Alright, so I’m gonna walk you through how I set up and ran a football pool. It’s actually not that hard, but there are a few things you gotta get right.
First things first, I needed a platform. I didn’t wanna mess with paper and pencils – that’s just asking for trouble. So, I looked into a few websites and apps. There are tons of them out there, but I ended up using one called “OfficePoolStop”. Seemed pretty straightforward and had all the features I needed, like automatic scoring and standings.
Setting it Up:
- Create the Pool: Obvious, right? I went to OfficePoolStop and made an account. Then I created a new pool, gave it a catchy name (like “The Pigskin Prognosticators”), and set the rules.
- Rules, Rules, Rules: This is the important part. I decided on a simple pick’em style pool. Each week, everyone picks the winner of each game. No point spreads, just straight up winners. We gave one point for each correct pick.
- Entry Fee: Gotta make it interesting! We went with $20 per entry. Winner takes all!
- Invite People: The website made it easy to send out invites via email. I just copy-pasted my contact list and hit send.
Getting People to Join:
This was trickier than I thought. People are lazy! I had to send out reminders, talk it up at work, and even offer a little trash talk to get people to commit. I also made sure to explain the rules clearly and emphasize that it was just for fun (even though I secretly wanted to crush everyone).
Running the Pool Each Week:
Once the season started, things got pretty easy. The website took care of most of the work.
- Pick Deadline: I set the deadline for picks as kickoff of the first game of the week. That way, nobody could cheat by waiting to see if a key player was injured.
- Reminders: I used the website’s reminder feature to send out emails a couple of days before the deadline. This helped people remember to make their picks.
- Tracking Results: After the games, the website automatically updated the standings. It was fun to check and see who was in the lead.
- Trash Talk: This is optional, but highly recommended. I sent out weekly emails with some good-natured ribbing. It kept people engaged and made the pool more fun.
Paying Out the Winner:
At the end of the season, the person with the most correct picks won the whole pot. I collected everyone’s entry fees using Venmo, and then paid out the winner the same way. Easy peasy.
Things I Learned:
- Keep it Simple: Don’t overcomplicate the rules. The easier the pool is to understand, the more people will want to join.
- Communication is Key: Send out regular reminders and updates. Keep people engaged.
- Pick the Right Platform: Do some research and find a website or app that fits your needs. There are lots of options out there.
- Have Fun! It’s just a game! Don’t take it too seriously.
Overall, running a football pool was a pretty rewarding experience. It was a fun way to connect with friends and coworkers, and it added a little extra excitement to the football season. I’m already planning on doing it again next year!
