Because every league has its own schedule, it is impossible to run DEL Cup at a time in which all leagues are in season. Instead, the tournament is scheduled to run at a different speed than the leagues, so that while one tournament may come during your offseason, the next comes during your season. If a league is in its offseason, it is still possible for teams to participate. Each season begins on a Monday and its first free agent signings Friday, thus allowing teams to field complete rosters both in the weekend before the new season begins and the weekend after the new season begins.

In order to integrate DEL Cup with league play, your DEL Cup performances do affect your team. Players sustain and heal from injuries, fatigue, and learn new positions just as if the games were league games. Additionally, your team receives a bonus at the start of each round beginning with the second round. Finally, press releases sent to the DEL Cup mailing lists count the same as normal press releases toward the weekly press bonuses.