2026 Term 2 VALORANT

About This Competition

In the AEL “VALORANT Championship,” students enter a high-intensity tactical arena where precision meets teamwork. Teams must coordinate executes, manage their economy, control key areas of the map, and outplay opponents through strategy, communication, and mechanical skill. Each round is a test of decision-making under pressure, blending individual performance with tight team coordination.

VALORANT (Rated M) in a school esports context focuses on structured, supervised competition that emphasises communication, teamwork, and strategic thinking. It introduces students to core esports concepts such as economy management (buy/save rounds), role specialisation (duelist, initiator, controller, sentinel), and tactical coordination (site executes, rotations, and retakes). The result is a highly engaging and competitive environment that builds collaboration, critical thinking, and composure under pressure.

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

• VALORANT is played on PC (Windows 10/11).
• A stable internet connection is required to connect to game servers, particularly for low-latency competitive play.
• If playing from school, networks must allow outbound connections to Riot game servers and support real-time voice and gameplay traffic.

Equipment

• Students must use Keyboard & Mouse (standard for VALORANT competitive play).
• Students are expected to supply their own peripherals (keyboard, mouse, headset), or utilise school-provided equipment where available.
• A headset with microphone is strongly recommended to support clear in-game communication.
• 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.