2019 Football Pool -- Official Rules

REQUIREMENTS: Each contestant must submit an entry fee before the start of the season.
OBJECT: Pick a winning NFL team every weekend.
GOAL: Win the pot.

REGULAR SEASON

• Each contestant must select one team per weekend that will win its football game.
• Eligible games are those being played on Sunday* or Monday Night. *unless the game starts before the deadline (in Europe, for example)
• A team may not be picked more than once during the season.
• Each week's pick is due by 9am Pacific Time on Sunday.
• If a picked team loses or ties, that contestant gets a "strike."
• Three strikes and you're out.
• The last person left in the pool wins the pot.

If there is more than one person left in the pool when the regular season ends, the football pool continues into the post-season.

POST-SEASON

• Each contestant's "strikes" go with him.
• The slate of "teams picked" is wiped clean. Every team becomes eligible again.

Then...

• Each contestant must select one team per weekend that will win its football game.
• Eligible games are those being played on Saturday and Sunday.
• A team may not be picked more than once during the post-season.
• If a contestant has no team available, he will take a loss for that week.
• Each week's pick is due by 1pm Pacific Time on Saturday.
• If a picked team loses or ties, that contestant gets a "strike."
• Three strikes and you're out, including strikes from the regular season.
• The last person left in the pool wins the pot.

If more than one person survives the entire season, there is only one tie-breaker:

• Fewer strikes

All of the surviving contestants with the fewest strikes split the pot (minus any monies paid out).
All of the surviving contestants with one loss, but who do not have the fewest strikes receive their entry fee back.
All of the surviving contestants with two losses, but who do not have the fewest strikes are eligible for the Booby Prize.

The Booby Prize is awarded to the contestant(s) who have survived the greatest number of weeks since receiving their second strike.
Prize is split amongst all winners, with a minimum share equal to the entry fee.

NFL decisions on wins, losses, and ties will be official.
If, for some reason, a picked game is not completed and will not be made up at a later date, all picks from that weekend will be thrown out.
If a picked game is not completed and will be made up at a later date, each contestant will be allowed to change his pick for the make-up game. The deadline will be Sunday morning 9am PST if the league is making up an entire weekend of games (as in 2001), or 1 hour prior to kickoff if they are making up only a game or two.
Picks will be posted on the website as soon as they are made. This is NOT true, however, in the following circumstances:
1. When the number of leaders is 12 or fewer, the leaders' picks will not be posted until after the deadline.
2. When the number of leaders is 2 or fewer, and the top two levels have a total 20 or fewer players, the top two levels of picks will not be posted until after the deadline.
3. Prior to Championship Weekend in the playoffs, NO picks will be posted until after the deadline.

Questions? Send them to pool19@ducey.com.