diff --git a/luascripts/admin/admin.lua b/luascripts/admin/admin.lua
index 20cbedf..803275b 100644
--- a/luascripts/admin/admin.lua
+++ b/luascripts/admin/admin.lua
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ local events = require "luascripts.wolfadmin.util.events"
 local settings = require "luascripts.wolfadmin.util.settings"
 local files = require "luascripts.wolfadmin.util.files"
 local db = require "luascripts.wolfadmin.db.db"
+
+local players = require "luascripts.wolfadmin.players.players"
 local stats = require "luascripts.wolfadmin.players.stats"
 
 local admin = {}
@@ -74,38 +76,6 @@ function admin.unlockPlayer(clientId)
     stats.set(clientId, "teamLock", false)
 end
 
-function admin.updatePlayer(clientId)
-    local player = db.getplayer(stats.get(clientId, "playerGUID"))
-    
-    if player then
-        local guid = stats.get(clientId, "playerGUID")
-        local ip = stats.get(clientId, "playerIP")
-        
-        db.updateplayer(guid, ip)
-    else
-        local guid = stats.get(clientId, "playerGUID")
-        local ip = stats.get(clientId, "playerIP")
-        
-        db.addplayer(guid, ip)
-        admin.setPlayerLevel(clientId, et.G_shrubbot_level(clientId), 1)
-    end
-end
-
-function admin.updateAlias(clientId)
-    local playerid = db.getplayer(stats.get(clientId, "playerGUID"))["id"]
-    local name = stats.get(clientId, "playerName")
-    local alias = db.getaliasbyname(playerid, name)
-    
-    if alias then
-        db.updatealias(alias["id"], os.time())
-        if alias["cleanalias"] == "" then
-            db.updatecleanalias(alias["id"], name)
-        end
-    else
-        db.addalias(playerid, name, os.time())
-    end
-end
-
 function admin.setPlayerLevel(clientId, level, adminId)
     local playerid = db.getplayer(stats.get(clientId, "playerGUID"))["id"]
     local adminid = db.getplayer(stats.get(adminId, "playerGUID"))["id"]
@@ -113,61 +83,23 @@ function admin.setPlayerLevel(clientId, level, adminId)
     db.addsetlevel(playerid, level, adminid, os.time())
 end
 
+function admin.onconnectattempt(clientId, firstTime, isBot)
+    if firstTime then
+        if stats.get(clientId, "playerGUID") == "NO_GUID" or stats.get(clientId, "playerGUID") == "unknown" then
+            return "\n\nIt appears you do not have a ^7GUID^9/^7etkey^9. In order to play on this server, enable ^7PunkBuster ^9(use ^7\\pb_cl_enable^9) ^9and/or create an ^7etkey^9.\n\nMore info: ^7www.etkey.org"
+        end
+    end
+
+    events.trigger("onClientConnect", clientId, firstTime, isBot)
+end
+events.handle("onClientConnectAttempt", admin.onconnectattempt)
+
 function admin.onconnect(clientId, firstTime, isBot)
     -- only increase the counter on first connection (fixes counter increase on 
     -- clientbegin which is also triggered on warmup/maprestart/etc)
     stats.set(clientId, "namechangeStart", os.time())
     stats.set(clientId, "namechangePts", 0)
-    
-    if firstTime then
-        if stats.get(clientId, "playerGUID") == "NO_GUID" or stats.get(clientId, "playerGUID") == "unknown" then
-            return "\n\nIt appears you do not have a ^7GUID^9/^7etkey^9. In order to play on this server, enable ^7PunkBuster ^9(use ^7\\pb_cl_enable^9) ^9and/or create an ^7etkey^9.\n\nMore info: ^7www.etkey.org"
-        end
-        
-        if db.isconnected() then
-            admin.updatePlayer(clientId)
-            admin.updateAlias(clientId)
-        end
-    end
 end
 events.handle("onClientConnect", admin.onconnect)
 
