General
Q. Does it cost money to play?
A. No, the Game is free to play for the entire season. However, you should be aware that you may be subject to charges depending on your own arrangements for internet access.
Q. Will my League have its own message board?
A. Yes, each League will have access to its own private league message board.
Q. How do I change my e-mail address?
A. After you have logged in to your team, just click on "My Account".
Q. Can I register for more than one Team?
A. Yes, you can enter a maximum of four (4) Teams per email address. Your Teams can be in the same or different leagues.
How to enter and form Teams and Leagues
Q. How do I enter?
A. Entry to the Game is solely via the website at www.timesonline.co.uk/playthegame.
Q. How old do I have to be to play the Game?
A. There are no age restrictions on entry to the Game. However, only entrants over the age of 18 will be eligible to win prizes.
Q. When do I have to enter by?
A. You can enter from 14 July 2008. To qualify for maximum prize winning opportunities, your player allocation must have taken place by 11:00:00 BST on Friday 31 August 2008. You can enter after this date but Teams will not be eligible for any prize if player allocation takes place after 31st December 2008.
Q. What are the entry stages?
A. You need to complete five steps to complete your entry and be ready to play the Game. Step 1: Create your team, Step 2: Create or Join a League; Step 3: Rank your players: Step 4: Player allocation; Step 5: Select your active Team.
Q. How do I create my team?
A. Once registered you can create a Team. Initially this will be a Team in name only.
Q. Can I register for more than one Team?
A. Yes, you can enter a maximum of four (4) Teams per email address. Your Teams can be in the same or different leagues.
Q. What can I call my Team?
A. You are free to chose any Team name up to 25 characters long, subject to decency rules.
Q. How do I join or create a League?
A. Once you have registered a Team name you can join an established Public League or create or join a Private League.
Q. How many Teams are in a League?
A. All Public Leagues have 10 teams. Each Private League must have between 5 and 20 Teams to be eligible to play the Game. The entrant that creates the Private League will set the number of Teams in the League during registration.
Q. What is the difference between a Public and Private league?
A. A Public League is a League that can be joined by anyone at any time prior to that League's selected player allocation date. Public Leagues are for entrants looking to play with other entrants with similar interests, player allocation dates, etc. You can either ask us to find you a suitable league using our League Matcher, or you can choose from a list of existing Public Leagues that have vacancies. If you want a League just for you and your friends then a Private League will be the best option for you. A Private League allows you to play with a specific group of people you know. If you create a Private League you not only set the parameters, but also the League password which you then share with anyone you want to join you League. Anyone who knows the League name and password will be able to enter your League, until the League is filled. The creator of a League is known as the Chairman of the League.
Q. Can I change the number of Teams in a League I have created?
A. Yes. A Private League Chairman can change the number of Teams in their League anytime prior to the league filling or up to 24 hours prior to the player allocation date, whichever is the earlier. Once the league has filled, or you are 24 hours from you player allocation date the league settings cannot change. In addition, you may not decrease the number of teams in a league if that new number is lower than the number of teams that have already joined the league.
Q. Can I change Leagues?
A. If you have elected to let us find you a League, then you cannot leave that League. But if you have chosen your own Public League, provided player allocation has not taken place and your current league has not yet filled you can leave one League and join another League.
Q. How do I select players?
A. You will have 400-plus players to choose from, but a player can only play for one Team in any League. All Public Leagues use an automated player allocation system. Private Leagues can choose between the automated system or running their player allocation "offline".
Q. How do I get the players I want if player allocation is automated?
A. You won't be able to get all the players you would like - not even Roman Abramovich has been able to manage that - but you can increase your chances of securing your top targets. As soon as your Team has joined a League, you will have the opportunity to compile and rank a personal "Wish List" of players you would like in your team. Then, on your designated player allocation date, the computer will automatically select players for each Team in your league based on the managers' Wish Lists rather than a preset ranking list.
