Function

• Football pools are a way to make watching football more enjoyable even to the casual fan. Die-hard football fans and beginners alike can participate and win. Football pools are about having fun and making an already fun event even more interesting.
  
  

Types

• There are many types of football pool you can participate in. Here are a few of the more popular ones:
  
  Fantasy football: Each team in the pool picks a team. You choose a lineup of players each week and compete against other teams. Depending on the league, points are given to each player you choose for touchdowns, points scored and for the defense. This pool is geared toward hard-core football fans as a lot of knowledge and time is required.
  
  Super Bowl pool: Each participant pays an entry fee and buys a square on a grid. Each square corresponds to a random number for each team. If the score reflects your number at the end of each quarter, half and game, you win. It's fun even if you know nothing about football.
  
  Survivor pool: Each week during the season you pick the winner of one game. If you win you keep advancing until you are eliminated. The last remaining survivors split the pot. Once you pick a team you cannot pick them again. It's much less time consuming than a fantasy league.
  
  

Features

• Rules for each pool vary depending on how the commissioner sets it up. The scoring system is slightly different for each league. For example some leagues will deduct points for interceptions thrown while others will not. Some leagues will give more weight to the defense while it is strictly an offensive league for others.
  
  

Considerations

• Find a pool which fits your interest level and experience. Also keep in mind the time you have available to spend on football pools. Fantasy league takes the most expertise and time. You have to research players to draft, make a lineup each week, and make trades if necessary. The other pools take only a small amount of time and no expertise at all.
  
  

Warning

• Football pools are meant to be fun, but it can turn into an obsession if you are not careful. Avoid spending too much time on football pools at the expense of your personal relationships and job. Seek help if this fun outlet turns into an obsession or a gambling habit.