10.5 Ringing

Ringing includes playing under another player's account or soliciting, inducing, encouraging, or directing someone else to play under another player's account.

10.6 Cheating Devices

The use of any kind of cheating device or cheat program is prohibited.

10.7 Official Discretion

Any other act, failure to act, or behavior which, in the sole judgment of the Intramural Host, violates these Rules or standards of competitive integrity established by the Intramural Host and GGL Staff may be considered a violation.

10.8 Profanity and Hate Speech

A player may not use language that is obscene, foul, vulgar, insulting, threatening, abusive, libelous, slanderous, defamatory, or otherwise offensive or objectionable. Players may not promote or incite hatred or discriminatory conduct in or near the match area at any time.

This rule also applies to public social media, live streams, and player communications during live events.

10.9 Disruptive Behavior and Insults

A player may not take any action or perform any gesture directed at an opposing player, fan, or official, or incite another individual to do the same, when that conduct is insulting, mocking, disruptive, or antagonistic.

10.10 Abusive Behavior

Abuse of the Intramural Host, GGL Staff, opposing players, or audience members will not be tolerated.

Repeated etiquette violations, including but not limited to touching another player's computer, body, or property, may result in penalties.

Players and their guests must treat all individuals attending a match with respect.

10.11 Unprofessional Behavior

Players are expected to conduct themselves professionally and respectfully throughout the Intramural League, including during matches, communications, events, streams, and interactions with staff and other participants.

10.12 Responsibility Under the Code

Unless expressly stated otherwise, offenses and infringements of these Rules are punishable whether or not they were committed intentionally. Attempts to commit such offenses or infringements are also punishable.

10.13 Harassment

Harassment is forbidden. Harassment is defined as systematic, hostile, and repeated acts taking place over a considerable period of time, or a singular instance, that is intended to isolate or ostracize a person or affect that person's dignity.

10.14 Disparagement, Discrimination, and Denigration

Players shall not make, publish, disseminate, or communicate online or in any public forum defamatory or disparaging remarks, comments, or statements concerning:

1. Florida State University, the Student Union, the Garnet Gaming Lounge, or associated organizations.
2. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Nintendo, or associated software, products, or services.
3. Any other participating player.
4. Any other participating organization or team.

Players may not engage in any activity or practice that brings participants into public disrepute, scandal, or ridicule or materially damages their public image.

Players may not engage in conduct that adversely impacts the image or reputation of Florida State University, the Garnet Gaming Lounge, or other participating individuals or organizations.

Players may not offend the dignity or integrity of a country, private person, or group of people through contemptuous, discriminatory, or denigrating words or actions based on race, skin color, ethnic, national or social origin, gender, language, religion, political opinion or any other opinion, financial status, birth, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected or personal characteristic.

10.15 Ban Evasion

A player may not attempt to compete while ineligible due to disciplinary action or account bans by using a secondary, alternate, or otherwise unauthorized account.

10.16 Criminal Activity

A player may not engage in activity prohibited by applicable law that leads to, or may reasonably be deemed likely to lead to, conviction in a court of competent jurisdiction.

10.17 Moral Turpitude

A player may not engage in activity that is deemed by College Season officials to be immoral, disgraceful, or contrary to conventional standards of proper ethical behavior.

10.18 Bribery

No player may offer any gift or reward to another player, Intramural Host, or GGL Staff member for services promised, rendered, or to be rendered in defeating or attempting to defeat a competing player.

10.19 Non-Compliance

No player may refuse or fail to comply with the instructions or decisions of the Intramural Host or GGL Staff.

10.20 Match-Fixing

No player may offer, agree, conspire, or attempt to influence the outcome of a game or match by any means prohibited by law or these Rules.

10.21 Association with Gambling

No player may take part, either directly or indirectly, in betting or gambling on the results of any Intramural League competition or match.

10.22 Subjection to Penalty

Any person found to have engaged in or attempted to engage in any act that the Intramural Host or GGL Staff believe, in their sole and absolute discretion, constitutes unfair play will be subject to penalty.

The nature and extent of penalties imposed due to such acts shall be determined at the sole discretion of the Intramural Host and GGL Staff.

11. Penalties

Upon discovery of a player committing any violation of the rules listed above, the Intramural Host and GGL Staff may issue the following penalties, without limitation of their authority under these Rules:

• Verbal warning
• Loss of map selection for the current or future game
• Game forfeiture
• Match forfeiture
• Player suspension
• Player disqualification

Repeated infractions are subject to escalating penalties, up to and including disqualification from future participation in the Intramural League.

Penalties may not always be imposed in a successive manner. The Intramural Host and GGL Staff may, in their sole discretion, disqualify a player for a first offense if the player's actions are deemed sufficiently egregious to warrant disqualification.

11.1 Cross-League Penalties

The Intramural Host and GGL Staff reserve the right to honor penalties incurred in other intramural leagues, and vice versa.

11.2 Right to Publish

The Garnet Gaming Lounge shall have the right to publish a declaration stating that a player has been penalized.

12. Spirit of the Rules

12.1 Finality of Decisions

All decisions regarding the interpretation of these Rules, player eligibility, scheduling and staging of the Intramural League, and penalties for misconduct shall be determined by the Intramural Host and GGL Staff. Their decisions are final.

Intramural League decisions with respect to these Rules cannot be appealed.

12.2 Rule Changes

These Rules may be amended, modified, or supplemented by the Intramural Host or GGL Staff from time to time in order to ensure fair play and maintain the integrity of the Intramural League.

12.3 Best Interest of the Intramural League

The Intramural Host and GGL Staff may, at all times, exercise the authority necessary to preserve the best interests of the Intramural League.

This authority is not constrained by the absence of specific language in this document. The Intramural Host and GGL Staff may use appropriate punitive actions against any entity whose conduct is determined to be inconsistent with the best interests of the Intramural League.