Win $50,000 In The NFFC Post-Season Contest

[Greg Ambrosius]

This year the NFFC is consolidating its post-season contests and offering just one contest at an entry point of $150. That allows us to build the grand prize to $50,000, our largest in the 10 years that we've been offering this contest. The good news is that prizes are based on just 700 teams and the first 700 teams are guaranteed spots in the contest. Should be fun.

This is the industry's only pay-to-play progressive scoring style post-season contest that allows you to change your lineup each week during the playoffs. There is a lot of skill and strategy to winning this contest and spots will be limited. With no clear-cut favorite to win the Super Bowl this year, it will be interesting to see the different combination of starting lineups to start the playoffs. Can't wait to get this one going.

Registration will go live shortly and again the first 700 teams to enter are guaranteed spots in the contest. Last year we had more than 700 teams combined between our $100 and $200 contests, so this year we split the difference and expect even greater demand with the $50,000 grand prize. Here's the rules to the contest and we'll announce when Registration goes live. Enjoy all and good luck.

Official Rules and Regulations of the
National Fantasy Football Championship
Hold ’Em Post-Season Tournament

1. Overview: The National Fantasy Football Championship Hold ‘Em Post-Season Tournament will begin with the first wild card games on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015 and continue through the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015. Points will be accumulated throughout the playoffs and the team with the most total points wins the grand prize. Second through 20th place prizes will also be paid based on total points. Each week the number of points an NFL player earns for you will be multiplied by the number of weeks he has been on your roster, rewarding fantasy players who correctly can predict top players on this year’s Super Bowl teams. Players who have first-round byes automatically earn two times their total points during Week 2 of the playoffs.

2. Draft: Owners must manage a team of 12 players throughout the playoffs to accumulate the most league points. Owners will initially complete their roster by selecting one player from each team that qualified for the playoffs. In the second round as teams are eliminated from the NFL playoffs, owners can have as many as two players from the same team on their Hold ’Em roster. In week 3 of the NFL playoffs, owners can have three players per team from their roster and during the NFL’s Super Bowl teams can have a maximum of four players per team (for a total of 8 players).

3. Roster Requirements: Maximum of 12 players at all times except the Super Bowl (8). No more than one player per NFL team in the first round and no more than two players per NFL team in the second round. In the third round of the NFL playoffs, teams will be limited to 3 players per team (12 total players) and in the Super Bowl they will be limited to 4 players per team (8 total players).

4. Starting Lineup Requirements: Starting lineups will consist of:
• 2 Quarterbacks
• 4 Running Backs
• 4 Receivers (includes Tight Ends)
• 1 Kicker
• 1 Team Defense/Specials Team
• In the Super Bowl, rosters can consist of 8 players from any of those 12 spots.

5. Scoring: Players can accumulate points in a number of ways:
PASSING:
.05 points for every yard passing (works out to 1 point every 20 yards).
• 6 points for every passing touchdown
• 2 points for every 2-Point conversion
• minus 2 points for every interception
• minus 1 point for every lost fumble
RUSHING:
• .10 points for every yard rushing (works out to 1 point every 10 yards).
• 6 points for every rushing TD
• minus 1 point for every lost fumble
• 6 points for a recovered offensive fumble for a touchdown (RB, QB, WR, TE)
RECEIVING:
• .10 points for every yard receiving (works out to 1 point every 10 yards).
• 6 points for every receiving TD
• 1 point for every reception for RBs, WRs, Tight Ends and QBs
• minus 1 point for every lost fumble
KICKING:
• 1 point for every extra point
• 3 points for every field goal from 1-30 yards
• 3 points for every field goal plus .10 points for every yard after 30 yards (i.e. a 47-yard field goal would be worth 4.7 points)
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS:
• 1 point for every sack
• 2 points for every interception or opponents' fumble recovery
• 6 points for every touchdown (interception return, defensive fumble return, punt or kickoff return, blocked field goal return, blocked punt return). All special teams and defensive points are awarded to the team responsible. NEW FOR 2013: Individual players who also score a TD on special teams will receive 6 points for their fantasy teams. Also, any lost fumble or “muff” on a specials team play now results in negative points for that individual player. Should a kicker, punter or field goal holder throw a pass off a fake attempt, however, the offensive output for that offensive play would go towards the individual player, not the specials team.
• 2 points for every safety
• 12 points for a shutout by the entire team
• 8 points for allowing 2-7 points by the entire team
• 4 points for allowing 8-12 points by the entire team
• 2 points for allowing 13-17 points by the entire team

