World Cup Small Print: The Scoring and the Rules

This blog post won't provide flowery explanations about how the competition works. 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. 😳

Actually. You probably won’t, but, and it’s an important but, it does remind me of how it all works.

The first thing to do though is make sure you are FOLLOWING my Footy Channel on WhatsApp, and, if you want to be nudged when updates appear, have turned the NOTIFICATIONS ON

These images highlight, firstly, where on the WhatsApp page you will be able to find the Channels, in the bottom left hand corner of the WhatsApp page under 'Updates', and then on the Channel page how to turn those notifications on (and off, if you want to, Make sure the bell is not crossed through to turn them on.

Done all that 👍👍

Then you’re ready for the small print.

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

2. For The Picks, you must make selections for the Winner, Runner Up, countries to get through the group stage, and Player & Club Picks before a ball is kicked.

3. In The GuessWork, you will need to submit score predictions for for all the games, across 10 sets of fixtures being played covering all the games

4. Your GuessWork will automatically enter you into Main Competition and The Last Player Standing Competition requiring no additional actions.

5. You can request an emailed copy of all your GuessWork upon submission, which will be sent back to you promptly. In addition a copy of everyone’s entries will be on the website.

6. I will send reminders before the deadlines

7. If GuessWork is submitted after the deadline, no bankers will be allowed for that set of fixtures, and a five point penalty will be levied

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

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

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

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

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

13. All points will be adjusted by team coefficients

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

15. However, if your prediction is entirely wrong, you said Scotland would win against Haiti, and they lose, then you will lose points equivalent to the correct result points for that game.

16. Each game, you can use points to buy 'Bankers' that will increase your points if your prediction is

17. You will be allowed up to spend up to 6 banker points per set of fixtures, reducing in the latter rounds (information will be provided on the channel)

18. An Enhanced Banker costs 1 point and will double any points you win. If you're wrong, you will lose the points spent plus the margin points.

19. A Guaranteed Banker costs 2 points and will triple any points you win. If you’re wrong, you will lose points equivalent to the correct score.

20. The winner of The Main Competition will be the one with the most points at the end of the Final

21. The Last Player Standing Competition starts from the first set of group games.

22. At the end of each set of games, the bottom FIVE players will be eliminated from the competition.

23. There will be 9 elimination rounds 6 during the group stages, 2 in the Round of 32 and 1 in the Round of 16

24. Points won in the LPS will be based on the Pure Points won in the competition, AND WILL NOT include points adjusted by bankers (either enhanced or penalty points) or deductions for wrong predictions

25. In the event that there are more than FIVE players scoring points that should see them eliminated (for example 5th & 6th finish on the same points) then BOTH will survive and move into the next round.

26. The final round of LPS will be played over the QF, SF & Final games

27. The winner will be the one in the Final with the most points

28. Before a ball is kicked, The Picks must be submitted

29. Countries you select will earn points for every game played, calculated as per the points described above.

30. Defeats will result in a points deduction for that country

31. Your Pick for World Cup Winner will earn double points

32. Points will increase each round, x2 for Round 32, x3 for Round 16, x4 for QF, x5 for SF, x6 for 3rd Place, x7 for The Final

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

34. When picking Players, your World Cup Team will be made up of 11 players picked by you, and 1 named a captain. The formation will be 4-4-2

35. You can name any player taking part in the competition, you’re not limited to those on the shortlists on the Picks Form All 1248 are available for selection

36. A maximum of 4 (FOUR) players per country is allowed

37. Player points will be based the points awarded on SofaScore.

38. 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.

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

40. XG will not be deducted for defenders, unless the defender is a penalty taker (in normal play)

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

42. Goalkeepers will earn 2 points for a clean sheet and 0.5 of a point for every save made.

43. Each goal conceded carries a 1-point penalty, and clean sheet points will be forfeited (obviously) for the goalkeeper

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

45. Defenders will score 0.5 point for a clean sheet.

46. Team coefficients and time spent on the pitch will adjust the final points earned in each game for every player

47. The players you Pick in your 11 Man Squad CANNOT be changed once the first ball has been kicked. You’re stuck with them

48. All Player Stats WILL include extra time if it’s added

49. Club Picks need to be made before a ball is kicked.

50. Every time a player plays in the World Cup, for the Clubs you have picked, they will earn you points

51. Clubs will be awarded 10% of the points won by their players, as per the calculations above

52. If Reeve James picks up 28 points for an amazing QF performance, and you have Chelsea as your club, then you (and Chelsea) will be awarded 2.8 points for his performance

53. All Cash prizes will be paid out once the competition ends, how many and the amounts will be confirmed on the website before a ball is kicked

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

55. You can claim 25 points in The Picks to start the World Cup Competition off, if you've got this far reading the rules. Just message “Rule 55 👍” back to me on WhatsApp with no explanation before it all starts, and I will add your 25 points.

56. Any new players you introduce to the competition will be worth a 50 point bonus, added to The Picks, your bonus points will be added when the ‘Newbie’ pays their joining fee. (A few new entrants could prove the difference come the end of the competition).

57. Points will be awarded for the first five newbies, that's a possible 250 point head start

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

59. Finally, a percentage of all sign on fees will be donated to Help For Heroes. Any additional donations you want to make on top of the sign on fee, will be doubled, and also donated to Help For Heroes which will make them the biggest winner from our World Cup Competition

---wix---