Pre-Event Operations
Event Registration
1. How do I sign my team up for an event? The only way to register for a FRAG event is to purchase a team pass from the event page on FRAG.to/events. You will be prompted for your team name, team captain, and the captain's Discord username.
2. How do I submit my roster after I purchase a ticket? After you purchase the ticket, you will be directed to a link with a Google form with instructions on how to properly submit the player information for your team.
3. What information is required for roster submissions? We require first & last name, email, birthdate, address, citizenship, in-game name, and SteamID64. HLTV and Faceit profiles are both optional but help us better seed non-VRS ranked teams.
4. How long do I have to submit my roster? You have 1 week (7 days) after purchasing the ticket to submit a core of 3 players minimum. If you submit 5 players within the 1 week (7 days) period, all 5 count towards your core, which gives you more flexibility with roster changes later if needed. If we are less than 1 week (7 days) from the event roster lock, all 5 players must be submitted before the roster lock regardless of how many days remain.
5. Why isn't my team showing on the event page even though I bought a ticket? Listing teams on the event page is a manual process. If your team is not showing, give it 1–3 days for our staff to update the page.
6. Why don't I see my roster information when I log into FRAG.to? If you are a player and you log in through Steam but do not see any team information, that is because the teams have not yet been imported onto the website. Importing teams from the Google form submissions is a manual process that we generally don't do until rosters are locked, so that we can do them all at once. Teams will be pinged in the FRAG Events Discord once they've been imported so they can log in and make sure their roster is correct.
7. Where can I find a team to play on if I don't already have one? Social media LFT and LFP posts are extremely common for our events. We also have a channel in our General Discord dedicated to finding teammates for events.
Player / Team Submission Updates
1. How can I fix a mistake in the team form I submitted? If you made a mistake but only realized after submitting, please open a ticket in the General FRAG Discord through the contact us channel and explain your issue. A member of FRAG Staff will assist you in correcting the information.
2. Where do I submit the rest of my roster if I only submitted 3 players initially? To submit the rest of your roster, your team captain must create a ticket in the General FRAG Discord and state which team they'd like to complete the roster for.
3. How do I change my team name? To change a team name, simply have your team captain create a ticket in the General FRAG Discord and state which team they represent and what they'd like the new team name to be.
Roster Changes
1. How do I change a player on the roster I submitted? Roster changes are done by having the team captain create a ticket in the General FRAG Discord and request a roster change. A staff member will confirm if the change is valid, then prompt the team captain for the new player's info. Once the info is recorded in our database, the staff member will confirm that the change was accepted.
2. How do I add a substitute to my roster? There are only ever 2 variations of our team tickets: one for 5 players, and one for 5 players + a coach. Adding a substitute is equivalent to adding a 6th player on a 5 player pass, or a 7th on a 5 player + coach pass. To do so you must pay the player addition fee of 1/5 the cost of a 5 player team pass. The option is available, but we do not recommend doing this because player additions can be accepted at check-in of the event. If your team is not sure if you'll need a substitute, we recommend holding off until you know for sure you're going to need one. If you wish to purchase a roster addition despite the recommendation to wait, you can do so by creating a ticket in the General FRAG Discord.
3. How many times can I make a roster change? As long as you maintain a minimum of 3 players from your initially submitted core, you can make as many roster changes as you want up until the roster lock.
4. When do rosters lock and can no longer be changed? Rosters lock 10 days before the event for all events.
HLTV Coverage (CS2)
1. How much coverage will the event receive from HLTV? We do not get informed by HLTV how much coverage our event will receive. We discover the level of coverage at the same time as everyone else. HLTV is not forthcoming with that information.
2. When will you know how much coverage the event will receive from HLTV? HLTV generally doesn't post the amount of coverage until about a week before the event. Some events have been much sooner, and some have been the day before the event.
3. Will my matches be on HLTV? Group stage matches almost never get coverage. If you qualify for the first round of playoffs there's a decent chance your match will be covered, and your chances of coverage go up the deeper you make it into playoffs. Our events are typically guaranteed coverage beginning at round 2 of playoffs.