6. Free Agent Acquisitions: After week one of the playoffs, you can pick up new players to fill out your playoff roster. In the second round as teams are eliminated from the playoffs, owners can have as many as two players from the same team on their Hold ’Em roster, 3 in the Championship Round, and 4 in the Super Bowl. Transactions are unlimited each week.

7. Hold ’Em Multipliers: Each week during the contest, fantasy points are multiplied by the number of weeks each player has been on your roster. So if you pick Aaron Rodgers to be one of your starting QBs in the first week of the playoffs and the Packers are a Wild Card team, you would earn his points from week one. If the Packers won that wild card game, his points in the second round of playoffs would be multiplied by two. If the Packers advanced to the NFC Championship Game, his points would be multiplied by three and then multiplied by four if the Packers reached the Super Bowl (same scenario as 2010). Any NFL player that receives a first-round bye and remains on your roster automatically has their points multiplied by two during their first game. Once one of your players is eliminated from the playoffs, you can pick up a new player for that upcoming round, but the multiplier would begin at one because you just added him to your roster.

8. Roster Time Frame: All starting rosters must be finalized five minutes before that weekend’s first playoff game. No lineup changes will be allowed after that first kickoff.

9. Number of Bid Limits: There is no limit to the number of new free agents you can add each week.

10. Tied Bids: In the event that there is a tie for the grand prize, the following tie-breakers will be used:
1. Highest score of the teams involved from the Super Bowl.
2. Highest score of the teams involved from the third round games.
3. Highest score of the teams involved from the second round games.
4. Highest score of the teams involved from the first round games.
5. Highest weekly score of the teams during the playoffs (i.e. one team had a high of 220 points and the other team’s high score was 215, the 220 would win).
6. Split the prize money in question.

11. League Structure: There is only one contest this year with a $150 entry fee and a $50,000 grand prize. The top 20 finishers at the end of the post-season will earn cash prizes. The prize breakdown is set forth in Paragraph 12 which follows.

12. Prize Breakdown:
$150 National Fantasy Football Championship Hold ‘Em Post-Season Contest
1st Place - $50,000
2nd Place - $10,000
3rd Place - $5,000
4th Place - $4,000
5th Place - $3,000
6th Place - $2,500
7th Place - $2,000
8th Place - $1,500
9th Place - $1,250
10th Place - $1,000
11th-20th Place - $500 each

13. National Guarantee: Once a participant signs up online and submits valid payment, no money will be refunded to participants or co-managers unless the Hold ’Em Post-Season Tournament is canceled. A team spot is considered filled when the entire entry fee is paid. The NFFC is not responsible for any loss or liability incurred by any participant or co-managers due to cancellation of The Hold ’Em Post-Season Tournament, including but not limited to time taken off from employment, etc.

14. Prize Winnings: If the principal team owner's prize winnings are $600.00 or greater (or any other threshold subsequently established by the IRS), the National Fantasy Football Championship (“NFFC”) must file a Form 1099 with the IRS at the end of this calendar year. We will request your social security number and signature on this form. The form contains the amount paid to you and you will receive a copy of the form for tax purposes. STATS pays the principal team owner of each NFFC team that was submitted on the entry form and you are responsible for paying any taxes that result from your cash prize; please consult your income tax advisor for filing advice. In the event that the awarding of any prizes to winners of the Contest is challenged by any legal authority, STATS reserves the right in its sole discretion to determine whether or not to award such prizes. After 12 months, any unclaimed prize will be forfeited.

15. Eligibility; Registration: The National Fantasy Football Championship is open to individuals who are at least 18 years of age (or the age of majority in your state of residence) and are a resident of the United States of America or Canada. Notwithstanding the foregoing, residents of Washington State, Louisiana, Montana, Arizona, Iowa, and Vermont are not eligible to register or play in the NFFC. All registrations must be in the full legal name of the primary team owner, though owners will have the option to add a co-manager(s).