Q. Player allocation hasn't taken place - why?
A. Player allocations will only occur if, as at 24 hours prior to the player allocation date, the League has acquired the number of Teams set by the Chairman. The Chairman may change the player allocation date and the set number of Teams at any time prior to 24 hours before the player allocation date.
Prior to August 14, 2008, if a League has not acquired the set number of Teams 24 hours prior to the player allocation date, the player allocation will be postponed until August 14, 2008. If on that date, the specified number of Teams has not been formed, but there are more than 5 teams, the player allocation will take place. If there are fewer than 5 teams, the player allocation date will be postponed by a week. If a player allocation is postponed, the Chairman will be informed by email.
After August 14, 2008, if a League has not acquired the set number of Teams 24 hours prior to the player allocation date, the player allocation will be postponed for one week, and will keep being postponed until the set number of Teams has been reached.
Q. Do I have to be online during my player allocation?
A. No - the Game's computer will run the allocation. Player allocations for all leagues are processed on different days. Player rankings must be prepared by 11.59pm on the day preceding each League's appointed allocation day. All allocations are processed overnight and team information is available the next morning.
Q. How many players do I have to put on my Wish List?
A. It's up to you how many players you chose to put on your Wish List. Your starting point will be a default ranking list provided by Times Online experts, the Official Times Rankings. You can select players from the list and move them onto your Wish List, which can then be re-ranked. . You can update your list as often as you like before your designated player allocation date. When no more players on your Wish List are available, the computer will select players from those that you chose not to select from the Official Times rankings. You will be allocated a squad of 20 Premier League players.
Q. How is player allocation order and Team formation determined?
A. Premier League players are allocated to each Team on the basis of the Wish List compiled by the entrant, and the entrant order assigned by the Game. So the top-ordered Team will be allocated their top-ranked player. The second in order Team will be allocated their top-ranked player, unless he has already been allocated. Once each Team has been allocated one player, the ranking is reversed, so the last ordered Team will be allocated the next player, and then backwards through the Team order. Player allocation will also be made on the basis of that player's position until each team has a complete team in a 4-4-2 formation, with priority being given to position over player ranking. For instance, if a Team has been allocated 5 midfielders (consisting of a left midfielder, 2 central midfielders, a right midfielder and one additional midfielder from any midfield position) and 6 defenders and goalkeepers (consisting of a goalkeeper, a left back, 2 central defenders, a right back and one more defensive player from any of these positions), but no forwards, the next player allocated to that Team must be a forward, no matter that the entrant has ranked another midfielder more highly. The final result of the player allocation process is that each Team will have a squad of 20 players which will be formed of at least 5 midfielders, 6 defenders/goalkeepers and 3 forwards.
Q. How does an offline allocation work?
A. The members of your Private League get together in the office, at a Manager's house or in the pub and pick their players in turn, much as our computer does - but each Manager has the advantage of knowing which players have been taken and which are still available when their turn comes to choose. Alternatively, they can try an auction system. Either way, it's usually a lot of fun.
When each Manager has a full squad of 20 players, the League Chairman can input the squad details, which is a lot easier than it sounds. You can find out more about offline allocations by clicking on "Offline Allocation Kit" in the HOME menu.
Q. What happens if there is an intra-League dispute?
A. You are solely responsible for your interactions with other entrants, including disputes. We reserve the right, but have no obligation, to monitor disputes.
Q. Can a League ever become disbanded?
A. If League membership falls below 5 Teams the League will become inactive and will no longer be part of the Game.
Scoring
Q. What is the scoring system used?
A. All Leagues are scored using a "rotisserie" format. Rotisserie leagues rank each of the Teams in the League from first to last in ten (10) statistical categories - five (5) categories for goalkeepers and defenders and five (5) categories for midfielders and forwards.
