Welcome to another exciting season of the AEL Schools Esports program! We’re thrilled to bring back your students’ favourite games and introduce new titles as we continue to keep our competitions fresh. Whether you’re a returning school looking to jump straight into the action or a newcomer wanting to explore how esports can benefit your students, this guide covers everything you need to get started.
Term 1 Key Dates & Deadlines
- Registration Deadline: 14 February
- Tournament Start Date: 15 February
- Tournament End Date: 22 March
These dates are critical for getting your teams organised, registered, and prepared for the season ahead. Late entries may not be accommodated, so we strongly recommend finalising your rosters and submitting your registrations before 14 February.
Detailed Game Lineup
In 2025 we are introducing new games and continuing with existing games. In Term 1, we have a diverse roster of titles to cater to different interests and skill levels:
- Rocket League
- Team Size: 3–5 players
- Format: 3v3 matches, teams work to advance the ball down the field, and score goals in their opponents’ net.
- Key Skills: Teamwork, precision, quick reflexes
- Overwatch 2
- Team Size: 5–7 players
- Format: 5v5 hero-based shooter, teams will work together to complete the match objectives.
- Key Skills: Strategy, communication, role coordination
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Team Size: Solo (1 student)
- Format: 1v1 platform fighter, students will work to knock each other off the stages to reduce their opponents stocks to zero.
- Key Skills: Spatial awareness, timing, adaptability
- Minecraft Education: Capture the Flag
- Team Size: 5–7 players
- Format: Team-based CTF, students work together to capture the opposing team’s flag and bring it back to their base to score a point.
- Key Skills: Creativity, collaboration, resource management
- Trackmania
- Team Size: Solo (1 student)
- Format: Time-trial racing, students race against the clock on tracks filled with jumps, loops, and other obstacles.
- Key Skills: Precision, problem-solving, quick decision-making
- Marvel Rivals (NEW)
- Team Size: 6–8 players
- Format: 6v6 hero-based shooter, teams will work together to complete the match objectives.
- Key Skills: Strategic planning, communication, quick thinking
- Brawlhalla (NEW)
- Team Size: Solo (1 student)
- Format: 1v1 platform fighter, students will work to reduce their opponents lives to zero.
- Key Skills: Reflexes, hand–eye coordination, adaptability
Entry Packages & Formats
Each game has its own entry package based on team size and platform requirements. An entry by a school is counted per the team size for each game. Schools can enter multiple teams or multiple games—there’s no limit on how many entries one school can submit. Below is a quick breakdown:
- Rocket League: $75 per entry
- Overwatch 2: $125 per entry
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: $25 per entry
- Minecraft Education: Capture the Flag: $145 per entry
- Trackmania: $25 per entry
- Marvel Rivals: $150 per entry
- Brawlhalla: $25 per entry
Encourage interested students to form teams early and coordinate payment with your school’s administration.
Match Schedules & Broadcasts
- Every Saturday, matches will be held in two sessions:
- Morning Session (from 10:30am AEDT):
- Minecraft Education: Capture the Flag
- Overwatch 2
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Trackmania
- Afternoon Session (from 1:00pm AEDT):
- Rocket League
- Marvel Rivals
- Brawlhalla
- Morning Session (from 10:30am AEDT):
We’ll be broadcasting select games on our official channels, and weekly results for each game will be published on the AEL website. Stay tuned to our social media for live match alerts and highlights!
Whilst we can’t broadcast every match, we are focused on showcasing talent and sharing as much coverage as possible over each tournament for all to see and share.
How to Register
Registering is quick and easy:
- Gather Your Team(s): Decide which games your school will compete in.
- Visit Our Registration Portal: AEL Registration Portal
- Complete the Form: Provide team details, a contact teacher/coach, and select your games.
- Confirmation: You’ll receive a confirmation email with next steps, match schedules, and any additional resources.
- Submit for Payment: Our team will be in contact with an invoice for your school’s administration to process.
If you have any issues or questions during the registration process, reach out to us via email at [email protected]
Quick Tips for Teachers
- Start Small: If you’re new to esports, start with one game and one or two teams. Our team has plenty of information and resources to assist in growing your club.
- Encourage Inclusion: Invite students from different backgrounds, esports thrives on a variety of perspectives. Esports, like any sport, is about participation and community and can stoke your students enthusiasm.
- Appoint Team Captains: Having a student leader helps with organizing scrims (practice sessions) and ensuring team cohesion. Consider who could be your school’s Esports captain!
- Schedule Practices: Consistent practice times foster commitment and improvement. This can be organised at school or for students online from home.
- Stay Connected: Stay in touch with our team. Discord is the primary place of communication with students for all tournament matters. We will have private channels for members of the school to utilise along with channels for each team (if you have multiple teams) to be used for tactics and team-related information. All students must join the AEL discord server for their relevant game, the link to which will be emailed to your teacher upon completing the registration form. Anyone attempting to join the server must be ‘verified’ against the information given to us by the registering teacher. Any unverified accounts attempting to join will not be able to see any channels or anyone else in the discord server.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Who can participate?
A: Any students enrolled in a participating school. Teams are organized by the school’s teachers or esports coordinators.
Q: Can a student join multiple games?
A: Yes. A student may compete in a game from the morning session and a game from the afternoon session – please ensure they aren’t double-booked!
Q: What equipment do we need?
A: Each game has slightly different requirements, but typically you’ll need reliable internet, computers or consoles (depending on the title), and a copy of the game. Check each game’s guidelines or contact us for details.
Q: Will the tournament be online only or do we have any LAN events?
A: For Term 1, matches are online. Stay tuned to our announcements for any special in-person events or finals. In 2025 the AEL will be hosting live school events in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide. Our nationals will be held in Melbourne with detailed information provided in Term 2.
Q: How can parents and school administrators watch?
A: We’ll broadcast select matches on our streaming platforms. Follow our Facebook, Twitch, and YouTube channels for live streams and recorded highlights.
Ready to Level Up Your School’s Esports Scene?
Don’t miss out on the Term 1 action! Register your teams before 14 February and get ready for a thrilling season of esports competition. If you have any further questions or need assistance plaese feel free to contact us at [email protected]
We look forward to welcoming you and your students to another unforgettable AEL Schools Esports experience—best of luck to all teams!
The Australian Esports League is proudly sponsored by AGON by AOC our gaming monitor partner and Indomie Australia our noodle partner.
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