-function stats.oninfochange(clientId)
-    local clientInfo = et.trap_GetUserinfo(clientId)
-    local old = stats.get(clientId, "playerName")
-    local new = et.Info_ValueForKey(clientInfo, "name")
-    
-    if new ~= old then
-        if (os.time() - stats.get(clientId, "namechangeStart")) < settings.get("g_renameInterval") and stats.get(clientId, "namechangePts") >= settings.get("g_renameLimit") and not stats.get(clientId, "namechangeForce") then
-            stats.set(clientId, "namechangeForce", true)
-            
-            clientInfo = et.Info_SetValueForKey(clientInfo, "name", old)
-            et.trap_SetUserinfo(clientId, clientInfo)
-            et.ClientUserinfoChanged(clientId)
-            
-            stats.set(clientId, "namechangeForce", false)
-            
-            et.trap_SendServerCommand(clientId, "cp \"Too many name changes in 1 minute.\";")
-        else
-            stats.set(clientId, "playerName", new)
-            
-            if (os.time() - stats.get(clientId, "namechangeStart")) > settings.get("g_renameInterval") then
-                stats.set(clientId, "namechangeStart", os.time())
-                stats.get(clientId, "namechangePts", 0)
-            end
-            
-            stats.add(clientId, "namechangePts", 1)
-            
-            et.trap_SendConsoleCommand(et.EXEC_APPEND, "csay -1 \""..old.." ^7is now known as "..new.."\";")
-            
-            if db.isconnected() then
-                admin.updateAlias(clientId)
-            end
-            
-            events.trigger("onClientNameChange", clientId, old, new)
-        end
-    end
-end
-events.handle("onClientInfoChange", stats.oninfochange)
-
-return admin
\ No newline at end of file
+return admin
diff --git a/luascripts/game/game.lua b/luascripts/game/game.lua
index efaab62..8018183 100644
--- a/luascripts/game/game.lua
+++ b/luascripts/game/game.lua
@@ -104,11 +104,11 @@ function game.onrevive(clientMedic, clientVictim)
 end
 events.handle("onPlayerRevive", game.onrevive)
 
-function game.onbegin(clientId, firstTime)
+function game.onready(clientId, firstTime)
     if firstTime and settings.get("g_welcomeMessage") ~= "" then
         et.trap_SendConsoleCommand(et.EXEC_APPEND, "cchat "..clientId.." \""..settings.get("g_welcomeMessage").."\";")
     end
 end
-events.handle("onClientBegin", game.onbegin)
+events.handle("onPlayerReady", game.onready)
 
-return game
\ No newline at end of file
+return game
diff --git a/luascripts/main.lua b/luascripts/main.lua
index 963ee19..b964601 100644
--- a/luascripts/main.lua
+++ b/luascripts/main.lua
@@ -38,8 +38,9 @@ local sprees = require "luascripts.wolfadmin.game.sprees"
 local teams = require "luascripts.wolfadmin.game.teams"
 local voting = require "luascripts.wolfadmin.game.voting"
 
-local stats = require "luascripts.wolfadmin.players.stats"
 local greetings = require "luascripts.wolfadmin.players.greetings"
+local players = require "luascripts.wolfadmin.players.players"
+local stats = require "luascripts.wolfadmin.players.stats"
 
 local version = "1.1.0-beta"
 local release = "26 August 2016"
@@ -93,17 +94,11 @@ function et_ConsoleCommand(cmdText)
 end
 
 function et_ClientConnect(clientId, firstTime, isBot)
-    if firstTime == 1 then
-        stats.set(clientId, "newConnection", true)
-    end
-    
-    return events.trigger("onClientConnect", clientId, (firstTime == 1), (isBot == 1))
+    return events.trigger("onClientConnectAttempt", clientId, (firstTime == 1), (isBot == 1))
 end
 
 function et_ClientBegin(clientId)
-    events.trigger("onClientBegin", clientId, stats.get(clientId, "newConnection"))
-    
-    stats.set(clientId, "newConnection", false)
+    events.trigger("onClientBegin", clientId)
 end
 
 function et_ClientDisconnect(clientId)
diff --git a/luascripts/players/greetings.lua b/luascripts/players/greetings.lua
index 399d378..333a00e 100644
--- a/luascripts/players/greetings.lua
+++ b/luascripts/players/greetings.lua
@@ -107,12 +107,12 @@ function greetings.oninit(levelTime, randomSeed, restartMap)
     if settings.get("g_fileGreetings") ~= "" then
         greetings.load()
         
-        events.handle("onClientBegin", greetings.onbegin)
+        events.handle("onPlayerReady", greetings.onready)
     end
 end
 events.handle("onGameInit", greetings.oninit)
 
