Understanding the Competition: The Scoring and the Rules

The Essential Details

This blog post won't provide flowery explanations about how the various competitions work. Instead, it focuses on the key details regarding points and rules. It's a reminder of how everything operates, and you might find it worth your time to read through.

Overview of the Competition Structure

1. The competition consists of two parts: The GuessWork and The Picks.

2. For The Picks, you must make selections for League Team, Cup Team, and Player Picks before the matches begin.

3. In The GuessWork, you will need to submit predictions for 12 games every round.

4. During the Premier League rounds, there will also be a Player of the Round Pick.

5. Deadlines will be set for submitting your GuessWork. Once all submissions are in, they will be displayed on the website before the round kicks off.

   
   

Notifications and Deadlines

6. Your GuessWork will automatically enter you into Cup Competitions, requiring no additional actions.

7. You will receive a notification of your GuessWork on the GW Page and the League Table for every round.

8. You can request an emailed copy of your GuessWork upon submission, which will be sent back to you promptly.

9. I will send reminders before the deadline for outstanding predictions. After the deadline, all GuessWork will be available as a downloadable PDF.

10. If GuessWork is submitted after the deadline, no bankers will be allowed for that round, and a 5-point penalty will be deducted from your scores.

11. If GuessWork arrives after Game 1 has started, no bankers will be allowed. Additionally, a 5-point penalty will apply, and any games that have kicked off will be treated as Wrong Guesses.

Scoring Points

12. The more correct scores and results you predict, the more points you earn.

13. A correct score is worth 10 points, plus an additional point for each goal margin.

14. If you miss the exact score but get the margin right, you will earn points based on the margin.

15. If you get the result correct but not the margin, you will receive 2 points.

16. A correct draw earns you 4 points for each team, plus the goals they score.

17. All points will be adjusted by team coefficients, with an additional 10% boost for points won in away games.

18. For example, predicting a Tottenham 2-1 win at Chelsea should yield more points than predicting a Chelsea 2-1 win at home.

19. If a game ends in a draw and you predicted a win, you won't lose points; you simply guessed incorrectly.

20. However, if your prediction is entirely wrong, you will lose points equivalent to the correct result points for that game.

21. This will be recorded as 'Wrong Result' ('WX') in the table.

Using Bankers

22. Each round, you can use points to buy 'Bankers' that will increase your points if your prediction is correct.

23. New for 25/26, there is a 6-point limit on Banker spending per round. If you overspend, any bankers picked in the overspend will be deleted.

24. An Enhanced Banker costs 1 point and will double your points if you win. If you lose, you will lose the points spent plus the margin points.

25. A Guaranteed Banker costs 2 points and will triple your points. If you lose, you will lose points equivalent to the correct score.

26. New for 25/26, an Immune Banker costs 4 points and triples your points. If you lose, you only lose the banker points spent.

Winning the Competition

27. The winner of The GuessWork Competition will be the one with the most points at the end of the season (52 rounds).

28. Before the season begins, The Picks must be submitted.

29. The deadline for The Picks is Friday Midday (UK Time) 1st August 2025.

30. Teams you select in the leagues will earn points for every league game played, calculated similarly to the points described above.

31. Defeats will result in a points deduction.

32. Wins for your Cup Teams will be worth the same as league games in the first round, increasing as rounds progress (x2 for round 2, x3 for round 3, etc.).

33. The round played is relevant to the team, not the cup round. For example, in the FA Cup 3rd round, if Wolves play Bromley, it’s the first round for Wolves but the third for Bromley.

34. The result used will be the score at the end of Normal Time; extra time and penalties will be ignored.

35. Replays WILL NOT count as additional games.

36. Teams will earn additional points for away wins, and coefficients will apply, making 'Giant Killers' very valuable.

37. Champions League and Europa League/Conference Group games will count as Round 1 Cup Games.

38. Points for knockout games will increase each round, and both legs will count as 'Individual' games.

39. Qualification rounds will not be included, either pre-group stage or the 9th - 24th place play-offs.

Player Points System

40. Player points will be scored in league games ONLY and can be selected from any team in various leagues.

41. Every player will earn points based on SofaScore.

42. Players will receive 7 points for the first goal scored in a game and 4 points for any additional goals. Assists are worth 1 point.

43. The XG (Expected Goals) for the player during the game will be deducted from points won before coefficients are applied.

44. Player points will be enhanced if the game is won and reduced if lost.

45. The XG factor will reward spectacular performances and adjust points for penalties scored and missed.

46. Goalkeepers will earn 4 points for a clean sheet and 1 point for every save made. A penalty save is worth 2 points.

47. Each goal conceded carries a 1-point penalty, and clean sheet points will be forfeited.

48. Keeper scores will also be adjusted by their Goals Prevented score.

49. Defenders will score 2.5 points for a clean sheet, while midfielders will score 1 point.

50. Team coefficients and time spent on the pitch will adjust the final points earned in each game, depending on the outcome.

51. Wild Cards can be any player from any position, including Forwards or Keepers, as long as they are not shortlisted in those groups.

52. All Wild Card players 'MUST' play for different teams but can share teams with any Forwards or Keepers chosen.

53. If players change clubs, you DO NOT HAVE TO CHANGE any of the players.

54. The Player & Their club for your Picks will be determined at the time they are received.

55. There will be transfer windows during the season, roughly every fifth round.

56. Four transfers per window will be allowed.

57. The only restriction will be the pool you can transfer from. If you replace a Forward from Group C, you can only substitute in a Forward from the current Group C set or below.

58. The first window is expected before Round 2, and the second at the end of Round 6.

59. If your Picks are on the bench and do not play, they will receive 2 points, adjusted by coefficients and results.

60. If they are suspended, they will not earn any points.

61. Bonus/Tie-Breaks are worth 50 points each if you're spot on. The closer you get to the correct answer, the higher percentage of points you earn.

62. The Six this season will include:

1. The Number of Goals scored in the 624

2. The Total XG of the teams from the 624

3. The Number of Own Goals scored in the 624

4. The Number of Penalties scored in the 624

5. The Number of times a team scores 4 or more in the 624

6. The Number of times a team fails to score in the 624

63. Any cash prizes won during the season will be paid out after The Champions League Final and the final standings are settled.

64. Any winnings by Sutton Who ??? or Who Are We... will result in half going to charity, with the next team in the competition promoted to the prize winner slots.

65. You can claim 25 points in The Picks to start the season if you've read the rules. Just message RULE 66 in the WhatsApp Group with no explanation before 15th August, and I will add your 25 points.

66. Most importantly, it’s all just for fun, and ultimately, whatever I say goes.

67. There should be a Rule 69... shouldn't there?

---wix---