Will the next generation be able to rise up and continue Team Ocean Drake’s domination at Scouting Grounds or will another team emerge victorious?

2018 NA LCS Scouting Grounds will return this November to the NA LCS Studio in Los Angeles, CA. The top 20 unsigned players from North America will fight for their chance to prove they have what it takes to go pro and showcase their skills in front of NA LCS organizations. Based on last year’s success and feedback from our participants, teams, and fans, we’ve made several changes to the selection system.

Scouting Grounds Selection Period

Last year, Scouting Grounds took a single snapshot of the Challenger ladder in order to determine who would be representing the best undiscovered talent North America had to offer. This year, we’ll be introducing the Scouting Grounds Selection Period, a 4-month timeframe where your progress on the Challenger ladder will be tracked and recorded every two weeks. For more details on this new system, see below:

Selection Period Details

• UPDATED on 6/4: 8 total snapshots taken every 2 weeks with the first snapshot taken on July 10 at 11:59 PM PT
• UPDATED ON 7/9: Due to the 8.13 three week long patch cycle, we’ll be extending the first snapshot to be taken on July 17 at 11:59 PM PT. Every other segment will remain 2 weeks long.
• Each snapshot is taken on Tuesday at 11:59 PM PT
• Your place on the ranked ladder earns you points based on the table below
• Your worst snapshot will be removed from your score. This is to compensate for instances of exams, travel, or other unavoidable commitments.
• Scores will be posted in this public Google Doc which will be updated every other Wednesday.
• In order to settle ties, we will use a player’s placement within the last cycle on the solo-queue ladder
• At the end, the top 4 players in each role will be invited to the 2018 NA LCS Scouting Grounds. Additional players may be contacted as backups and in case of emergencies.
• Non-eligible players (pros, academy, secondary accounts, etc.) will be factored into point totals, but will be removed from the final ranking. Additional accounts will not be added to the main account total.

Additional information around scoring, requirements, and the schedule is posted below.

Scoring

Each period ends at 11:59 PM PT on the Tuesday of each 2-week cycle (usually the last day of each patch). Players will have the points from 7 periods summed up and compared once the 2018 season ends.

Each period ends at 11:59 PM PT on the Tuesday of each 2-week cycle (usually the last day of each patch). Players will have the points from 7 periods summed up and compared once the 2018 season ends.

Champion Pool Restrictions, e.g. “The One Trick Rule”

Scouting Grounds Requirements

• UPDATED on 6/22: For clarity – the definition of a “professional” league is considered any league that directly feeds into the World Championships. The definition of Semi-Professional is any league that promotes or feeds into a professional league such as NA Academy or the EU Regional Leagues (including EU Masters)
• You must respond to the survey (planned to be sent in October).
• You must be 16 years of age by January 19th, 2019.
• Have not played more than two League matches in a semi-professional or academy league in the most recent split and/or two League matches in a professional league during the past three splits
• Not be under contract by any semi-professional or professional team
• You’re a North American resident as determined by the Interregional Movement Policy.
• Pass a behavior check, similar to NA LCS and Academy players, which reviews in-game behavior, Terms of Service violations, and looks at previous bans and/or suspensions

Key Dates

June 27: Start of the Scouting Grounds Selection Period

October 23: End of the Scouting Grounds Selection Period

Early October: Survey sent to Masters/Challenger players from an @leagueoflegends.com address

• This survey verifies account details and completion is necessary for an invitation

Mid October: Invites sent to top players and several alternatives as backup

November 11: Players arrive in LA

November 12-17: NA LCS Scouting Grounds

November 18: Players leave LA

Gregg “Riot 3Gregg” Travitz works on the Player Management team at the NA LCS focusing on pro player development and feedback.  When he’s not trying to climb back to Plat, he’s stunt doubling for a wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man or hanging out with his corgi mix named Barsky. For any questions, reach out to him on Twitter via @Riot3Gregg.