VRS Ranked Status (CS2)
1. Will the event be VRS ranked? Our events always meet all the eligibility requirements for VRS ranked status. We have yet to host an event since the VRS ranking system was implemented that did not receive ranked status.
Ticket Refund / Transfer Policy
1. If my team can no longer attend, can I get a refund for the team ticket? No. All ticket sales are final and non-refundable.
2. If my team can no longer attend, can I give it to another team? No. All ticket sales are final and non-transferable. The non-transferable policy was implemented because of ticket scalping.
Ban Policy
1. Does FRAG mirror bans from other tournament operators? The only bans FRAG mirrors are VAC bans. If a player is not VAC banned or FRAG banned, they are able to participate in our events.
2. If my team was banned from attending a FRAG event, is there a way to appeal the ban? If you were issued a ban by FRAG, you can attempt to appeal the ban by creating a ticket in the General FRAG Discord.
Tournament Withdrawal
1. What do I need to do if my team can no longer attend the event? If your team can no longer attend the event and it is still before the roster lock, your team captain needs to create a ticket in the General FRAG Discord and inform us that your team will be officially withdrawing. If you fail to officially withdraw before the roster lock, your team will be seeded into the event and assigned matches, which will ultimately be forfeit if you fail to check in.
2. Are there any penalties for withdrawing from an event? There is no penalty for withdrawing from an event before the roster lock. If it is after the roster lock, you cannot withdraw and your matches will be marked as forfeit if you do not check in.
Tournament Expansion
1. If an event isn't advertised with a team cap, when does FRAG consider expanding? FRAG considers expanding events based on the speed at which tickets sell and the public interest still remaining once tickets are sold out. If an event expands, FRAG will make an announcement in the General Discord and on X informing the public of a date and time more tickets will be put up for sale. The date and time will be 7 days from the announcement to maintain compliance with Valve's TOR.
2. If an event expands after I already bought a ticket, can my team withdraw and get a refund? All FRAG events are advertised as having the possibility of expanding. For that reason, no — all ticket sales are final, non-refundable, and non-transferable.
3. If an event expands to include more teams, will the prize pool increase as well? According to Valve's TOR, tournaments cannot change the prize pool in any way from what was originally advertised. Breaking this rule would cost FRAG its tournament license and VRS ranked status.
Schedule Conflicts with Other Events
1. If I have an online match for another tournament, can I play it at the FRAG event? We can never promise that you will be able to play other matches from our event, but we will always try to accommodate teams with conflicting matches when possible. We always recommend attempting to reschedule matches outside of tournament dates if possible, but creating a ticket in the General FRAG Discord, informing us of the date and time, and asking if it would be possible will always give you the best chance. Keep in mind that we will always prioritize our own event schedule, so unless the match is after tournament hours, the chances of being able to accommodate it are extremely low.
2. If I have an online match for another tournament, can I request a different or specific check-in time for the FRAG event? No. Check-in times are final and unalterable. We will not make any changes to our tournament schedule to accommodate another tournament with conflicting match times. If you are registered for our event, we expect you to be fully committed to participating on the schedule we create.
Tournament Operations
Event Schedule
1. When will the schedule for the event be released? There are no public schedules for FRAG events. We operate using a rolling schedule format because we often run 6–8 games at once. The only time given to teams prior to the event will be a check-in time. That check-in time cannot be assigned until the event is seeded, which generally takes place 3–5 days before the event.
2. When will the tournament format and bracket be released? We cannot announce the event format or bracket until the event is seeded. Once seeded after roster lock, the tournament format and bracket are both announced alongside the group check-in times 3–5 days before the event.
3. Where can I find a list of all the rosters attending the event? Creating a roster list showing all the attending teams is a manual process we only do once the tournament rosters have been locked 10 days before the event.
4. When will I find out what time I play my matches? When checking in for your group, an admin will assign your team a row of PCs. At that point you will be given a setup time, a server join time, and then a match start time.
5. Can I request a different check-in time? No. Check-in times are based on tournament seeding. We cannot alter tournament seeding, which means we cannot alter group start times.
