Pokémon League (TCG)
A Pokémon League, often casually referred to simply as League, is a periodic gathering, typically weekly, of players of the Pokémon Trading Card Game and Pokémon games. During a Pokémon League session, players battle and trade for fun. It is not a structured tournament and there are no regular "prizes" for winning. However, each player is issued a Score Card upon registering, on which the League Leader will stamp a mark for each game won, eventually resulting in minor prizes.
Most Pokémon Leagues meet once a week, year round, though some meet more or less than that, with some Leagues running once a month during only a certain time period.
League Leader
A League Leader is the person in charge of maintaining a Pokémon League. The League Leader takes care of organizing League dates, to maintain that Play! Pokémon is aware of the League's existence, in order to receive player rewards and other League materials. Additionally, the League Leader is expected to stamp players' cards when they play games, and to hand out the promotional cards and other supplied League rewards once they have been earned.
Score Card
Upon registering with a Pokémon League, players receive a Score Card. This card is a foldable piece of card stock approximately the size of a small greeting card. The outer design of this card provides space for the player's name and Player ID. Inside the card are two sides, one for TCG matches and one for video game battles. Completing any row earns the player a League Promo.
Current rewards
Promotional foil cards
Promotional cards earned in Pokémon Leagues, dubbed "League Promos," are exclusive to Pokémon Leagues. The cards are not traditional Black Star promotional cards; instead, these cards are foil, Play! Pokémon branded versions of existing set cards.
2009-2010 cycle
- Rival Season: Snorlax and Uxie
- Cyrus Season: Arcanine G and Dialga G
- Cynthia Season: Milotic C and Claydol
- Palmer Season: Dragonite FB and Roseanne's Research
- Thorton Season: Skarmory FB and Felicity's Drawing
- Dahlia Season: Dusknoir FB and Bebe's Search
- Darach Season: Empoleon FB and Underground Expedition
- Argenta Season: Butterfree FB and Warp Point
2010-2011 cycle
- Ring Drop Season: Donphan and Spiritomb
- Hurdle Dash Season: Crobat and Expert Belt
- Snow Throw Season: Delibird and Azelf
- Block Smash Season: Steelix and Special Metal Energy
- Disc Catch Season: Houndoom and Special Darkness Energy
Promotional Nintendo DS skin
These adhesive skins are designed to decorate a player's Nintendo DS. Criteria for winning these depend on what the League Leader would like to do, though traditionally the skins are given after completing an entire side on a card.
Patches
Starting in the 2010-2011 cycle, a heat seal patch is given out that matches the League Season. The patch, while technically heat seal, can also be hand ironed.
Discontinued rewards
POP booster packs
If the player plays a certain number of games, they will receive a booster pack of POP cards. These are now sent to players who are opted into the Player Rewards Program.
Badges
Badges obtained in a Pokémon League once a player completes their League Card and reaches the Badge symbol at the end. Badges in the Pokémon League often, but not always, correspond with Badges in the Pokémon games.