Q. What statistical categories are used in scoring?
A. There are two groups with five categories each (each category is known as a Scoring Event) 1. GOALKEEPERS & DEFENDERS ONLY - Clean Sheets, Goals and Assists, Defence (Total of: Interceptions/Tackles/Blocks), Minutes Played, Points (as per club results). 2. MIDFIELD PLAYERS & FORWARDS ONLY - Goals, Assists, Successful Passes, Minutes Played, Points (as per club results).
Q. How does Rotisserie Scoring work?
A. Rotisserie leagues rank each of the Teams in the League from first to last in ten (10) statistical categories (Scoring Events) - five (5) categories for goalkeepers and defenders and five (5) categories for midfielders and forwards. Points are then awarded according to the order of finish in each category, and are totalled to determine an overall score and place. So, the Team with the most Goals will receive 10 points, the Team with the second most will receive 9 points, etc. In the case of a tie, each Team involved receives an average of the total points due i.e. in the above example, if two Teams were tied for first in Goals, each would receive 9.5 points [(10 + 9) / 2 = 9.5].
Therefore, the maximum number of points that a Team in a ten-Team League can earn is 100 (equal to the number of scoring categories (10), multiplied by the number of teams in the league (10)). Similarly, the lowest number of points that a Team can earn is 10 (equal to the number of scoring categories multiplied by one, which is the lowest score that can be achieved in any category).
You will also be able to see your Team's position within the individual scoring categories (Goals, Assists, etc.). These scores are based on the cumulative statistics earned by all active players in your Team during the season and not on any individual day or game. Therefore, the overall position of your Team in each category will rise and fall depending on how it performs relative to the performance of other League members.
Q. Which players are eligible to score points for my Team?
A. Players have to be in an Active position in your Team and playing in an Eligible Game in order to score points for you. Players not assigned to an Active position cannot score points.
Q. Do my three substitutes score points?
A. All three substitute positions on a team (1 G/D Sub, 1 F Sub, and 1 M Sub) score points.
Q. How often are scores updated?
A. Scores will be updated overnight after every day during which an Eligible Game is played.
Squads
Q. How many players can I use at any one time to score points?
A. Each Team can use a maximum of 14 players: 11 in one of three formations (4-4-2, 4-3-3 or 4-5-1) formation plus three (3) substitutes (1 G/D Sub, 1 F Sub, and 1 M Sub) all of which can earn points whilst active i.e. Active players.
However, just as no player can play more than 38 Premier League matches per season, each Active position on your Team (based on a 4-4-2 formation plus the 3 substitutes) may only be used 38 times each. For instance, if on Saturday an entrant plays Wayne Bridge as an Active left back, and then on Sunday replaces Bridge with Gael Clichy, the left back position for that Team will be deemed to have been played twice.
Because a 4-4-2 formation contains two centre backs, two central midfielders and two forwards, each of these positions can be played 76 times each.
WARNING: If you alter your team formation from 4-4-2 to 4-5-1 or 4-3-3, the rules for plays per positions remain unchanged. So if you choose to play 4-3-3 on the first day of the season, you will have used 3 forward plays and will have only 73 left for the season, but only one central midfield play, with 75 remaining. Therefore, over the course of the season, it is wise to go for the more defensive 4-5-1 formation as often as you use the more attacking 4-3-3.
Q. Which players are eligible to score points for my Team?
A. Players have to be in an Active position in your Team and playing in an Eligible Game in order to score points for you. Players not assigned to an Active position cannot score points.
Q. Can I change my Team formation?
A. No, all teams compete with a 4-4-2 (plus goalkeeper) formation
Q. How is a player's position eligibility set?
A. Players can only be used in positions they actually play in for their Premier League teams. As such if your squad includes only one left back and he is injured, you will need to add another player eligible to play left back (either via a transfer or the out of contract player pool) or risk not using up your limit of 38 matches for the position.
Squad Changes
Q. How often can I change the players in my Team?
A. Team changes can be made daily if you wish. A squad may be edited up to 5 minutes before the start of any player's Eligible Game that day. Once a player's match has started they become a "Frozen" player and cannot be moved again until the following day. If that "frozen" player is in an Active position, that position is also frozen. Other players in the squad can continue to be moved/made Active up until their 5 minutes before their match starts.
