diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 6d18857..d49a2cc 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
         'PyYAML >=5.1.2, <7',
         'league-ranker >=0.1, <2',
         'python-dateutil >=2.7, <3',
-        'typing-extensions >=4, <5',
+        'typing-extensions >=4.6, <5',
     ],
     python_requires='>=3.10',
     classifiers=[
diff --git a/sr/comp/comp.py b/sr/comp/comp.py
index b434d16..2916a1e 100644
--- a/sr/comp/comp.py
+++ b/sr/comp/comp.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 from subprocess import check_output
 from typing import cast
 
-from . import arenas, matches, ranker, scores, teams, venue
+from . import arenas, match_operations, matches, ranker, scores, teams, venue
 from .types import RankerType, ScorerType
 from .winners import compute_awards
 
@@ -128,6 +128,12 @@ def __init__(self, root: str | Path) -> None:
         )
         """A :class:`sr.comp.matches.MatchSchedule` instance."""
 
+        self.operations = match_operations.MatchOperations.create(
+            self.root / 'operations.yaml',
+            self.schedule,
+        )
+        """A :class:`sr.comp.match_operations.MatchOperations` instance."""
+
         self.timezone = self.schedule.timezone
         """The timezone of the competition."""
 
diff --git a/sr/comp/match_operations.py b/sr/comp/match_operations.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dcf412d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sr/comp/match_operations.py
@@ -0,0 +1,236 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import dataclasses
+import datetime
+import enum
+from collections.abc import Collection
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from . import yaml_loader
+from .match_period import Match
+from .matches import MatchSchedule
+from .types import MatchNumber, OperationsData, ReleasedMatchData
+
+
+class MatchState(enum.Enum):
+    """
+    The state of a match from the perspective of match operations.
+
+    - Matches are initially all `FUTURE`.
+    - Once a match is released it will become `RELEASED`.
+    - If the current time is past the release threshold for a given match and it
+      has not be released, then it is `HELD`.
+    """
+
+    FUTURE = 'future'
+    HELD = 'held'
+    RELEASED = 'released'
+
+
+@dataclasses.dataclass(frozen=True)
+class ArenaTimes:
+    release_threshold: datetime.datetime
+    start: datetime.datetime
+    end: datetime.datetime
+
+
+@dataclasses.dataclass(frozen=True)
+class OperationsMatches:
+    time: datetime.datetime
+    matches: Collection[Match]
+    staging_matches: Collection[Match]
+    shepherding_matches: Collection[Match]
+
+
+class InvalidResetDurationError(ValueError):
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        release_threshold: datetime.timedelta,
+        reset_duration: datetime.timedelta,
+    ) -> None:
+        super().__init__(release_threshold, reset_duration)
+        self.release_threshold = release_threshold
+        self.reset_duration = reset_duration
+
+    def __str__(self) -> str:
+        return (
+            "Match reset duration must be at least as long as the release "
+            f"threshold. (threshold: {self.release_threshold}, "
+            f"reset duration: {self.reset_duration})"
+        )
+
+
+class InvalidReleasedMatchNumberError(ValueError):
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        number: MatchNumber,
+        final_number: MatchNumber,
+    ) -> None:
+        super().__init__(number, final_number)
+        self.number = number
+        self.final_number = final_number
+
+    def __str__(self) -> str:
+        return (
+            f"Invalid released match number {self.number}, must be in range "
+            f"0-{self.final_number}"
+        )
+
+
+class MatchOperations:
+    @staticmethod
+    def create(path: Path, schedule: MatchSchedule) -> MatchOperations:
+        try:
+            y = yaml_loader.load(path)
+            operations_data: OperationsData = y['operations']
+
+            release_threshold = datetime.timedelta(
+                seconds=operations_data['release_threshold'],
+            )
+            reset_duration = datetime.timedelta(
+                seconds=operations_data['reset_duration'],
+            )
+            released_match = operations_data['released_match']
+
+            return MatchOperations(
+                schedule,
+                release_threshold=release_threshold,
+                reset_duration=reset_duration,
+                released_match_data=released_match,
+            )
+        except FileNotFoundError:
+            final_match = schedule.final_match
+            return MatchOperations(
+                schedule,
+                release_threshold=datetime.timedelta(0),
+                reset_duration=datetime.timedelta(0),
+                released_match_data={
+                    'number': final_match.num,
+                    'time': final_match.start_time,
+                },
+            )
+
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        schedule: MatchSchedule,
+        release_threshold: datetime.timedelta,
+        reset_duration: datetime.timedelta,
+        released_match_data: ReleasedMatchData | None,
+    ) -> None:
+        if reset_duration < release_threshold:
+            raise InvalidResetDurationError(
+                release_threshold=release_threshold,
+                reset_duration=reset_duration,
+            )
+
+        if released_match_data:
+            if released_match_data['number'] not in range(schedule.n_matches()):
+                raise InvalidReleasedMatchNumberError(
+                    number=released_match_data['number'],
+                    final_number=schedule.final_match.num,
+                )
+
+        self.schedule = schedule
+        self.release_threshold = release_threshold
+        self.reset_duration = reset_duration
+        self.released_match_data = released_match_data
+
+    @property
+    def last_released_match(self) -> MatchNumber | None:
+        """The most recently released match."""
+        if not self.released_match_data:
+            return None
+        return self.released_match_data['number']
+
+    def get_arena_times(self, match: Match) -> ArenaTimes:
+        match_start = match.start_time + self.schedule.match_slot_lengths['pre']
+        return ArenaTimes(
+            release_threshold=match_start - self.release_threshold,
+            start=match_start,
+            end=match_start + self.schedule.match_slot_lengths['match'],
+        )
+
+    def get_match_state(self, match: Match, when: datetime.datetime) -> MatchState:
+        last_released_match = self.last_released_match
+        if last_released_match is not None and match.num <= last_released_match:
+            return MatchState.RELEASED
+
+        times = self.get_arena_times(match)
+        if times.release_threshold <= when:
+            return MatchState.HELD
+
+        return MatchState.FUTURE
+
+    def _get_effective_time(self, when: datetime.datetime) -> datetime.datetime:
+        """
+        Get the "effective" time for a given wall-clock time.
+
+        The returned value accounts for any unreleased matches and can be safely
+        used with queries against the schedule (which is otherwise unaware of
+        operationally driven changes).
+        """
+
+        # For the next, yet to be released match
+        num = (
+            self.released_match_data['number'] + 1
+            if self.released_match_data
+            else 0
+        )
+
+        if num >= self.schedule.n_matches():
+            # All matches have been released
+            return when
+
+        slot = self.schedule.matches[num]
+        match = next(iter(slot.values()))
+
+        times = self.get_arena_times(match)
+        if times.release_threshold > when:
+            # Haven't reached the threshold yet -- all is well
+            return when
+
+        # In a held state, things are effectively paused at the release
+        # threshold time
+        return times.release_threshold
+
+    def get_matches_at(self, when: datetime.datetime) -> OperationsMatches:
+        """
+        Get all the matches with a useful relation to a given time.
+
+        This accounts for both delays committed to the schedule and ongoing
+        operational changes such as non-released matches.
+        """
+
+        real_when = when
+        when = self._get_effective_time(when)
+
+        matches = []
+        staging_matches = []
+        shepherding_matches = []
+
+        for slot in self.schedule.matches:
+            for match in slot.values():
+                if match.start_time <= when < match.end_time:
+                    matches.append(match)
+
+                staging_times = self.schedule.get_staging_times(match)
+
+                if when > staging_times['closes']:
+                    # Already done staging
+                    continue
+
+                if staging_times['opens'] <= when:
+                    staging_matches.append(match)
+
+                signal_shepherds = staging_times['signal_shepherds']
+                if signal_shepherds:
+                    first_signal = min(signal_shepherds.values())
+                    if first_signal <= when:
+                        shepherding_matches.append(match)
+
+        return OperationsMatches(
+            time=real_when,
+            matches=matches,
+            staging_matches=staging_matches,
+            shepherding_matches=shepherding_matches,
+        )
diff --git a/sr/comp/matches.py b/sr/comp/matches.py
index 9d61355..ea956b6 100644
--- a/sr/comp/matches.py
+++ b/sr/comp/matches.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 from collections.abc import Iterable, Iterator, Mapping, Sequence
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any, TypeVar
-from typing_extensions import TypedDict
+from typing_extensions import deprecated, TypedDict
 
