1.1 Purpose

These rules establish a Competition Committee and a standardized competitive ruleset.

1.2 Scope and Rule Priority

These rules apply by default to Mario Strikers League (MSL) competitions and community-organized tournaments.

If a tournament publishes explicit event-specific rule changes, those rules apply only to that event.

Where game-specific rules conflict with universal rules, game-specific rules take precedence.

For unresolved disputes, Tournament Staff decisions are final for the current event.

2.1 Match Administration

Before a set starts, players must confirm host setup, match settings, and any organizer requirements.

If players cannot agree before the set starts, involve Tournament Staff before gameplay. If staff is unavailable, postpone the set until a ruling is possible.

Once players explicitly agree before match start, the agreement is binding unless a material technical or competitive issue occurs.

2.2 Competitive Integrity

All games must use organizer-approved settings and versions. Unapproved gameplay-altering methods are prohibited unless explicitly listed as legal in game-specific rules.

Wired Ethernet is strongly recommended for the most stable competitive match quality and lower latency. It is not mandatory.

Players should use a connection that avoids avoidable disruptions.

Players must cooperate with staff requests for evidence, testing, and match-state reconstruction during disputes.

Players must communicate clearly and act in good faith during setup, gameplay, and dispute resolution.

2.3 Dispute Escalation

When a dispute occurs (for example stalling or integrity concerns), players must pause at the next legal point and request staff review.

Provide video evidence whenever possible. If staff is unavailable, record exact details and suspend the set until review.

Players should not continue play before official review is completed. If they do, retroactive staff action may be limited by available evidence and tournament policy.

3.1 Match Settings

• Match Length: 4:00
• Items: COLORED ? BLOCKS ONLY
• Hyper Strike: OFF
• Gear: ALLOWED

3.2 Match Procedure

1. The first listed player is host (in 2v2, team captain) and creates the lobby with official settings.
2. After all players join, the first listed player/team chooses home side, and the second listed player/team chooses away side.
3. Play the first game.
4. After Game 1, all players select "Rematch." Players must switch defended sides for the next game.
5. Play the next game.
6. Repeat until the match is complete according to the applicable best-of format.
7. If a game is tied after the 2-minute golden-goal period, play an immediate deciding game where first goal wins.

3.3 Gameplay Restrictions

EMBROIDER'S CHIP

• Embroider's Chip is banned.
• This technique chips off the wall around midfield and shoots shortly after, often forcing Boom Boom out of position and creating non-competitive scoring situations.

CHEAT CODES

• Cheat codes are strictly forbidden, including any code-based modifications that alter gameplay.

CUSTOM FIRMWARE / EMULATORS

• Playing tournament matches via custom firmware (CFW) or emulators is prohibited and may result in exclusion from Mario Strikers community tournaments.

Illegal stalling examples include:

• Running the ball back to your keeper, unforced, directly off kickoff.
• Standing still in front of your goalie with possession.

Legal examples include running back to goalie under pressure and clearing the ball off kickoff.

4.1 Disconnections

A disconnect may result in an automatic game loss, but if intent is unclear, match state should be reconstructed as accurately as possible.

If players cannot agree on reconstruction details, staff should decide the official restart procedure.

When reconstruction is approved, restore score, key state conditions, and possession as closely as possible.

If a game-specific disconnection rule exists, that game-specific rule overrides this baseline.

4.2 Restarts and Misconfiguration

Tournament organizers may approve restarts in exceptional circumstances (for example infrastructure or power interruptions).

If settings are misconfigured in a way that could affect the result, request review immediately after that game. Once the next game starts, the prior game is normally locked.

Repeated misconfiguration may result in escalating penalties.

4.3 Stalling Review

Stalling or excessive delay may result in game or set forfeiture at organizer discretion.

If a player believes stalling occurred, formally call it, preserve evidence, and request staff review before continuing.

Without sufficient evidence, staff action may be limited. If staff is unavailable, suspend the set and resume after review.

4.4 Pause Protocol

Mid-game pauses are allowed only for urgent technical issues or real-life emergencies, preferably in non-contested states.

Unauthorized pauses may result in automatic game forfeiture unless both players agree to a resolution or a true emergency is confirmed.

4.5 Penalty Ladder

Rules violations are subject to penalties including, but not limited to:

• Game restart
• Loss of a game
• Loss of a match
• Tournament forfeiture

Any imposed penalty may be made public at organizer discretion.

4.6 Disconnection Rule Set

If a disconnect occurs within the first 30 seconds, restart the game. If the first disconnect occurs after 30 seconds, start a new game and recreate exact score and time using screenshot or clip evidence.

• The player who had possession at disconnect regains possession when play resumes.
• If possession was neutral, possession is decided by coin flip on resumption.
• Neither player may hold items when game resumes.
• If a player disconnects a second time in the same match, that player forfeits the current game and all remaining games in that match. The opponent is awarded the game shown by the in-game message "Your opponent has left the match. The win goes to you!".

4.7 Lag Investigation Flow

If a game is lagging, complete the game first. The result may be invalidated and replayed after review. If a player abandons the game, that player forfeits it.

• Both players should provide lag evidence clips when possible.
• Both players must run a Nintendo Switch connection test and provide screenshots.
• Tournament Staff may run additional connection checks to identify likely source.
• If no source can be identified, the match must continue to completion. In unresolved cases, Tournament Staff may decide by coin flip.

4.8 Additional Penalty Range

In addition to baseline penalties, MSBL enforcement may include exclusion from future tournaments.

If a host repeatedly fails to set correct settings after restart/replay directives, that host forfeits the current game.

5.1 Scheduling Expectations

Scheduling with your opponent is part of competitive play. Communicate early and often.

• Players have real-life responsibilities; respect scheduled set times.
• If you cannot make a scheduled time, notify your opponent as early as possible.

5.2 Delay and No-Show Penalties

When players mutually agree on an official set time, late arrival or no-show without communication triggers these penalties:

• 0-10 minutes late: No penalty
• 10-20 minutes late: Loss of 1 pick (opponent gets first two picks in Game 1 setup)
• 20-40 minutes late: Forfeit of Game 1
• 40-60 minutes late: Forfeit of Games 1 and 2
• More than 60 minutes late or no-show: Forfeit of the set

5.3 Emergency Clause

Tournament Staff may rescind penalties and allow rescheduling for valid emergencies that prevented prior communication.

Abuse of this clause is prohibited. Repeated emergency claims may be denied at staff discretion.

5.4 Pressuring

Set times must be mutually agreed. Short-notice play is allowed only by mutual agreement.

Players must not pressure opponents into playing. Staff may penalize pressuring behavior.

Examples include:

• Excessive pinging.
• Demanding immediate play by claiming your schedule cannot otherwise meet the deadline.

6.1 Behavior Standards

Players must show good sportsmanship and respect toward opponents and tournament organizers. Players must compete in good faith and avoid behavior inconsistent with honesty and fair play. Inappropriate behavior includes, but is not limited to:

• Interfering with tournament operation
• Acting in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or annoying, abusing, threatening, or harassing others
• Engaging in collusion (for example any agreement to predetermine outcomes)
• Cheating by any means
• Intentionally delaying or tampering with gameplay
• Offensive, vulgar, or obscene gamertags
• Sexism, ageism, racism, or any other form of prejudice or bigotry
• Engaging in violence or behavior deemed immoral, unethical, disgraceful, or indecent by tournament owners
• Offering gifts or rewards to gain competitive advantage or create competitive disadvantage for opponents
• Otherwise violating these rules