-function greetings.onbegin(clientId, firstTime)
+function greetings.onready(clientId, firstTime)
     if firstTime and (not stats.get(clientId, "isBot") or settings.get("g_botGreetings") == 1) then
         greetings.show(clientId)
     end
diff --git a/luascripts/players/players.lua b/luascripts/players/players.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b876042
--- /dev/null
+++ b/luascripts/players/players.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+
+-- WolfAdmin module for Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory servers.
+-- Copyright (C) 2015-2016 Timo 'Timothy' Smit
+
+-- This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+-- it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+-- the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+-- at your option any later version.
+
+-- This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+-- but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+-- MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+-- GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+-- You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+-- along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+local stats = require "luascripts.wolfadmin.players.stats"
+
+local events = require "luascripts.wolfadmin.util.events"
+
+local players = {}
+
+function players.updatePlayer(clientId)
+    local player = db.getplayer(stats.get(clientId, "playerGUID"))
+
+    if player then
+        local guid = stats.get(clientId, "playerGUID")
+        local ip = stats.get(clientId, "playerIP")
+
+        db.updateplayer(guid, ip)
+    else
+        local guid = stats.get(clientId, "playerGUID")
+        local ip = stats.get(clientId, "playerIP")
+
+        db.addplayer(guid, ip)
+        -- admin.setPlayerLevel(clientId, et.G_shrubbot_level(clientId), 1)
+    end
+end
+
+function players.updateAlias(clientId)
+    local playerid = db.getplayer(stats.get(clientId, "playerGUID"))["id"]
+    local name = stats.get(clientId, "playerName")
+    local alias = db.getaliasbyname(playerid, name)
+
+    if alias then
+        db.updatealias(alias["id"], os.time())
+        if alias["cleanalias"] == "" then
+            db.updatecleanalias(alias["id"], name)
+        end
+    else
+        db.addalias(playerid, name, os.time())
+    end
+end
+
+function players.onconnect(clientId, firstTime, isBot)
+    local clientInfo = et.trap_GetUserinfo(clientId)
+
+    -- name is NOT yet set in pers.netname, so get all info out of infostring
+    stats.set(clientId, "playerName", et.Info_ValueForKey(clientInfo, "name"))
+    stats.set(clientId, "playerGUID", et.Info_ValueForKey(clientInfo, "cl_guid"))
+    stats.set(clientId, "playerIP", string.gsub(et.Info_ValueForKey(clientInfo, "ip"), ":%d*", ""))
+    stats.set(clientId, "playerTeam", tonumber(et.gentity_get(clientId, "sess.sessionTeam")))
+    stats.set(clientId, "isBot", isBot)
+
+    if firstTime == 1 then
+        stats.set(clientId, "newConnection", true)
+
+        if db.isconnected() then
+            players.updatePlayer(clientId)
+            players.updateAlias(clientId)
+        end
+    end
+end
+events.handle("onClientConnect", players.onconnect)
+
+function players.onbegin(clientId)
+    -- TODO:
+    -- new approach: load necessary data in onClientConnect event handlers,
+    -- load rest in onClientBegin handlers (avoids useless loading of stats, 
+    -- less coupling between main.lua and stats.lua)
+    -- ensures that all data is loaded from this moment on
+
+    events.trigger("onPlayerReady", clientId, stats.get(clientId, "newConnection"))
+
+    stats.set(clientId, "newConnection", false)
+end
+events.handle("onClientBegin", players.onbegin)
+
+function players.ondisconnect(clientId)
+    stats.remove(clientId)
+end
+events.handle("onClientDisconnect", players.ondisconnect)
+
+-- TODO: split into admin-side and player-side event?
+function players.oninfochange(clientId)
+    local clientInfo = et.trap_GetUserinfo(clientId)
+    local old = stats.get(clientId, "playerName")
+    local new = et.Info_ValueForKey(clientInfo, "name")
+
+    if new ~= old then
+        if (os.time() - stats.get(clientId, "namechangeStart")) < settings.get("g_renameInterval") and stats.get(clientId, "namechangePts") >= settings.get("g_renameLimit") and not stats.get(clientId, "namechangeForce") then
+            stats.set(clientId, "namechangeForce", true)
+
+            clientInfo = et.Info_SetValueForKey(clientInfo, "name", old)
+            et.trap_SetUserinfo(clientId, clientInfo)
+            et.ClientUserinfoChanged(clientId)
+
+            stats.set(clientId, "namechangeForce", false)
+
+            et.trap_SendServerCommand(clientId, "cp \"Too many name changes in 1 minute.\";")
+        else
+            stats.set(clientId, "playerName", new)
+
+            if (os.time() - stats.get(clientId, "namechangeStart")) > settings.get("g_renameInterval") then
+                stats.set(clientId, "namechangeStart", os.time())
+                stats.get(clientId, "namechangePts", 0)
+            end
+
+            stats.add(clientId, "namechangePts", 1)
+
+            et.trap_SendConsoleCommand(et.EXEC_APPEND, "csay -1 \""..old.." ^7is now known as "..new.."\";")
+
+            if db.isconnected() then
+                players.updateAlias(clientId)
+            end
+
+            events.trigger("onClientNameChange", clientId, old, new)
+        end
+    end
+end
+events.handle("onClientInfoChange", players.oninfochange)
+
+function players.onteamchange(clientId)
+    local clientInfo = et.trap_GetUserinfo(clientId)
+    local old = stats.get(clientId, "playerTeam")
+    local new = tonumber(et.gentity_get(clientId, "sess.sessionTeam"))
+
+    if new ~= old then
+        stats.set(clientId, "playerTeam", new)
+
+        events.trigger("onClientTeamChange", clientId, old, new)
+    end
+end
+events.handle("onClientInfoChange", players.onteamchange)
+
+return players
diff --git a/luascripts/players/stats.lua b/luascripts/players/stats.lua
index bb498b4..110f046 100644
--- a/luascripts/players/stats.lua
+++ b/luascripts/players/stats.lua
@@ -15,8 +15,6 @@
 -- You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 -- along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-local events = require "luascripts.wolfadmin.util.events"
-
 local stats = {}
 
