Pool Settings Reference
Every setting a commissioner can change, what the options mean, and what happens if you leave it alone. Defaults are marked — a pool created without touching anything runs on all of them.
Pick'em pools
Pick format
- Straight up — pick the winner of each game.
- Against the spread — pick against the posted line.
DefaultStraight up
Push rule
- Push = Loss — nobody scores when the margin lands exactly on the spread.
- Push = Win — everyone who picked that game scores.
DefaultPush = Loss. Only applies against the spread; games with no line are scored by the winner.
Tie-breaker
- On — players predict the total points of the last game of the week.
- Off — ties stand, and are broken alphabetically.
DefaultOn. Everyone’s tie-breaker stays hidden until that last game kicks off.
Missed picks
- Zero — a week with no picks scores nothing.
- Lowest −1 — one point below the week’s lowest scorer, awarded when the week ends, never below zero.
DefaultZero
Auto-fill picks
- Off.
- On — each player picks their own style: favorites, underdogs, home teams or away teams. Missing picks fill automatically right before each kickoff.
DefaultOff. The style is the player’s choice; you only decide whether it is available.
Scoring tiers (soccer)
- Exact score, winner + goal difference, correct draw, and winner only — each worth points you set.
Default3 / 2 / 2 / 1. Soccer pools predict exact scores rather than picking a winner.
Bonus predictions (tournaments)
- Top scorer and the final top four, each worth points you set.
DefaultOff
Survivor pools
How you get eliminated
- One strike — the standard.
- Two strikes.
- Three strikes.
DefaultOne strike
If the game ties
- Counts as a loss.
- Counts as a win.
- You survive, but the team is spent.
DefaultCounts as a loss
Team reuse
- Each team once per season.
- Available again after a set number of weeks.
- Unlimited reuse.
DefaultEach team once per season — this is what makes Survivor a season-long budget.
Double picks from week
- Off.
- From a week you choose, players pick two teams and both must win.
DefaultOff. Turning it on late in the season is how a stalled pool reaches a winner.
Mulligans
- 0 to 18. A mulligan forgives one loss outright and the player keeps going.
Default0
Re-entries
- 0 to 18. An eliminated player requests one and you approve it before they can pick again.
Default0. Approval is deliberate — re-entries usually cost a second buy-in, so nobody returns until you say so.
Re-entry clears used teams
- Off — a revived player keeps their spent teams spent.
- On — they start again with the full board.
DefaultOff
If someone forgets to pick
- Counts as a loss.
- Pick the biggest favorite for them.
- Pick the least-used team for them.
DefaultCounts as a loss
Picks lock
- At each game’s own kickoff.
- All at the week’s first kickoff.
- You lock and unlock them manually.
DefaultAt each game’s own kickoff
Show picks before lock
- Off — picks are hidden until the week locks.
- On — everyone can see who took what.
DefaultOff
Start week
- Any week of the season — so a pool can start late without pretending the earlier weeks happened.
DefaultWeek 1
If nobody survives a week
- Everyone alive that week comes back on one life.
- They share the prize.
- The pool ends with no winner.
DefaultEveryone comes back
If several survive to the end
- They share the prize.
- Ranked on correct picks.
DefaultThey share the prize
Every pool
Entry fee and payouts
- Free, or an amount you set. Track who has paid and plan the payout split in the app.
DefaultFree
Lock picks
- A pool-wide switch that closes picking for everyone until you reopen it.
DefaultUnlocked. This is a convenience, not the anti-cheating rule — picks always lock at kickoff regardless.
Standings views
- Show or hide the group, playoff and overall standings tabs.
DefaultAll shown, where the season has them.
Smack Talk
- Group chat with reactions, replies and photos, beside the standings.
DefaultOn
Members
- Invite by link or code, remove members, and make someone else an admin.
DefaultFree pools have a member cap; Pickster+ removes it.