School league vs competition league

Once everyone in House Phoenix has collected their training jersey and gathered in one corner of the courtyard, Misaki joins you. "I want to first thank you all for attending tryouts. A lot of good members of the team graduated last year and we have a lot of slots to fill. For anyone who doesn't know, the year is divided between two separate leagues. First is the school league. Almost anyone who wants to participate is welcome. In the school league, teams are divided by house, matches are one on one, and the house with the most victories is rewarded with the academy's dueling trophy and a victory feast held in the grand hall. The school league holds practice matches for one week followed by only two weeks of ranked matches. The school league also acts as tryouts for the competition league." Misaki pauses for a moment, scanning the group. "The competition league is the real deal. Two fourth-year captains will lead a team of ten. In the competition league, it is not houses competing but schools. The team will consist of only twelve select duelists from the academy that participated in the school league. Sometimes matches will be held here at the Ash Forrest Academy, other times at other schools. So yes some travel will be involved. Also, matches in the competition league can be one on one, doubles, and even three vs three. So teamwork will be essential. Any questions?"

"How do you get selected for the competition league team?" Harmony asks.

"Good question. Professor Schwartz will first choose two team captains. Usually students with dueling experience. As the school league plays out, Professor Schwartz and the team captains will review everyone's performance based on both number of victories and techniques used on the court. The idea is to build a strong team with a good composition. A team that relies solely on one form of magic won't last long in the competition league. So just because you may lose a few matches in the school league doesn't disqualify you from the competition league. Anyone else?" Misaki explains.

"What about the school league? Is everyone here now on the team?" Another boy asks.

"That is usually the case." Misaki answers. "We try to make even-numbered teams but sometimes one house has less of a turn out than others. In that event, we will ask for volunteers from houses with more members to help supplement the smaller team. If no volunteers are willing, we are then **** to cut teams down and sideline some participants as alternates. In my years with the team, we have never had to cut anyone as most students would rather play for another team than being benched altogether. Any other questions before we get started? No one? Good."

From here Misaki shows everyone how the large stone square in the center courtyard is actually divided into a grid pattern by smaller white paving stones. Intersecting into nine squares, the raised gazebo occupying the center, the stones act as courts for duels. Once two people recite the duelist charm, the white paving stones act as a barrier to protect spectators and help keep duels contained. The raised gazebo acts as a platform for officials to view the surrounding duels in progress.

"Once we pair off, our group will have use of two courts at a time. As these are practice matches, I will officiate both matches while Professor Schwartz and Joyce help keep an eye on things from within the gazebo. The most important thing you learn today is the duelist charm. It must be recited together with arms clasped as so." She grabs one boy by the forearm and instructs him to grasp her same forearm in an odd handshake. After letting go of each other Misaki continues. "Integritas simul arbitrantes. This charm must be spoken before any duel may proceed. Remember it." She then ushers everyone off the paved section of the courtyard and onto the grass. "It looks like we have an even eight. That will make things easy. So let's have... You and you." She indicates Lee and a boy you don't recognize. "And... You and you." Pointing to Harmony and another boy.