rbrecruiter/app/Http/Requests/SearchPlayerRequest.php

<?php

namespace App\Http\Requests;

use Illuminate\Foundation\Http\FormRequest;
use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Auth;

class SearchPlayerRequest extends FormRequest
{
    /**
     * Determine if the user is authorized to make this request.
     *
     * @return bool
     */
    public function authorize()
    {
        return Auth::user()->can('admin.userlist');
    }

    /**
     * Get the validation rules that apply to the request.
     *
     * @return array
     */
    public function rules()
    {
        return [
            'searchTerm' => 'required|string|max:17' // max user char limit set by Mojang
        ];
    }
}