1. The Game: PlayTheGame, The Times "free to play" fantasy
football competition, 2008-09 (the "Game") will run from Monday July
14th, 2008, when it opens for registration, to the completion of the
final Eligible Game of the season. Eligible Games are those played in the English
Premier League during the 2008-09 season only.
2. Entry General: Entry to the Game is free and no purchase
is necessary but entrants should be aware that they may be subject to charges
depending on their own individual arrangements for Internet access.
3. Entry Dates: Registration commences on Monday July 14th,
2008. To qualify for maximum prize winning opportunities, the player allocation
must have taken place by 11:00:00 BST on Sunday August 31st, 2008 (see clause
11 for an explanation of player allocations) though Game play will begin on
August 16th, 2008 when the 2008-09 Premier League season kicks off.
For player allocations to take place, the entry steps must have all taken place
by midnight of the previous day (see clauses 8, 9, 10 and 11). Entries will be
permitted after this date, but Teams will not be eligible for any prize if the
player allocation for that Team's League takes place after 31 December 2008.
4. Entry Qualification: The Game is open to any eligible person residing
in a country where the Game is not prohibited or otherwise unlawful. Only
entrants over the age of 18 will be eligible for prizes. Failure to observe
these requirements will mean that any potential winning entry is invalid and
any prize awarded will be forfeited. Employees of the Promoter, its associated,
affiliated and subsidiary companies, and their families, agents and any person
connected with the Game are excluded from entry.
Entrants may have a maximum of
four (4) Teams in total in the Game. These Teams may be in the same League or
in different Leagues.
5.
Entry Route: Entries to the Game may only be made via the website
at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/playthegame
using the Game entry form to be found on the website. Entrants will be required
to submit a user ID (your email address) and password, which will be used for
future logins to their Team page. Entrants who registered for the 2007/08
edition of PlayTheGame do not need to re-register as their existing details can
be used to login and enter for the 2008/09 edition.
6. Acceptance: New entries correctly submitted via the
Website will result in an acceptance message via email to the entrant's email
address supplied during registration (provided the entrant has provided their
correct email address). The Game computer's record of each entry will be deemed
to be the official entry for each Team. The Promoter will not be liable for any
failure of receipt of entries.
7. Entry Stages: Entry to and playing of the Game requires
five steps: (1) creation of a Team, (2) creation of or joining a League, (3)
player ranking (4) player allocation and (5) selection of your Active players.
8. Initial Team and Name: During registration entrants will create a
Team. Initially this will be a Team in name only and will not be a member of
any League. Players are not added to the Team at this stage - see clause 11
below for how players are added to a Team. Entrants must choose a name for each Team
entered up to 25 characters long. Returning entrants from last years Game will
be automatically taken to a screen to enter a Team name.The Promoter reserves the right to reject any
Team or League name that in its sole judgement is inappropriate or offensive.
In such a case, the Promoter reserves the right to rename the Team or where
applicable the League in the name of the entrant or to apply such other name as
the Promoter deems appropriate.
9. Leagues
9.1 Join/Create a League: The second step is to enter the Team in an
established League, create a new League or use one of the league matching
options. A Team will not be valid or eligible to take part in the Game unless
it is part of a valid League. There are three types of League:
(a) Private Leagues: Private Leagues must consist of a minimum
of five (5) Teams and a maximum of twenty (20) Teams and allow entrants to play
with a specific group of people they know. The creator of the League ("the
Chairman") is responsible for selecting the League's name, setting the
League parameters (i.e. the maximum number of teams in the League; deciding whether
the allocation is to be offline or automated; and the player allocation date), setting
a League password and for providing this information to other entrants to enable
them to join the League. If the option of an offline allocation is chosen, the Chairman
will be responsible for managing the allocation of the players to Teams, entering
the Teams of all members of that League and ensuring they are valid (see clause
11.4). Anyone who is provided with the password and League name will be able to
enter a League provided it has not reached maximum membership and the player
allocation has not taken place.
(b) Public Leagues: Public Leagues must consist of a minimum
of five (5) Teams and a maximum of ten (10) Teams and are Leagues that are open
to the public. There will be two ways to enter a Public League.The first option is to use the League matcher
functionality. If an entrant opts to use the League matcher functionality they
will be allocated to a Public League, consisting of a total of 10 teams, by the
system as quickly as possible.The entrant
will be sent an email to confirm when they have been entered into a League and
when the Team allocation date will be.The second option is to join a Public League that has already been
created by the Promoter.The entrant
will be able to choose one of up to 5 Public Leagues made available to entrants.
