Filling out a football board, also known as a "squares" pool, involves assigning numbers to create a grid that corresponds to potential final score digits of a football game. Here’s how it works:
Steps to Fill Out a Football Board
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Create the Grid: Typically, a football board is a 10x10 grid, resulting in 100 squares.
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Label Rows and Columns:
- Label each row and each column with numbers from 0 to 9. These numbers represent the last digit of each team's score.
- One team (usually the home team) is assigned to the rows, and the other team (usually the away team) is assigned to the columns.
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Selling or Assigning Squares:
- Participants buy or are assigned squares on the grid. The cost per square can vary.
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Random Number Assignment (Optional, but Recommended):
- After all the squares are claimed, the numbers 0-9 are randomly assigned to the rows and columns. This is crucial for fairness.
- One common method is to write the numbers 0-9 on pieces of paper, put them in a hat, and draw them out one by one, assigning them sequentially to the rows and columns. The order of the numbers should be recorded for transparency.
- Another method involves using a random number generator online to assign the numbers.
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Determining Winners:
- After each quarter (or at halftime and the end of the game), the last digit of each team's score is used to determine the winning square. For example, if the home team's score ends in a '7' and the away team's score ends in a '3', the person holding the square at the intersection of the '7' row and '3' column wins a predetermined prize.
Example:
Let's say:
- The home team is assigned to the rows (0-9).
- The away team is assigned to the columns (0-9).
- After random assignment:
- Row '7' corresponds to the home team's score ending in 7.
- Column '3' corresponds to the away team's score ending in 3.
- If the final score is Home: 27, Away: 13, then the holder of the square at row '7' and column '3' wins.
Important Considerations:
- Randomization is key: Randomly assigning numbers after squares are filled ensures fairness.
- Prizes: Clearly define the prize structure before selling squares (e.g., different payouts for each quarter, halftime, and final score).
- Variations: There are many variations, such as boards with different grid sizes or different payout structures. The core principle remains the same.
- Transparency: Ensure the process is transparent so everyone can see the numbers drawn/assigned.
