2025 AEL High Schools Competition
The AEL High Schools competition is your gateway to nationwide esports competition! Represent your school, showcase your gaming skills, and build lasting friendships in our structured, action-packed tournaments. Esports isn’t just about playing games – it develops teamwork, strategy, and communication skills.
Compete throughout the school year and showcase your talents in a variety of games and tournaments conducted during each term of the school year. The best team in each tournament will earn their school a trophy and the top three teams in each division are recognized with medals and merit certificates.
Registration form must be completed by an educator.
Register
Tournament Info
Team Size
3-5 (3 core + up to 2 subs)
Platform
PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch & PC
Schedule
Term 2
Game Day 1 (Swiss Ranking Tournament): Saturday, 10th May, 1pm AEST
Game Day 2: Saturday, 17th May, 1pm AEST
Game Day 3: Saturday, 24th May, 1pm AEST
Game Day 4: Saturday, 31st May, 1pm AEST
Game Day 5: Saturday, 7th June, 1pm AEST
Game Day 6: Saturday, 14th June, 1pm AEST
Format
Swiss Ranking Tournament
Swiss: each round, teams will be paired up against a team with the same number of match wins, teams will continue to compete until a predetermined number of rounds are completed.
This will take place in a single day and the results will be used to sort teams into divisions.
League play
Round robin: teams will complete a match each against all other teams within their division.
This will take place over multiple game days and the results will be used to determine the seeding for the playoffs
Playoffs
Single elimination: the top teams (amount to be determined), within their respective divisions, will complete matches against each other, the loser of each match will be eliminated and the winner advances to the next round until only one team remains and is declared the winner
League Play and Playoffs scheduling will be provided at close of registrations. The League Play and Playoffs dates will occur during Game Days 2-6. Not all teams will be required on Game Day 6.
Discord
Discord is the primary place of communication with students for all tournament matters.
All students must join the relevant AEL Discord servers, which is provided at the completion of student and educator registrations (and via email).
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 view channels or interact with the Discord.
Team Size
6-8 (6 core + up to 2 subs)
Platform
PlayStation, Xbox & PC
Schedule
Term 2
Game Day 1 (Swiss Ranking Tournament): Saturday, 10th May, 1:30pm AEST
Game Day 2: Saturday, 17th May, 1:30pm AEST
Game Day 3: Saturday, 24th May, 1:30pm AEST
Game Day 4: Saturday, 31st May, 1:30pm AEST
Game Day 5: Saturday, 7th June, 1:30pm AEST
Game Day 6: Saturday, 14th June, 1:30pm AEST
Format
Swiss Ranking Tournament
Swiss: each round, teams will be paired up against a team with the same number of match wins, teams will continue to compete until a predetermined number of rounds are completed.
This will take place in a single day and the results will be used to sort teams into divisions.
League play
Round robin: teams will complete a match each against all other teams within their division.
This will take place over multiple game days and the results will be used to determine the seeding for the playoffs
Playoffs
Single elimination: the top teams (amount to be determined), within their respective divisions, will complete matches against each other, the loser of each match will be eliminated and the winner advances to the next round until only one team remains and is declared the winner
League Play and Playoffs scheduling will be provided at close of registrations. The League Play and Playoffs dates will occur during Game Days 2-6. Not all teams will be required on Game Day 6.
Discord
Discord is the primary place of communication with students for all tournament matters.
All students must join the relevant AEL Discord servers, which is provided at the completion of student and educator registrations (and via email).
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 view channels or interact with the Discord.
Team Size
1 student
Platform
Playstation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC and MacOS
Schedule
Term 2
Game Day 1 (Swiss Ranking Tournament): Saturday, 10th May, 1pm AEST
Game Day 2: Saturday, 17th May, 1pm AEST
Game Day 3: Saturday, 24th May, 1pm AEST
Game Day 4: Saturday, 31st May, 1pm AEST
Game Day 5: Saturday, 7th June, 1pm AEST
Game Day 6: Saturday, 14th June, 1pm AEST
Format
For Weeks 1-5, students will enter a swiss ranking competition. Students will compete in the swiss ranking competition to earn points on a leaderboard. Students are expected to play up to 5 matches each week (contingent on number of checked-in students).
For Weeks 6, top students will be allocated into a bracket to determine the ultimate champion for the term.
Discord
Discord is the primary place of communication with students for all tournament matters.
All students must join the relevant AEL Discord servers, which is provided at the completion of student and educator registrations (and via email).
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 view channels or interact with the Discord.
