Interregional Anti-Poaching & Anti-Tampering Policy

Riot·Jun 11, 2015·0 votes·12,319 views

Poaching protections are important both for the stability of organizations and to avoid situations in which legitimate contracts are undermined by competing offers from other teams during the season without the agreement of all parties - the player, the current management, and prospective employer.

This is why, starting today, we’re taking steps to extend poaching protections from the regional level to the global level through the Interregional Anti-Poaching and Anti-Tampering policy. Formerly, there were no interregional poaching protections, but with interregional transfers becoming the norm, it’s now important that any such transfers happen in a way that does not undermine the stability created by legitimate contracts. You can find the full policy, additional context, and a database of currently protected contracts on lolesports.com/about. The contracts currently protected all conform to regional league standards meant to protect players, such as minimum compensation.

Why are tampering and poaching problems?

During the season, it's important that players aren't being distracted from their preparation or being tempted to play at less than 100% by offers of employment from rival teams.

When players and teams sign a contract they are entering into an agreement that a player will play for a team during a defined period of time and be duly compensated - players abruptly dissolving their contracts due to employment discussions with other teams during the season creates a chaotic environment for teams and players and undermines stability for teams and their competitors.

This doesn’t mean that we don’t want players to ever switch teams or find the team that is the best fit for them - players always reserve the option of exercising buyout clauses that may exist in their contracts, discussing the possibility of being traded to another team with their management, or simply waiting until their current contract is up before engaging in any negotiation they want. Ultimately, the value of contracts goes both ways. For players, contracts provide stability and the promise of a paycheck. For teams, contracts guarantee that contracted players play for their team and if a player wants to leave a team, the team management are a necessary part of that discussion. This is an important dynamic to preserve, and poaching protections are one way of doing so.

You can read more about the new global policy, which is going into effect immediately, on our Rules Page.

15 Comments

MewyabbyJun 11, 20157 votes

Do you realize you just said that:

For players, contracts provide stability and the promise of a paycheck. For teams, contracts guarantee that contracted players play for their team and if a player wants to leave a team, the team management are a necessary part of that discussion.

and you just played it off as though that's a normal thing?

I'm sorry, but NO! The contracts players sign are never public. The amount of money players get are never disclosed. The players are going to be publicly and monetarily punished if they want to leave after signing a contract, but the organizations which dole out receives a lion's share.

Stop acting as though your players are receiving an equal wage. Unless you're a big name, you're not going to be compensated at the level that warrants 7 days of dedicated play.

CAH EightseatJun 11, 201513 votes

I mean, that is a pretty normal thing. Sporting contracts mean that you play for your team and your team gets your services. If you want to leave your team you need to talk to the team to let them know. There is never any mention that players are receiving equal wages, and they shouldn't be. The best players get the biggest contracts, just like in any profession. What else would you expect? They are all receiving a living wage.

MewyabbyJun 11, 20152 votes

And they are not receiving a pension, a long lineage of history of placement for former players, an education...

There is not proper compensation for the fact that for 8-14 hours 7 days a week they are working.

Or have you never heard of opportunity cost? Or overtime? Or how about job security? Or retirement?

They're abusing these kids most flexible time to go into careers and not paying them their proper dues.

Kail271Jun 11, 20159 votes

I'm sorry, what? Since when have professional athletes received any of those things? That's not how this industry works. The players are taking the exact same risks as anyone who goes straight onto a professional team. Riot isn't abusing them any more than the NBA, NFL, FIFA, MLB, etc abuse their players. I think you have a warped understanding of what the LCS is.

Facele55Jun 11, 20152 votes

I think MLS may be more fitting than FIFA haha.

SquigglykinsJun 11, 20152 votes

The difference is that LCS players usually start at a very young age. Many NFL and NBA players previously played at a college level, where they were then noticed. LCS is not only unnoticed in a majority of colleges, but also taken at a more opportune time for the player. 17-21 years old (the average LCS player) is a VERY big part of life where they're laying down the basis of their college education. An interview with Montecristo (I think at Katowice, not sure), said that the players making 6+ figures in China are actually getting their due, not only because of the moderate popularity and prestige that people give esports regardless of how invalid it is, but because they need that support if they want to give up their time that would normally be used to build their careers. Real sports don't have players as young as LCS for that reason, and the risks are not even close.

