4. Players & Officials
Team Composition
- Each team has 5 active players and up to 1-2 substitutes (varies by tournament)
- Common roles: In-Game Leader (IGL), AWPer, Entry Fragger, Support, Lurker
- One coach per team; coaches may only communicate during timeouts and halftime (Valve coach bug rule)
Officials
- Server administrators: Configure servers, manage match settings
- Referees: Monitor gameplay, authorize tactical pauses, enforce rules
- Tournament directors: Handle protests, scheduling, and rule interpretations
- Anti-cheat staff: Monitor players and systems for unauthorized software
Player Eligibility
- Minimum age: 16 years (most tournaments)
- Must not be VAC-banned on their competing account
- Must not be under an active ESIC or Valve competitive ban
- Regional residency requirements may apply for certain leagues
ESL Challenger League Roster Rules
Under the ESL Pro Tour Rulebook 2026 Update #2, ESL Challenger League teams are permitted up to two roster changes per tournament, and EFG revised the qualification rules for regional finals, European cup slot allocation, and roster submission procedures for the league. The update also added provisions covering internal team conduct, permitted additional personnel on-site, seating order at LAN events, and scheduling of offline matches.