The quick rundown
TF2 is a game with a large community, and over time it has only continued to grow with the release of the free to play platform. As with all long lived games, there are both generation and skill gaps which segregate the community. Many players who may want to enjoy the game, or have the potential to, are looked down upon by other players. This group's purpose is to not only encourage new players, but get them up to speed with those who have been playing longest. We do this through positive reinforcement, training, sparring and a focus on "willing education". There is a difference between teaching and preaching. We do not force our knowledge onto other players here, nor do we behave like elitist MLG clowns. If a player needs help, we are simply there to help them. Working together we can guarantee a strong, capable community and a longer life for Team Fortress 2.

Our values
In this group we have a set of mutual beliefs and values that help us work together. They include but are not limited to the following;

• Every player has potential. Even the worst player can improve with practice and diligence.
  
• Elitism ruins games. When people place themselves over others in regards to petty things such as talent in video games, it ruins the game not only for those they belittle but the community around them which subsequently diminishes due to it. Many games have suffered this fate, and are now populated only by the tryhards who drove everyone else out. (IE: Natural Selection)
  
• "F2P" does not equal "Bad". It means new, everyone was new at some point and many players like to deny this fact.
  
• Teamwork is essential. This does not mean a user needs to be on the mic at all times reporting the locations of enemy players, or barking commands at their team. It means if you value victory, then you are willing to support your team. Be it rolling a class you aren't particularly in the mood for to cover a weakness, or providing support instead of going lone wolf. The T in TF2 is for team, and if you don't work together as one you will more often than not find that you will lose.
  
• If a player needs help, and you have no reason not to give it, help them.

So you want to get better...
First off, congratulations on your commitment to improving. There are many ways this group can be beneficial to you, and this section will explain some of these methods as well as how to find a teacher that matches your personality and needs.
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Some basic tips for avoiding trouble in TF2
Before we get too far into things, there are a few basic steps you can take to help avoid elitist/bullying behavior. These things may sound superficial, but they genuinely make a difference:

Choose an avatar, but not a stock one
The first tip-off for people in-game that they are playing with someone F2P or new to steam is the infamous ? icon. Many players will see several of these icons on their team, and try to votescramble, swap to the other team or leave the server entirely. Stock avatars are often treated the same way, because many are overused and stand out. Try being unique, choose an avatar that suits your personality or interests.

Numbers in your username aren't necessary or recommended
A steam name isn't a gamertag. There's absolutely no reason to have a name like "jake4497". Once again, try to be creative enough to blend into the crowd. Real names, names with a string of numbers, or names that are overly long are all poor choices for various reasons. Some games that use steamworks for example, don't even function properly when a username is too long. (IE: Dark Souls)

Keep your profile public
Phishers are notorious for having private profiles. If your steamid page is private, a lot of players will see it and immediately see a red flag. In reality, there is no reason to keep your page private or hidden, as you can limit/disable commenting and other interactive behavior from the community in your settings.
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Finding a mentor who suits your needs
One of the primary benefits of being part of this group, is having access to our list of volunteer teachers. Keep in mind that when you are looking for one, that these are people offering their time free of any charge or expectation aside from being able to help. The following is a list of steps that all students should follow to ensure the best results.

1. Read the entire section for each teacher in the list.
   It's important that you don't simply add multiple teachers, or those who don't teach what you want to learn. Find the one that covers as many of the topics you want to learn at once, and if they don't cover it all then it's alright to select a second.
   
2. Be sure you'll get along with the teacher.
   Each teacher has had the option to provide personal notes to their listing. Be sure that you agree with their own individual ways of thinking before adding someone you could butt-heads with.
   
3. Be aware of the mentor's student count.
   Juggling students is difficult, so there is a mandatory limit on how many students each teacher can have. Before inviting one, make sure they have an opening.
   
4. Invite your desired mentor/s to your friendlist.
   If they accept but aren't online, be sure to introduce yourself in an offline message. It's important to leave a good first impression. Never invite someone and remain silent, chances are they won't know why you added them and will eventually just remove you.

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Be on your best behavior!
Remember, the group mentors are here to help you out of kindness, not obligation. Push their buttons too often and there is no repurcussion for them if they want to drop you as a student. The following list will describe many of the behaviors to avoid;

• Begging
  Often seen as the highest tier of nuisance. Don't beg or ask your mentor for their items! If they want to give gifts, that's at their discretion. It should never be requested.
  
• Arguing
  Debating and questioning are okay. Arguing with your mentor over their lessons however is simply disrespectful. By default when you add them, it means you acknowledge they know more than you about something and would like to know as much. Behaving as if you know better and stubbornly refusing to try new things can lead to you being dropped.

So you want to be a teacher...
Good for you, you want to contribute to a better tomorrow in TF2. But the question remains, how do you do so? The following section will cover the basics of applications, guidelines and behavioral suggestions for handling your pupils.
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How to apply for a mentor position
Let's start off with the group's application form and a breakdown of each section.

1. Your steam url is your steam64url or your custom url. The former can be found via websites such as steamrep, the latter is the url if you have customised it. Your preferred nickname helps keep you identifiable in the group.
   
2. Competitive and casual gameplay are very different things. So being sure to specify what you are teaching is very important. Our teachers are set up into 2 seperate categories for this reason, so be sure to be specific!
   
3. A simplified list of subjects taught. This helps potential students find you. So give a brief explanation of each subject you are willing to instruct, such as rocket jumping, class strategy or loadouts.
   
4. Your current number of pupils will be updated via reports from you after having found them. Keep us up to date so you don't get flooded with invites!
   
5. Nobody can handle too much work. To keep things under control, we enforce a mandatory 5 student limit per teacher at the current time. This number can be smaller for your convenience, but should not go higher. 3 is a good sweet spot.
   
6. This section is yours to help describe your teaching/playstyle and give a brief look at your personality. Standing out a bit helps students find good matches for them, and prevents you from butting heads with people who think differently.

Your applications can be submitted here. But be sure to read the next section first, it's very important!
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The requirements for applying
Yes, there are rules you must follow for applying to be a teacher. These are in place to guarantee quality over quantity. While some players may have good intentions, they may do more harm than good by spreading misinformation. The following section will detail specific topics, and the requirements that must be met to be listed on the mentor sticky.

Competitive gameplay - Must have 1k hours in-game
Trading - Must have 1k hours in-game
Casual gameplay - Must have 500 hours and be spectated by an officer/admin for approval.
Other topics such as jumpmaps and rocket jumping do not have prerequisites.
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Basic tips for handling students
While we don't officially have any rules for dropping a student from your mentorship, we'd rather avoid this. The following behavior can definitely help you with interacting with others.

• Positive reinforcement is the best first approach.
  
• Giving gifts isn't mandatory, but it can lead to begging. With all things, do so with moderation.
  
• Demanding the student buy a mic is disrespectful. Not everyone has the money, and TF2 is free to play after all.
  
• If your student argues, debate with them. Don't just insist your way is better, hear them out and explain your reasonings.
  
• Don't be afraid to tell them you're busy! You are a volunteer, this isn't your job. If you'd rather be doing something else, gently let them down and inform them they will have your time later.

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So, that's pretty much it!
Welcome to the group, we hope to see you all stay and help our community grow!