 import dateutil.tz
 from league_ranker import RankedPosition
@@ -423,12 +423,19 @@ def delay_at(self, date: datetime.datetime) -> datetime.timedelta:
 
         return total
 
+    @deprecated("Use SRComp.operations.get_matches_at instead.")
     def matches_at(self, date: datetime.datetime) -> Iterator[Match]:
         """
-        Get all the matches that occur around a specific ``date``.
+        Deprecated in favour of ``MatchOperations.get_matches_at``.
 
-        :param datetime date: The date at which matches occur.
-        :return: An iterable list of matches.
+        Get all the matches scheduled to occur around a specific ``date``.
+
+        This accounts for delays committed to the schedule, but does not account
+        for ongoing operational changes such as non-released matches.
+
+        All known consumers want the latter to be included and should use
+        ``MatchOperations.get_matches_at`` instead. If usages which need
+        this behaviour are found, please report them.
         """
 
         for slot in self.matches:
diff --git a/sr/comp/types.py b/sr/comp/types.py
index 3ebd2bf..bb7901b 100644
--- a/sr/comp/types.py
+++ b/sr/comp/types.py
@@ -179,3 +179,40 @@ class DelayData(TypedDict):
 
 
 AwardsData = NewType('AwardsData', dict[str, Union[TLA, list[TLA]]])
+
+
+class ReleasedMatchData(TypedDict):
+    number: MatchNumber
+    time: datetime.datetime
+
+
+class OperationsData(TypedDict):
+    """
+    Information relating to the operation of matches.
+    """
+
+    release_threshold: int
+    """
+    Duration prior to the start of a match to pause if the match has not been
+    "released". In seconds relative to the start of the game (not the slot).
+    """
+
+    reset_duration: int
+    """
+    Duration prior to the start of a match to reset to if the match is "reset".
+    In seconds relative to the start of the game (not the slot). Must be greater
+    than or equal to `release_threshold`.
+    """
+
+    released_match: ReleasedMatchData | None
+    """
+    Information about the currently released match.
+
+    Either:
+      - None, meaning that no matches have been released, or
+      - the most recently released match & when it was released
+
+    History is not recorded. Delays are used to correct for "late" releases.
+    Resets are performed by changing this to a suitable value for the previous
+    match and (if needed) adding a delay.
+    """