2026 Term 1 Minecraft: Capture the Flag

About This Competition

This is not standard Minecraft. In the AEL “Capture the Flag” (CTF) Championship, students enter a custom-built competitive arena where creativity meets combat strategy. Teams must work together to gather resources, engineer defensive fortifications, and launch coordinated attacks to capture the enemy flag. It transforms the familiar Minecraft sandbox into a high-stakes lesson in resource management and spatial planning.

Minecraft (Rated PG) CTF is the ultimate “Intro to Esports.” It leverages a game almost every student already knows to teach advanced concepts like division of labor (assigning specific roles), architectural defense (building walls and traps), and economy management (spending resources wisely). It is inclusive, non-violent, and highly strategic.

Format & Structure

• League Phases: Week 1 features a Swiss style ranking round after in which teams are placed into divisions for Weeks 2-4, ensuring students are matched against opponents of similar skill levels each week.
• Finals: The top-ranked teams progress to the elimination playoffs over Weeks 5-6, culminating in a National Grand Final.
• Squad Size: Matches are played 5v5. Schools may register squads of 5 players (substitutes are allowed) and must ensure they can field a team every week.

Eligibility

This competition is open to all students currently enrolled in Years 7 through 12 at an Australian secondary school.

Team Restrictions

• No Limit: Schools may enter as many teams as they wish.
• Team Size: Teams consist of 5 main players.
• Substitutes: Schools may utilize substitute players provided the AEL is notified prior to the match start time.

What You Need to Know

Technical Requirements

• Played on PC (Windows 10/11, Mac, Chromebook, or iPad).
• School networks must allow a stable internet connection to game servers if playing from school.

Equipment

• Students may use either a Controller (recommended) or Keyboard & Mouse.
• Students must supply their own equipment to play, or if otherwise permitted utilise school equipment.
• If playing from school, please ensure network security settings allow for P2P connections if required by the console.

Communication & Support

• We use the AEL Teachers Hub (Microsoft Teams) for all day-to-day communication.
• Once registered, you will receive an invite to this Hub where you can report match results, notify us of absentees, and chat directly with tournament admins.