Riot Games has confirmed that coaches will be able to participate in the 1v1 matches during Valorant’s upcoming Skirmish Side Selection mechanism, which is set to debut with VCT Kickoff 2026.
For the uninitiated, Valorant is experimenting with a new formula for determining sides and map picks during tournament games. Previously, the starting sides for the teams were determined by a simple coin toss, but that will no longer be the case moving forward.
Starting VCT Kickoff 2026, players from each team will have to participate in a 1v1 match, with the winner securing priority in side selection, as well as during the map ban and pick phase.
Soon after the new format was revealed, the Valorant community urged Riot Games to allow coaches to take part in these duels as well, a request that Riot ultimately approved.
On January 16, Riot confirmed that they’ll allow coaches to participate in the 1v1 duels for the Skirmish Side Selection in VCT 2026.
“Ok we’re making this happen and adding coaches to the skirmish pool,” Valorant Esports Lead Leo Faria said in an X post. It’ll [be] optional and up to teams to have them play or not. Also confirming it’ll be on broadcast, albeit pre-taped.”
Some fans went a step further, asking Faria to restrict the Skirmishes exclusively to coaches. While he did push back on the idea, calling it a step too far, he clarified that teams are still free to coordinate and field coaches on both sides if they choose to do so.
“Making it mandatory felt like a step too far given the wide skill gap; some coaches are former pros, some aren’t,” his statement reads. “But teams are free to coordinate and elect coaches on both sides for content/funsies.”
The Skirmish format will see the players battling in a 1v1 match, with the first team to score five rounds being declared the victor. No Agent abilities are permitted during this game. The winner of the Skirmish game will get priority on map and side picks.