16. Official Rules: Registration for, and continued participation in, the National Fantasy Football Championship constitutes your full and unconditional agreement to these official rules (“Official Rules”) and to STATS’ decisions relating thereto. STATS’ decisions in regards to these Official Rules and all matters pertaining to the National Fantasy Football Championship are final and binding.

17. Code of Conduct: All participants and co-managers are expected to behave in lawful, respectful and sportsman-like fashion in all online drafts, throughout the NFFC season, and during use of any NFFC website, including, but not limited to comments posted on any NFFC message board. Additionally the NFFC events, games and/or leagues may not be used for any form of gambling. Any conduct or message board post by a participant, co-manager or other person which is deemed by STATS, in its sole discretion, to be unlawful, or to have the effect of intimidating, harassing, offending or otherwise harming any other participant, co-manager, guest, or NFFC/STATS representative, is strictly prohibited. STATS reserves the right, in its sole discretion to ban any person from current and/or future participation in the NFFC and/or from use of the message boards if such person engages in any such prohibited conduct or is otherwise in violation of any of these Rules. In addition, any person engaging in such conduct forfeits any rights to a refund, as well as any potential rights to a prize award. STATS shall not be responsible or held liable to any person for damage to property or personal injury or death arising from the acts or omissions of any third parties. Any participants or co-managers who collude, or attempt to collude, or who attempts to blackmail, bribe or otherwise influence any representative of STATS/NFFC, or who otherwise attempts to sabotage the league, in an effort to alter the results or outcome of any NFFC game will be disqualified and will be prohibited from winning any prize award. If a participant is banned from participation in a current NFFC game, then STATS reserves the right, to take those actions which it sees fit, in its sole discretion with respect to such banned participant’s team. Any criminal behavior may be referred to the appropriate authorities.

18. Errors: The deadline for submitting any dispute or claim regarding the operation of any league draft is one hour after the conclusion of the draft itself; further, leaving any live draft event without submitting any dispute or claim regarding the draft constitutes your waiver of any right to challenge any aspect of the draft. You are strongly urged to double-check your lineups, trades, and free agent moves throughout the season, as STATS/NFFC will not be held liable for any errors in entering lineups, trades or free agent moves, and STATS/NFFC will not intervene or alter a transaction after lineups, trades or free agent moves are due.

19. Prize Splitting: Prize splitting amongst the principal registrant and co-managers is available, provided that the principal registrant has authorized payment to his co-managers in writing and in advance of the completion of the season. In order to authorize prize-splitting, the principal registrant must completely fill out and sign the authorization form designated by STATS (including the name and address of the co-manager(s) and the applicable prize percentage to be paid to each co-manager(s)). Both the principal registrant and each co-manager designated on a prize-splitting form will be required to fill out a W-9. No prize money will be distributed until all necessary forms have been received by STATS. Both the principal registrant and the co-manager(s) will receive IRS Form 1099 reflecting the prize money paid to each. If STATS deems, in its sole discretion, that the appropriate documentation and/or authorization has not been received, or has not been received in a timely fashion, then STATS will pay prize payments only to the principal registrant.

20. Communication and Access: All NFFC team owners must have internet access and a valid e-mail address for communication. STATS is not responsible for any issues which impede or interfere with the transmission or receipt of any transaction, including but not limited to, draft selections, trades, free agent moves and lineups. STATS is also not responsible for the failure of any telephone networks/lines, internet connections, software/hardware, or internet congestion/transmission rates.

21. Hold Harmless: Each participant and co-owner hereby releases and holds harmless STATS and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries, and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and representatives from and against any and all liability for any injuries, losses or damages of any kind to person (including death) and property, arising in whole or in part, directly or indirectly from participation in any NFFC event, game or league, as well as acceptance or use of any prize award.

