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Every C3 Esports season follows a defined lifecycle. Understanding the phases helps teams know when to register, when matches will be played, and when to expect playoffs.

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Phase overview

UPCOMING
    │
    │ (registration_open_date reached)
    ▼
REGISTRATION
    │
    │ (registration_close_date reached OR staff manually closes)
    ▼
ACTIVE (Regular Season)
    │
    │ (all match weeks completed OR staff manually advances)
    ▼
PLAYOFFS
    │
    │ (all playoff matches resolved OR staff manually completes)
    ▼
COMPLETED

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Phase descriptions

The season has been created by staff but registration has not opened yet. The season appears on the Seasons page with upcoming dates.What teams should do: Watch for the registration open announcement in Discord. Make sure your team is created and your roster is being prepared.What staff do: Finalize season dates, create divisions, set up the schedule structure.Duration: Typically 1–4 weeks before registration opens.
The registration window is open. Team managers can submit their teams for the season.What teams should do: Register during this window. Ensure all players are eligible. See Registering for a Season.What staff do: Review and approve or deny incoming registrations daily. See Registration Management.Duration: Typically 1–2 weeks.Transitions to ACTIVE when: The registration_close_date is reached, or staff manually close registration.
The season is live. Matches are scheduled week by week. Teams compete for standings points.What teams should do: Show up for every match, check in on time, submit results promptly.What staff do: Monitor match completion, resolve disputes, handle forfeits and no-shows.Duration: Typically 4–8 weeks depending on the number of teams and match weeks.Transitions to PLAYOFFS when: All scheduled regular season match weeks are complete (or staff manually advance after the final week).
The regular season is over. Final standings are locked. Teams compete in an elimination bracket based on their seeding.What teams should do: Win your playoff matches. Playoff matches use BO5 format. Results and replays are still required.What staff do: Schedule playoff matches (manually, until the bracket system is built), resolve disputes quickly, monitor for conduct issues.Duration: Typically 1–3 weeks depending on bracket size.Transitions to COMPLETED when: All playoff matches have been resolved.
The season is over. Final standings and champion are locked. No further matches or roster changes are processed for this season.What happens: Season results are archived, stats remain visible, and an announcement is made with the winners.Duration: Permanent (completed seasons are not deleted).

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Season calendar example

DateEventSeason phase
Jan 5Season announcedUPCOMING
Jan 19Registration opensREGISTRATION
Feb 2Registration closes→ ACTIVE
Feb 10Week 1 matchesACTIVE
Feb 17Week 2 matchesACTIVE
Feb 24Week 3 matchesACTIVE
Mar 3Week 4 matchesACTIVE
Mar 10Week 5 matchesACTIVE
Mar 17Playoff Round 1→ PLAYOFFS
Mar 24Playoff FinalsPLAYOFFS
Mar 28Season complete→ COMPLETED

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What happens to standings at each transition

TransitionEffect on standings
UPCOMING → REGISTRATIONNo effect; no teams registered yet
REGISTRATION → ACTIVEAll approved teams added to standings with 0 points
ACTIVE → PLAYOFFSRegular season standings finalized; seeding determined
PLAYOFFS → COMPLETEDPlayoff bracket results recorded; final champion determined

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Season phases and team actions

ActionUPCOMINGREGISTRATIONACTIVEPLAYOFFSCOMPLETED
View season pageYesYesYesYesYes
Register teamNoYesNoNoNo
Play matchesNoNoYesYesNo
Submit resultsNoNoYesYesNo
File disputesNoNoYesYesNo
View standingsNoNoYesYesYes
Once the ACTIVE phase begins, registration is closed permanently for that season. Teams that missed registration must wait for the next season.