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

# How access works

> How roles decide what each person can see and change in the staff console, and why some controls appear greyed out.

Access is what a person may do in the staff console, and it comes from their roles. Each organiser sets up their own roles, so the same role name can allow different things on different tournaments. When a page says "You need access to change the schedule", one of your roles must allow it.

## Roles

A role is a named set of things a person may do, such as reading the schedule, changing it, or scoring matches in Live. Staff get access on the **Access** page, by Discord account, with one or more roles. A person with several roles can do everything any of them allows.

The **Roles & permissions** tab on **Access** compares what each role allows. Anyone who can open **Access** can read it, so check it before you give someone a role.

## What you see

* **The sidebar** shows only the pages your roles let you open.
* **The Dashboard** shows only the counts and panels your roles let you read.
* **Controls** you can't use appear greyed out. Hold the pointer over one to see "Your assigned roles do not grant this action." You can still read the page, such as the schedule or the teams, without changing it.

## The No access page

The staff console shows a **No access** page in two cases:

* **The account has no staff access.** After signing in, the page reads "You are signed in. This account has no dashboard access. You can use the Player Hub or ask an access manager for a role." Someone who can give staff access adds the person on **Access**, then the person signs in again. See [Give someone staff access](/season/give-staff-access).
* **The page or action isn't allowed.** The page reads "You do not have access to this action." and offers **Go to Dashboard** and **Sign out**. The person needs a role that allows it. When they're given more access, they're signed out, and they sign in again to use it.

## When changes take effect

* **More access.** When someone gets a new role, or a role they hold gains more, they're signed out. The new access applies when they sign in again.
* **Less access.** When someone loses a role, the change applies on the next page they open or the next action they try.
* **Removal from Access.** Someone removed on **Access** loses staff console access straight away.

## Bans

A ban overrides every role. A ban signs the player out, and they can't use any signed-in part of the Tournament System, in the staff console or the Player Hub, until the ban ends or staff lift it. Their roles stay in place and apply again when they next sign in. See [Keep staff notes and ban players](/season/players).

## Next steps

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Card title="The staff console" href="/get-started/staff-console">
    Sign in, use the sidebar and read the Dashboard.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Give someone staff access" href="/season/give-staff-access">
    Add someone by their Discord account and choose their roles.
  </Card>
</Columns>


## Related topics

- [How a season runs](/get-started/how-a-season-runs.md)
- [Give someone staff access](/season/give-staff-access.md)
- [The staff console](/get-started/staff-console.md)
- [Keep staff notes and ban players](/season/players.md)
- [Review and verify teams](/season/verify-teams.md)


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