22. Disputes; Limitation of Liability; Disclaimer: Each participant and co-owner agrees that (i) all issues and questions regarding the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or your rights and obligations in connection with the NFFC shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the state of Illinois, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules; and (ii) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with the NFFC or any prize awarded will be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, or the appropriate state court located in Cook County, Illinois; and (iii) in no event shall STATS liability to you for any and all damages, losses or causes of action exceed $250; and (iv) in no event shall STATS, its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries, and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and representatives, be liable for any punitive, incidental and consequential damages. If your jurisdiction does not allow limitations or exclusions of liability for incidental or consequential damages, the above may not apply to you. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, EACH NFFC GAME, EVENT, LEAGUE,WEBSITE, AND BULLETIN BOARD/FORUM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. IF YOUR JURISDICTION DOES NOT ALLOW FOR THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, THE ABOVE MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

23. Player Eligibility: Players will be eligible at one position during the NFFC season and designated for that position before the season by STATS. Should a player move to another primary position before the start of the season, the NFFC reserves the right to give that player a second eligible position. No player will ever lose the eligibility originally designated by the NFFC, but a second position could be added if deemed necessary by the NFFC. All decisions made by the NFFC commissioner regarding eligibility are final.

[BigBlueNation]

Bump..When will registration be set up?

[Greg Ambrosius]

Bump..When will registration be set up?

It should be ready to go later this week. Let's get this thing rolling!!

[Greg Ambrosius]

It looks like the NFFC Post-Season contest -- at $150 per entry and a $50,000 grand prize -- is now available on Registration. First 700 teams are guaranteed spots, so enjoy. With so much unpredictability in the playoffs, this should be a lot of fun this year. Enjoy.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Just an FYI: I've asked Tom to hold off on charging any signups for this contest going forward until Dec. 27th. We'll run credit card changes after Christmas, but you secure your teams now if you'd like. This is similar to how we run our season-long contests, so let's do it this way for the post-season contest. Sign up now to secure your spot in the contest and pay after Christmas. Sound good?

Thanks all and good luck. Look for a signup thread shortly.

[Cocktails and Dreams]

Have a feeling you could have been a little more aggressive with this. Tremendous concept and while you guys are smart business people, here is an example of the fantasy laws hindering explosive growth.

[BillyWaz]

Have a feeling you could have been a little more aggressive with this. Tremendous concept and while you guys are smart business people, here is an example of the fantasy laws hindering explosive growth.

While the lower numbers are nice, I agree with Chad here.

I have a feeling a lot of people may be wishing they got in this, and may be on the outside looking in.

What might be nice for this contest would be to limit it to say 5 entries per person?? Of course an alias, signing up under Uncle Joe, etc. would happen, but at least it COULD work and give some people an opportunity to get a team or 2, that otherwise may get shut out.

Just a thought.

[Rog]

I personally liked the different entry levels. I would tinker with the cheaper ones and try and put forward what I thought was my best lineup in the more expensive one.

[Coach JP]

I personally am not joining this unless there is a cap on entries. This type of format is very similar to daily fantasy, and it's well known that the more entries a player has the more of a lottery it becomes. Not really interested in playing against a guy for $50k when he only has to spend $1500 (chump change for some) to have 10 different combinations.

Billy is right with his 5 max teams. I saw someone already has six teams, so I have a feeling that it will be a who puts up the most money type of event.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Have a feeling you could have been a little more aggressive with this. Tremendous concept and while you guys are smart business people, here is an example of the fantasy laws hindering explosive growth.

Agreed Chad and we'll see what the demand is for this contest. As you say, picking that guaranteed prize level is the key these days. Remember, it wasn't too long ago when we were so uncertain about this post-season market that our entry levels were $30, $60 and $120. We didn't have the software ourselves, so we worked with another company just to keep this going each year. Our top grand prize was $10,000. Now the market has proven that there is a lot of interest in post-season contests and we've gone from $100 and $200 contests to this one contest at $150 with our highest grand prize to date of $50,000. We pushed aggressive grand prizes in the Cutline and Classic this year and didn't reach our goals, so you are right that we are being more conservative with this contest now to see where it goes. But a $150 entry to win $50,000 while adjusting your lineup throughout the post-season seems like a good ROI and good fun.

Let's see how the signups go early on and maybe in future years we can push all of this even higher. Thanks for the feedback.