Event Check-in
1. How do I check in for the event? When your team arrives at the event, make your way to our front desk, where a staff member will mark your team as checked in and give your team their player badges. These badges must be worn at all times except when seated at your assigned PCs.
2. Can I check in early? You may check in early to receive your team's badges, but you will still need to report to the front desk at the original group check-in time so we can assign your team PCs to play your matches.
3. If I check in early, can I play on a PC until my actual check-in time? No. There are no PCs available for free play. Aside from FRAG needing all available hardware to run the tournament, it is against the Valve TOR to provide something to some teams or players but not all attending teams and players.
Peripherals
1. What peripherals do I need to bring with me to the event? Required peripherals include mouse, keyboard, mousepad, and headset. Common optional peripherals include IEMs (in-ear monitors) and an audio DAC. IEMs are considered optional because during stage matches FRAG provides both teams with AceZone noise-canceling headsets, and many players prefer to use IEMs underneath them even though the headsets are fully capable of playing game audio and have a microphone.
2. Will FRAG provide peripherals if I lose, forget, or break mine? FRAG is not responsible for replacing any broken or lost peripherals. You should still inform FRAG staff in the case you have a peripheral issue, because we may be able to assist in figuring out a solution.
Setup
1. How will I know where to set up for my match? When your team checks in, an admin will be there to direct you to your team's assigned PCs for your match. Once your match is completed, an admin will inform you if you will stay at the same PCs or move to a new set of PCs.
2. How long do I have to set up? Once seated by an admin, your team will have 20 minutes to set up your peripherals, do vetoes, log in to your account, check your config, and warm up. At the 20-minute mark you will be told by an admin to join the server to begin your match.
Match Process
1. When and how do I do vetoes for my match? During your setup time, an admin will ping your team channel in the FRAG Events Discord or go over and pull your team captain to the admin desk to complete your match vetoes. The veto ban process can be found in section 4.5 of the rulebook.
2. How long do I have until my match starts? Your matches are set to start 20 minutes after your setup time. If your team isn't required to move for your following match, an admin will inform you of the specific start time for your next game.
3. What should I do if I'm having a technical issue before or during a match?
If you are having a technical issue before a game, try your best to figure it out, since our staff is generally stretched very thin. If you can't figure it out, look for an admin in your section to assist you. If you cannot find an admin, ping the @matchadmin role in your team channel in the FRAG Events Discord server and describe your issue. They will find you and assist you as soon as they have time. During a match, calling a technical pause will automatically ping the admin team and inform them that you are having an issue. Matches cannot be resumed until an admin investigates the validity of a technical pause called during a match.
4. How much time do I have between maps in a BO3 or BO5? Once a series is started, matches will start automatically. This system is set up so that the tournament can stay on schedule. Start time between maps 1 and 2 is 90 seconds, and time between maps 2 and 3 is 10 minutes. BO5s are only used for finals, so start times are dictated by production. Time between each map in a BO5 could potentially be different, so admins will inform teams of the times directly.
5. When can a round be called "not live"?
A round can only be called "not live" if no damage has been dealt in the round and a player in the match is experiencing an issue that prevents them from playing the game. A technical pause or .admin ping must also be called along with a "not live" call. An admin is required to investigate the validity of every technical pause before a match can be resumed.
6. When can a round restore be requested? A round restore can only be requested if a technical was confirmed by an admin and they determine the round should be replayed. If a technical issue was not determined to have been valid or to have affected the outcome of a round, then the game will continue as is.
Server / TeamSpeak IPs
1. Where can I find the IP for my match? Server IPs for your matches can be found in 2 places. The first is on the FRAG.to website: once the tournament is live and your match is generated in our backend, your server IP will be shown on the homepage when you are logged in. The second location is the LAN tab of the in-game server browser, where all match IPs will be listed and labeled with team names.
2. Where can I find the IP for the LAN TeamSpeak server? The event LAN TeamSpeak server IP can only be found on the FRAG.to website when logged in, once the tournament is live.
"Stage" Matches
1. How are "stage" matches different from normal matches? Stage matches are not always on a stage. Whichever match is being broadcast to our main channels is considered the "stage" match. Stage matches require vetoes to be completed sooner than standard matches, and maps do not start automatically. Start times are dictated by production, so admins will relay times directly to teams in "stage" matches.
