> ## 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.

# Open and close sign-ups

> Let players create teams, set when sign-ups close, and set the most players a team can have.

Sign-ups decide whether players can create new teams. Open them on **Settings** at the start of each season, and close them once your teams have formed. The team size limit is on the same page.

Closing sign-ups doesn't stop players joining an existing team with its invite code.

## Before you start

* You need access to change tournament settings. See [How access works](/get-started/access).

## Open sign-ups

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Settings">
    In the sidebar, select **Season** → **Settings**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Turn on Allow sign-ups">
    Under **Registration**, turn on **Allow sign-ups**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set a sign-up deadline (optional)">
    Select **Sign-up deadline**, choose a date, set the **Time**, and select **Done**. Sign-ups close automatically at that time.

    The deadline is in your time zone, named under the field, and must be in the future. For no deadline, select **Clear**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set the team size limit">
    Under **Teams**, enter the **Team size limit**, from 4 to 30.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Select **Save changes**. "Settings saved." confirms it.

    Players can now create teams on the Player Hub, and the Dashboard's **Sign-ups** count reads **Open**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  The team size limit isn't part of your rules. If your rules state a team size, update them on **Rules** too.
</Note>

## Close sign-ups

* **At the deadline.** Sign-ups close automatically.
* **By hand.** On **Settings**, turn off **Allow sign-ups** and select **Save changes**.

Closing sign-ups greys out the **Create** tab on the players' **Registration** page, and the Player Hub's team card reads **Join a Team** instead of **Join or Create a Team**. Existing teams keep working: players can still join and leave them, and captains and staff can still remove players.

After the deadline passes, **Allow sign-ups** shows as off. To reopen sign-ups, turn it on and choose a new deadline, or select **Clear**. Without either, **Save changes** fails with "The sign-up deadline has passed. Choose a new one, or clear it, to allow sign-ups."

## Lowering the team size limit

Lowering the limit removes no one. A team over the new limit keeps its players but can't take new ones until it's under the limit. Joining a full team shows "This team is full."

The Teams page and each roster show the limit, such as 3 / 12.

## Next steps

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Card title="Join or create a team" href="/players/join-or-create-a-team">
    Send this to your players: how they sign in and form a team.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Review and verify teams" href="/season/verify-teams">
    Check submitted teams and verify them.
  </Card>
</Columns>


## Related topics

- [How a season runs](/get-started/how-a-season-runs.md)
- [Glossary](/get-started/glossary.md)
- [Review and verify teams](/season/verify-teams.md)
- [Write and publish the rules](/season/rules.md)
- [The staff console](/get-started/staff-console.md)


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