Team Size
1 student
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Schedule
Term 2
Game Day 1 : Saturday, 10th May, 10:30am AEST
Game Day 2: Saturday, 17th May, 10:30am AEST
Game Day 3: Saturday, 24th May, 10:30am AEST
Game Day 4: Saturday, 31st May, 10:30am AEST
Game Day 5: Saturday, 7th June, 10:30am AEST
Game Day 6: Saturday, 14th June, 10:30am AEST
Format
For Weeks 1-5, students will enter a swiss ranking competition. Students will compete in the swiss ranking competition to earn points on a leaderboard. Students are expected to play up to 5 matches each week (contingent on number of checked-in students).
For Weeks 6, top students will be allocated into a bracket to determine the ultimate champion for the term.
Discord
Discord is the primary place of communication with students for all tournament matters.
All students must join the relevant AEL Discord servers, which is provided at the completion of student and educator registrations (and via email).
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 view channels or interact with the Discord.
Team Size
1 student
Platform
PlayStation, Xbox & PC
Club
Each student will require a paid ‘Club’ subscription
More info here: https://www.trackmania.com/access
Schedule
Term 2
Game Day 1 : Saturday, 10th May, 10:30am AEST
Game Day 2: Saturday, 17th May, 10:30am AEST
Game Day 3: Saturday, 24th May, 10:30am AEST
Game Day 4: Saturday, 31st May, 10:30am AEST
Game Day 5: Saturday, 7th June, 10:30am AEST
Game Day 6: Saturday, 14th June, 10:30am AEST
Format
Format will be fully determined once registrations close.
Students are entered into a ‘grand prix’ system every week. Students will all join the same competition server and race each other without collision. Players will be awarded points on each round (noted as each track). A track is played 5-10 times in each period.
Tracks will be announced via Discord each week.
Discord
Discord is the primary place of communication with students for all tournament matters.
All students must join the relevant AEL Discord servers, which is provided at the completion of student and educator registrations (and via email).
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 view channels or interact with the Discord.
Team Size
5 students + 2 substitutes
Platform
Windows, Chromebook & MacOS
Minecraft Education
Each student will require Minecraft Education. Competition accounts will be provided to students prior to competition start.
Schedule
Term 2
Game Day 1 : Saturday, 10th May, 10:30am AEST
Game Day 2: Saturday, 17th May, 10:30am AEST
Game Day 3: Saturday, 24th May, 10:30am AEST
Game Day 4: Saturday, 31st May, 10:30am AEST
Game Day 5: Saturday, 7th June, 10:30am AEST
Game Day 6: Saturday, 14th June, 10:30am AEST
Format
As an introductory offering, Minecraft Capture the Flag will only allow one team per school – additional slots may be available. A maximum of 16 teams will be allowed to compete in Minecraft CTF.
The format is subject to change based on number of teams registered.
Microsoft Teams
Minecraft CTF utilises Microsoft Teams as the communication platform. Students will be required to provide their student email address for access to a Microsoft ‘Team’.
The Team will be accessible to students from a school only. The Minecraft CTF accounts provided will also be able to access the Microsoft ‘Team’.
Entry Requirements
- Competitors must be a student at an Australian high school.
- A team can only comprise of students from the same high school.
- A student can only be registered to one team per competition title.
- A student may only compete in one competition title within the same time slot
- Morning Timeslot: Trackmania, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Minecraft CTF
- Afternoon Timeslot: Rocket League, Marvel Rivals and Brawlhalla
- Each team and student must be registered and represented by a faculty member from their school.
Pricing
| Rocket League | Marvel Rivals | Trackmania/Super Smash Bros. Ultimate/Brawlhalla | Minecraft CTF | |
| 1 Term Package | $75 + GST | $150 + GST | $25 + GST per student | $145 + GST |
2 Term and Year Packages are available at a reduced cost.
Additional Questions
Can home schooled students compete?
To compete, Home Education students will be required to provide additional information to confirm their current education arrangements, such as providing documentation that shows that the parent/guardian is registered with their state government home education program, as well as age identifying documents for the student.
Home Education students may only compete in Brawlhalla and Trackmania
Please contact us at schools@ael.org.au for more information!
Will students be competing from home or at school?
Students can compete at home with their own equipment or the school may require them to come into school to compete.
If competing on a computer please ensure it meets at least the minimum system requirements as listed under each game above.
If you wish to have your students compete from the school please work with your schools IT department to ensure students are able to connect to game servers within the school.
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Contact us
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Join the AEL discord and participate in our esports and gaming community!
The team at the Australian Esports League would love to hear from you
Whether you are wanting to run an esports event, are a teacher wanting more information of how to get your school involved or a parent wanting to learn more, we are here to help you in your Esports journey
For general enquiries, simply write to us at info@ael.org.au and one of team will be in touch
For Primary, High School and Home-Schooling Esports, you can contact us at: schools@ael.org.au