Game Version
1. What version of the game will be used for the event? FRAG will always do its best to use the latest version of the game. If an update causes issues with FRAGbot, we may require teams to play on the previous game version. If a major update occurs during a live tournament, the tournament must be completed on the version of the game it began on.
Rulebook (CS2)
1. Does FRAG have an official rulebook? Yes. The FRAG rulebook can be found at FRAG.to/rules.
Media
Broadcast / Co-streaming Rights
1. How do I request broadcast rights for the event? At this time we do not allow teams, or individuals with team affiliations, entered into the tournament broadcasting rights. There is no free co-streaming option. Please email staff@frag.to to inquire about purchasing broadcast rights.
2. Can I stream myself watching the FRAG stream on my channel? No. Unless explicitly approved, any channel broadcasting our stream will have a DMCA filed against them.
3. Can I stream the event IRL from my phone or a camera? Yes. IRL streaming our tournaments is allowed and encouraged. We only ask that if you do decide to IRL stream the event, you do it off a cellular network. We may need all the WiFi bandwidth to operate the tournament, so if we believe an outgoing livestream might be causing issues with our network, we will require you to stop streaming.
4. If a match isn't being streamed, is there a way I can still watch it? Unfortunately, no. Our match IPs are private, so if we do not have an approved co-streamer or secondary broadcast to cover it, there will be no way to watch that match.
Photo / Video Rights
1. Where can I get a media pass? FRAG does not offer a media pass. Any independent media recording is allowed under any ticket type and heavily encouraged from our attendees! As FRAG operates private events, attendees agree upon ticket purchase that any media recorded automatically falls into a shared ownership agreement. You are free to use your recorded media however you like, but FRAG holds the right to request a copy of the RAW files of any media taken within our event space.
2. Can I take photos or videos at the event? Yes. Any independent media recording is allowed under any ticket type and heavily encouraged from our attendees! As FRAG operates private events, attendees agree upon ticket purchase that any media recorded automatically falls into a shared ownership agreement. You are free to use your recorded media however you like, but FRAG holds the right to request a copy of the RAW files of any media taken within our event space.
Volunteering
Where / How to Apply
1. How do I apply to volunteer at an event? At some point before every event, a FRAG staff member will post a volunteer interest form on X and in the General FRAG Discord. To apply, simply submit a form, and if you are selected you will be contacted through Discord by FRAG staff.
2. Are there any paid positions in FRAG? No. FRAG operates entirely as a volunteer, community-run organizer. Everyone who works in FRAG, from top to bottom, sacrifices compensation so that FRAG is able to break even or mitigate losses on events and continue operations long term.
Departments We Staff
1. What positions/roles can I volunteer for? FRAG offers a plethora of positions where volunteers are able to gain valuable experience, network with other industry professionals, and build resumes. Departments we staff include media & content, tournament operations, production, on-air talent, and design & editing.
Qualifications and Experience Level
1. Do I need to have any specific qualifications or experience level to volunteer at an event? For most events there are no qualifications or experience level required to volunteer. There are instances where, depending on the scale and importance of the event in the cycle, we may be looking for volunteers with a bit more skill, but there are always opportunities available to shadow staff members if you're interested in learning the role without the stress of performance.
Expectations
1. What is expected from a volunteer at an event? FRAG is a tournament built by community members and former competitive players for community members and competitive players. Ultimately, our goal is to host a fun and entertaining event, but since FRAG staff all treat the work we do as if it were paid, we expect our volunteers to also work with a similar level of attention and care.
Remote Opportunities
1. If I can't make it to an event, are there still ways I can volunteer? Yes. FRAG often runs remote productions, remote social media coverage, and remote design. Even if you can't make it to an event, you should still apply if you're interested.
General
Contacting Staff
1. If I have an issue or question, what is the best way to get in contact with FRAG staff? For any question or concern not covered in the FAQ or rulebook, you can contact FRAG directly by creating a ticket in the General FRAG Discord.