Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Family & Friends Pick'em League?
The Family & Friends Pick'em League is a friendly NFL football pool where family and friends compete against each other by predicting the winners of NFL games each week.
The goal is simple: have fun, compete with friends and family, and earn bragging rights by seeing who can make the best picks throughout the season. Along the way, there is also a chance to win a little cash based on how you finish.
Whether you're a longtime participant or joining for the first time, it's all about enjoying the NFL season, keeping up with the competition, and having a little fun along the way!
How do I make a pick?
Choose a week (the current week is the default), then click/touch your team icon/name button in the Matchup column for each game. Your pick is saved after you select it.
Can I change my pick?
You can change or clear a pick until the scheduled game time. Picks are locked after the game starts.
How are points awarded?
You earn the points shown for each game when your pick matches the recorded winner.
- Weeks 1-10: 1 point per game
- Weeks 11-14: 2 points per game
- Weeks 15-18: 3 points per game
What does a tie mean?
A tie is shown with the tie icon and does not count as a winning team pick.
How much does it cost to play?
The participation fee for the 2026 season is $20 when paying by cash or $22 when paying by PayPal.
The additional $2 for PayPal covers the payment processing fee.
How can I pay my participation fee?
The participation fee can be paid by cash or via PayPal. Contact the league administrator at [email protected] for PayPal payment information or to make cash payment arrangements.
When must I pay my participation fee?
Payment must be received by the payment deadline, which is the end of Week 10, but please pay your $20 participation fee as soon as practically possible. We ask everyone to pay promptly because it is unfair to the other participants when someone participates in the league without contributing their share.
Participation fees help cover the league's operating expenses and, most importantly, provide the funds needed to pay out prizes at the end of the season.
If your participation fee has not been received by the end of Week 10, you will no longer be permitted to make picks for the remainder of the season.
What are the league rules for the playoffs?
The regular season runs through Week 18. At the end of Week 18, the top players by total points advance to the Wild Card round. The number of players who qualify for the Wild Card round and subsequent playoff rounds may vary slightly from year to year depending on the total number of participants.
- Wild Card Round: Typically, the top 8 players make their picks for the Wild Card games. Each game is worth 6 points.
- Advancing to the Divisional Round: After the Wild Card games, the top 6 players by total points typically advance to the Divisional Round. The number of qualifying players may vary based on the number of participants.
- Playoff Picks: Before the first Divisional Round game begins, playoff participants must submit their projected winners for all remaining playoff games. All picks must be submitted at least 1 hour before the scheduled kickoff of the first Divisional Round game.
- Divisional Round: 12 points per game.
- Conference Championships: 25 points per game.
- Super Bowl: 50 points.
The exact number of players advancing each season will be announced based on the number of participants. Your points accumulate throughout the season and postseason, so every pick matters!
What prize money is available?
The amount of prize money awarded each season depends on the number of players who participate. The final prize amounts will be determined by the league administrator at the end of the season.
Typically, the 2nd place finisher will receive their $20 participation fee back, with the winner receiving the remainder of the available prize money.
There is no payout for finishing below 2nd place.
History of the League
What started as a simple family and friends football pool has been going strong for more than 20 years.
The league began around 2001, when a few family members and friends made their NFL picks the old-fashioned way—by phoning them in to the league administrator, Gino, Kevin's brother-in-law. Gino managed the league by hand for a number of years, keeping track of everyone's picks and scores the hard way.
Around 2006, Kevin took over the administration duties and developed the league's first web-based system. It went online for the 2007 NFL season, allowing participants to make their picks online using a modern (by 2007 standards!) web interface.
For nearly 20 years, the system remained mostly the same, with occasional cosmetic updates to make it look a little nicer. It served us well, but eventually it was time for a change.
The system has now been completely rewritten and refreshed, bringing the league into a new era with the site you see today. While the technology has changed considerably since those early days, the goal remains the same: have some fun, compete with family and friends, and see who can make the best NFL picks!
Behind the League
This league is very much a one-man operation. Kevin is the designer, developer, administrator, and the person responsible for keeping everything running behind the scenes.
The original concept for the league was Gino's brainchild. In 2006, Kevin took over the administration and ran with the idea, developing the first web-based version of the league that launched for the 2007 NFL season.
Today, Kevin continues to develop and maintain the site because he enjoys it and, more importantly, to provide a fun experience for everyone who participates.
This is not a business or a money-making venture. The participation fees are used to cover operating expenses and provide the prize money. Kevin does not make a profit from running the league.
Disclaimer & League Administration
While every effort will be made to keep the league and website operating properly, no guarantees are made regarding the availability or operation of the system. In the event the system is unavailable or experiences technical problems, the league administrator will determine how affected picks will be handled.
If you are unable to submit your picks through the website because of a system outage or other technical issue, you may submit your picks by email to [email protected]. Email submissions must be received before the scheduled kickoff time of the applicable game(s) to be considered.
The league administrator reserves the right to make all final decisions regarding the interpretation and administration of the league rules, including how unusual or unforeseen situations are handled. The administrator also reserves the right to remove or disqualify any participant whose behavior or conduct is deemed inappropriate, disruptive, or unbecoming of the league.