> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.c3esports.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Season Lifecycle

> The status phases a season moves through from creation to completion, and what happens at each transition.

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.

***

## 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
```

***

## Phase descriptions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="UPCOMING">
    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.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="REGISTRATION">
    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](/managers/registering-for-season).

    **What staff do:** Review and approve or deny incoming registrations daily. See [Registration Management](/staff/registration-management).

    **Duration:** Typically 1–2 weeks.

    **Transitions to ACTIVE when:** The `registration_close_date` is reached, or staff manually close registration.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="ACTIVE (Regular Season)">
    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).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="PLAYOFFS">
    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.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="COMPLETED">
    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).
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

## Season calendar example

| Date | Event | Season phase |
| - | - | - |
| Jan 5 | Season announced | UPCOMING |
| Jan 19 | Registration opens | REGISTRATION |
| Feb 2 | Registration closes | → ACTIVE |
| Feb 10 | Week 1 matches | ACTIVE |
| Feb 17 | Week 2 matches | ACTIVE |
| Feb 24 | Week 3 matches | ACTIVE |
| Mar 3 | Week 4 matches | ACTIVE |
| Mar 10 | Week 5 matches | ACTIVE |
| Mar 17 | Playoff Round 1 | → PLAYOFFS |
| Mar 24 | Playoff Finals | PLAYOFFS |
| Mar 28 | Season complete | → COMPLETED |

***

## What happens to standings at each transition

| Transition | Effect on standings |
| - | - |
| UPCOMING → REGISTRATION | No effect; no teams registered yet |
| REGISTRATION → ACTIVE | All approved teams added to standings with 0 points |
| ACTIVE → PLAYOFFS | Regular season standings finalized; seeding determined |
| PLAYOFFS → COMPLETED | Playoff bracket results recorded; final champion determined |

***

## Season phases and team actions

| Action | UPCOMING | REGISTRATION | ACTIVE | PLAYOFFS | COMPLETED |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| View season page | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Register team | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Play matches | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Submit results | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| File disputes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| View standings | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |

<Note>
  Once the ACTIVE phase begins, registration is closed permanently for that season. Teams that missed registration must wait for the next season.
</Note>


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