Advanced Policy: Upgrades, USC & Investigations

Some infractions escalate when repeated. For example, once a player has accumulated multiple Warnings for the same Game Play Error in an event, the next occurrence can be upgraded to a Game Loss. The purpose is to catch patterns of carelessness, not to punish a single honest slip. Upgrades are defined per-infraction in the IPG and should be applied consistently, with the Head Judge aware of them.

• USC — Minor (Warning): mildly disruptive behavior, e.g. mild profanity or frustration directed at no one.
• USC — Major (Match Loss): behavior that seriously disrupts the event or targets an individual, e.g. threats or serious hostility.
• Aggressive Behavior (Disqualification): threatening or committing physical violence.
• Bribery & Wagering and Improperly Determining a Winner (dice/coin flips to decide games): serious infractions.
• Cheating (Disqualification): the most serious integrity infraction.

An action is Cheating only if all three are true:

1. The player broke a rule (a documented rule or policy);
2. The player was attempting to gain advantage from the action (it was intentional); and
3. The player knew they were doing something illegal.

If any one is missing, it is not Cheating — it is a normal Game Play or Tournament Error. This distinction is the heart of most L3 investigations: a rule was clearly broken, but was it intentional and known to be illegal?

Investigations are about gathering information, not accusing. Good practice: separate the players when needed, ask open-ended questions ("walk me through what happened"), listen for inconsistencies, and never reveal what you suspect. You are building a picture. A DQ for Cheating requires you to be reasonably convinced the three-part test is met; if you cannot establish intent and knowledge, you do not have Cheating.