StargaurdianbardJun 11, 20155 votes

So your problem is with all professional sports then not just league. Do you think pro football teams pay for them to have an education? Or overtime? Or job security? What about Olympic teams? Don't think they give those things either. Also you mentioned players not getting the same pay and the big names getting more morny, that's ALSO how sports work. You are making a case against rito but don't seem to understand how sports work.

OrshabaalJun 11, 20152 votes

From what I have read most teams don't have formal practice 8-14 hours a day every day. Does that mean people cant do 8-14 hours a day? No, it just means they do not have to do 8-14 hours a day. Job security is not really applicable for "sports". This is because teams want to win to get more fame/money/wins. Unless a teams plan is to sit in the middle of the LCS and never change a roster.

Just because they do not pay them a million dollars a year to play for them and then putting 500k into their retirement fund does not mean they are not paying them their proper dues

CynikulJun 11, 20155 votes

I have literally in my 5 years of playing league ever commented on any of these, but I had to log in to say something, even if its a bit toxic, but; you're a complete moron. No team has dedicated 8-14 hours of play, or even 7 days a week. Most players do even get off days. Sure, they play solo que, and sure they practice as a team and scrim, but not even anywhere close to the amount you're ASSuming.

I don't even know where to begin after that, but just about everything you said is off base with global standards of the sporting and e-sport industry that its just grossly disgusting, and had you not sounded like a genuinely mentally deficient human being, I would have guessed you were a troll. If the players were at all unhappy with there play, or their lifestyle, they would simply retire and leave the league, just as MANY, MANY players have before them. Maybe that's someone's reason, but it certainly isn't about pay or overtime or retirement.

Source: I have spoken to, and discussed to some LCS players this exact topic, and I have friends in the challenger scene. I'm probably more familiar with the structure than even some of the people playing.

StupendoesJun 11, 20153 votes

Tbh, the organizations signed a contract with the player and the organization has every right to want the player to live up to his end of the deal. If the player performs really well and wants a better contract he/she can get one after the current one is over. After all, the organization only took the chance on the player when no other organization did, gave them a roof over their head, food, transportation, any and all electronic equipment, probably their phone bill and a whole lot of other things. These kids have a pretty sweet gig.

TrollFan01Jun 11, 20152 votes

There we go. A truly world-wide rule. Now if we can get this for the Challenger leagues as well it'll be perfect.

UasPUWNw15Jun 11, 20152 votes

IS this a other stupid idea from tryndamere?

StupendoesJun 11, 20151 votes

Tbh I just saw the logo and clicked it because I was wondering if Riot was going to explain the Yusui ban. I think this is necessary, and I'm glad they're taking care of it, but dang it tell me if Yusui really did buy level 30 accounts.

On the topic on hand, I feel like since esports are becoming more and more popular contracts signed by players need to be released to the public, like in major sports. That way they can compare their worth and get their appropriate value. Right now, there's really no way to know unless a player becomes a free agent and that's a risky proposition because the org. the he/she is with might think you're only worth so much and if you disagree they'll just sign someone new since there's a giant pool to choose from (although not all of it is LCS quality). Also I think Riot needs to transition into a new Free Agent period similar to professional sports. Give teams a month of "Restricted Free Agency" to sign their own players (and if the player is rated highly then if a competitive team signs him then the team that loses him can be fairly compensated like in professional sports. In this case, something like 1/2-1/3 of the buyout clause in his contract.)

The main difference in professional sports and esports in the comparison of player compensation is that there's no player's association. IF the player's unionized and formed one (though it would be the first international union that I would have heard of - though you guys will probably correct me and tell me a list of like 17 of them.) Also, League has just started really hitting it's stride. It's getting more and more acclaim with Faker even getting an interview with ESPN the magazine. The more and more publicity it gets the more freedom player's will accrue in terms of contracts. But, right now, outside of the case with Quas being like the 12th highest paid top laner in NA (LCS and CS teams), I would say the players are fairly compensated. The organizations took a HUGE initial risk when they started out with investing in esports. No one knew esports would blow up the way it has. Fortunately, their investment has paid off and I think player's will be rewarded down the line.

TL;DR Tell me what happened to Yusui.

KioubeJun 11, 20151 votes

I can't find Febiven's contract expiry date in the "The Global Contract Database" which can be downloaded at http://na.lolesports.com/about#tabs=4

KioubeJun 11, 20151 votes

Edit: Nvm I was just looking for it and it can be see at the player page on lolesport. Anyway I saw that Rekkles get a contract till 2016 on this global contract database but this database seems to be wrong.