REGISTRATION - ROUND ONE
Go to Registration page. (may load slowely).
Sign in (first time ladder/tournament players create a profile).
Select 2026 SQLA GIA Ladder
Click Accept
Ladder History: This Ladder is being initiated April 1, 2026.
Participants: All comers (with no restriction whatsoever*). New players may join until three weeks after the start of the round. *Exceptions for those banned from current/future SQLA/WBC/BPA for unethical play or other reasons. There is no rehabilitation period.
Skipping: Players in the other tournament brackets may skip ladder rounds without forfeiting their ladder position (seeding) -- provided they play at least one ladder game during each tournament year (which starts in April). Any player may also skip a single round without forfeiting their ladder position by informing the GM prior to the round. In addition, players may enter and exit the ladder at the end of any round. Those who join (or re-join) the ladder begins at the bottom in the order they enter. Players in the top three positions may not skip a round without forfeiting their ladder position (exception: players in positions #2 and #3 may skip the first round in a tournament period). Other attempts to skip a round are treated as an unrated loss (moving the player half-way down the ladder).
Format: King of the Hill. Every player may play in every round.
Ranking: All winning players pass all losing players on the ladder each round but do not pass anyone above them on the ladder who also won. Losing players fall below all winning players but do not fall below anyone behind them on the ladder who also lost. This means that when the leader loses, s/he falls halfway down the ladder. In fact, each player moves up or down the ladder halfway when s/he wins or loses. Players who skip a round retain their exact positions. Players who sign up and are given a pairing but do not play will be considered to have lost a rated game.
Seeding: Initial seeding based on initial availability for round 1 and the results of the previous ladder SQLS Ladder play.
Round Length: 4 months
Play method: Any combination of Vassal/VSQL email/log play, server play, and/or Face-to-Face play.
Pairings: #1 plays #2, #3 plays #4, etc. Players skipping a round are ignored for that round -- for example, if #6 were skipping, #5 would play #7. New players joining at the bottom will be matched with those already on the ladder to ensure each has an opponent who can teach them the format and tools -- for example, if two new players join at #18 and #19, they will be paired with #16 and #17 respectively.
Ladder Administration: Squad Leader Academy Staff. All SQLA format is applicable.
Baseline Rules: GIA 2nd edition rulebook; SQLA Rule Conventions; SQLA Supplemental Rules of Combat, SQLA Compiled Questions & Answers; Scenario Special Rules, Rule judgements by SQLA Staff.
Scenarios: To be defined for each round by SQLA Staff.
Other Current Events
Squad Leader Academy 2025 Squad Leader Tournament
Squad Leader Academy 2026 Cross of Iron Tournament
World Boardgame Championships; Squad Leader Series Tournament