How Pool Party works
Pool Party is a pick’em for friend groups, built around the point spread. You aren’t only picking winners. You’re scored on how close your picks land.
A pool is one group of friends playing one season together. The person who creates it is the owner. The owner invites everyone else with a link and sets the pool’s rules before the first round opens.
Rounds
Section titled “Rounds”A round is one slate of games, usually one week of the season. When a round opens, each game’s point spread is frozen, so everyone in the pool picks against the same numbers.
Each round you pick a set number of games against the spread. Five is the default; the owner can choose anywhere from one to thirteen when setting up the pool, and the number stays fixed once the season starts.
Picks lock at the first kickoff of the round. After that, nobody can add or change a pick.
Your own picks are always visible to you. Everyone else’s picks stay hidden until the round is over, so nobody can copy the sharpest player in the group.
Scoring
Section titled “Scoring”Every pick scores the margin it beat the spread by. Beat it by a lot and you score a lot. Miss by a little and you lose a little.
- You pick a 3.5-point favourite and they win by 7. That’s +3.5.
- You pick a 4.5-point underdog and they lose by 3. That’s +1.5, because they covered.
- You pick a 6.5-point favourite and they win by 2. That’s −4.5.
Your round score is the total of your picks. A pick you didn’t make costs a fixed penalty, so it always pays to get your picks in.
Standings
Section titled “Standings”The round board and the season board update as games finish. Players with the same round total share a rank. The season board ranks by total points, and ties go to whoever won more rounds.
The rules screen inside each pool is the final word on how that pool scores. Some details are still being tuned during early access.
Does any money go through Pool Party?
Section titled “Does any money go through Pool Party?”No. No money changes hands through Pool Party. The app doesn’t collect, hold or move money, and takes no cut of anything. Most pools play for standings and bragging rights. If a group agrees to play for something more, that arrangement is entirely the group’s, and it never goes through the app.
Where do the spreads come from?
Section titled “Where do the spreads come from?”From the published lines for each game, taken when the round opens. The spread is only the number picks are scored against.
How do I sign in?
Section titled “How do I sign in?”With Apple (on iPhone), Google, or a one-time code sent to your email.
Can I join a pool partway through the season?
Section titled “Can I join a pool partway through the season?”Usually, yes. Rounds played before you joined score zero for you.
How do I invite people?
Section titled “How do I invite people?”Only the pool’s owner can invite. Ask them to share the pool’s invite link.
Something’s wrong. Who do I tell?
Section titled “Something’s wrong. Who do I tell?”Email support@57monkeys.com. See Support for what to include.