 local data = {[-1337] = {["playerGUID"] = "XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX"}}
@@ -74,38 +72,4 @@ function stats.remove(clientId)
     return true
 end
 
-function stats.onconnect(clientId, firstTime, isBot)
-    local clientInfo = et.trap_GetUserinfo(clientId)
-    
-    -- name is NOT yet set in pers.netname, so get all info out of infostring
-    stats.set(clientId, "playerName", et.Info_ValueForKey(clientInfo, "name"))
-    stats.set(clientId, "playerGUID", et.Info_ValueForKey(clientInfo, "cl_guid"))
-    stats.set(clientId, "playerIP", string.gsub(et.Info_ValueForKey(clientInfo, "ip"), ":%d*", ""))
-    stats.set(clientId, "playerTeam", tonumber(et.gentity_get(clientId, "sess.sessionTeam")))
-    stats.set(clientId, "isBot", isBot)
-    
-    if firstTime then
-        stats.set(clientId, "voiceMute", false)
-    end
-end
-events.handle("onClientConnect", stats.onconnect)
-
-function stats.ondisconnect(clientId)
-    stats.remove(clientId)
-end
-events.handle("onClientDisconnect", stats.ondisconnect)
-
-function stats.onteamchange(clientId)
-    local clientInfo = et.trap_GetUserinfo(clientId)
-    local old = stats.get(clientId, "playerTeam")
-    local new = tonumber(et.gentity_get(clientId, "sess.sessionTeam"))
-
-    if new ~= old then
-        stats.set(clientId, "playerTeam", new)
-
-        events.trigger("onClientTeamChange", clientId, old, new)
-    end
-end
-events.handle("onClientInfoChange", stats.onteamchange)
-
-return stats
\ No newline at end of file
+return stats
diff --git a/luascripts/util/events.lua b/luascripts/util/events.lua
index 2eb9d49..fec8762 100644
--- a/luascripts/util/events.lua
+++ b/luascripts/util/events.lua
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ events.add("onCallvote")
 events.add("onPollStart")
 events.add("onPollFinish")
 
+events.add("onClientConnectAttempt")
 events.add("onClientConnect")
 events.add("onClientDisconnect")
 events.add("onClientBegin")
@@ -117,6 +118,7 @@ events.add("onGameStateChange")
 events.add("onGameFrame")
 events.add("onGameShutdown")
 
+events.add("onPlayerReady")
 events.add("onPlayerSpawn")
 events.add("onPlayerDeath")
 events.add("onPlayerRevive")
@@ -125,4 +127,4 @@ events.add("onPlayerSkillUpdate")
 
 events.add("onServerCommand")
 
-return events
\ No newline at end of file
+return events