Q. How will I know if a player is dropped from another Team or is new to the Premier League and might be available to add to my Squad?
A. To allow all members of a League a fair opportunity to add a player to their Team, players that are dropped from a squad in your League or that are new to the Premier League are placed on notice for a 48-hour period starting once the player is dropped or signed to a Premier League club. Any Team may claim a player on notice, but will not be awarded the player until the 48-hour notice period has ended. So, if a player is dropped on a Tuesday at 1 pm, all Teams in that League can claim that player until Thursday at 1 pm. The player will then be assigned to his new Team approximately 1 hour after the claim deadline.
Q. What if more than one Team claims a player on notice?
A. At the end of the notice period, if more than one Team has claimed a player on notice, the player will be awarded to the Team that is highest on the Notice Priority List. The Notice Priority List is initially set in the reverse order to that set for player allocation. However, each time you add an on-notice player to your Team, you are pushed to the bottom of the Notice Priority list. The Notice Priority List never resets and stays in effect for the entire season. You will be able to view your current position on the Notice Priority List online.
Q. Can I transfer players with other Teams in my League?
A. Yes. Transfers must be proposed by one entrant to another and may involve up to three players from each Team. In the event of an irregular-sided transfer (eg one player for two or two-for-three), the Team receiving the greater number of players must nominate a player or players to be dropped from their squad once the transfer is completed, so that no squad has more than 20 players. A Team that gives up more players than it receives in a transfer will be able to pick up out-of-contract players to make the squad number up to 20.
Q. Do transfers need to be approved by the rest of the League?
A. Once 2 Teams agree to a transfer, it will be under "review" for 48 hrs. All transfers must be approved by at least 50% of the Teams in the League (calculated without reference to the proposing and accepting Teams). Remaining entrants will have 48 hours to vote on the proposed transfer. If any entrant chooses not to vote, this will be considered an "accept transfer" vote. The Promoter/Times Online reserves the right but has no obligation to monitor disputes between entrants. Votes are final - you can't change your mind after voting.
Q. When can I use my new players?
A. Once any player has been officially added to a Team via any route they may be used immediately.
Prizes
Q. What prizes are available?
A. There are no cash prizes.
Weekly Prize Draws: There will be a weekly prize draw for 35 weeks until the end of the Game (May 2009). You will be eligible for entry into the prize draw if i) player allocation for your League took place prior to the 1st of the month and your allocation is no later than 31st December 2008 and ii) your Team is 1st, 2nd or 3rd in your League at midnight on the last day of the relevant month. All Teams tied for 1st, 2nd or 3rd will be entered automatically for weekly draws provided they are eligible. Prizes will be drawn at midnight on every Monday after a week in which a minimum of four eligible games have been played. The first weekly prize draw will take place at midnight on Monday September 8 and will cover all eligible games played in the 2008-09 season before that date.
Monthly Prize Draws: Each month until the end of the Game (May 2009) there will be a monthly prize draw. You will be eligible for entry into the prize draw if i) player allocation for your League took place prior to the 1st of the month and your allocation is no later than 31st December 2008 and ii) your Team is 1st, 2nd or 3rd in your League at midnight on the last day of the relevant month. All Teams tied for 1st, 2nd or 3rd will be entered automatically for monthly draws provided they are eligible. There is no monthly draw for August.
End of Game Prize Draw: This will be held during May 2009. Only Teams who are 1st or tied for 1st in a League are eligible for this draw. Teams entered after 31 December 2008 will not be eligible for an end of Game prize.
Details of the monthly and end of Game prize(s) will be published prior to the draw along with any additional terms and conditions associated with that prize. For full details of prize draw rules see Terms and Conditions.
Help Facilities
If you experience problems with the Game please contact our helpdesk via the Contact link found at the top of the Game pages of the website or by e-mailing playthegame@timesonline.co.uk
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