Anyone may join a Public League, provided that the League has not reached the
maximum number of Teams, and the player allocation has not taken place.
(c) Super Leagues: Access to Super Leagues is by invitation only.Entrants will only see the option to join a Super
League if they were an entrant to the 2007/08 edition of PlayTheGame and were
an active player throughout the majority of the season (as determined by the
Promoter).Identification is based on
the use of last years username (the entrants email address).If Entrants choose this option they will be
automatically added to the next available Super League.Eligible entrants will only be able to enter
one Super League per username.
9.2 Eligibility of Leagues: To be valid and to allow its members to be
eligible to have the opportunity to win prizes, Leagues must consist of a
minimum of five (5) Teams and maximum of twenty (20) Teams for Private Leagues
and a maximum of ten (10) Teams for Public and Super Leagues. The Chairman of a
Private League sets the required number of Teams for each League.
9.3 Player Allocation Dates
(a) Private Leagues: Player Allocation Dates: Player allocations will only
occur if, as at 24 hours prior to the player allocation date, the League has
acquired the number of Teams set by the Chairman. The Chairman may change the
player allocation date and the set number of Teams at any time prior to 24
hours prior to the player allocation date provided always that the number of
Teams set by the Chairman has not been reached (note: Leagues are locked at
this point and no further changes can be made). The earliest point that a player allocation
can take place will be August 5 2008.
(i) Prior to
August 14, 2008, if a League has not acquired the set number of Teams 24 hours
prior to the player allocation date, the player allocation will be postponed
until August 14, 2008. If on that date, the specified number of Teams has not
been formed, but there are 5 or more Teams, the player allocation will take
place. If there are fewer than 5 Teams, the player allocation date will be
postponed by a week or until the set number of Teams has been reached whichever
is the earlier. If a player allocation is postponed, the Chairman will be
informed by email.
(ii) After August 14,
2008 if a League has not acquired the set number of Teams 24 hours prior to the
player allocation date, the player allocation will be postponed for one week,
and will keep being postponed until the set number of Teams has been reached.
(iii) If a Chairman
has chosen not to have an automated allocation and will be running an offline player
allocation then the allocation date will not apply (see clause 11.4).It will be the responsibility of the Chairman
to organise the offline allocation with the members of their private league and
then for the Chairman to enter every League members Team into the Game.
(b) Public
Leagues: Whether the entrant has opted into the League
creator or joined a Public League themselves, the Player Allocation date for a Public
League will be set when the League has been filled.Once available, the allocation date will be visible
on the Game site and the entrant will receive an email.The earliest point that a player allocation
can take place will be August 5 2008.
(c) Super
Leagues: The Player
Allocation date for a Super League will be set when the League has been filled. Once available, the allocation date will
be visible on the Game site and the entrant will receive an email.The earliest point that a player allocation
can take place will be August 5 2008.
9.4 Moving Between Leagues: If an entrant has agreed to have a Team
assigned to a League by the League matcher or the Super League matcher, the
entrant may not move that Team to another League. Otherwise, provided that the
player allocation has not taken place or the set number of Teams has not been
filled, an entrant may leave one League and join another. Once player
allocation has taken place, or once the set number of Teams has been filled, a
Team may not be removed from a League.
9.5 Disputes: Entrants are solely responsible for their
interactions with other entrants, including disputes between League members and
the Chairman. The Promoter reserves the right, but has no obligation, to
monitor disputes between entrants.
9.6 Minimum Number of Teams: if at any time during the Game the number
of Teams in a League falls below five (for any reason), the League will become
inactive.
10. League Player Ranking: Prior to the player allocation each
entrant in each League may re-rank each Premier League player (players are in
an existing ranking already) in a personalised Wish List. Team Managers will move
players from the existing ranking list into their Wish List and re-rank them in
order of selection preference, with the most preferred player being ranked
first. The higher a ranking in the Wish List, the more likely that the player
will be assigned to that Team in the player allocation process. This Wish List may
be changed at any point up until the player allocation date. Entrants may move
to their Wish List and rank as many or as few players as they wish,players that they do not put on their Wish
List will be assigned a default ranking, adjusted to take into account the
entrant's own rankings, and this ranking will be used to allocate players after
all players on the entrant's Wish List have been allocated. The default rankings
will be the Official Times Rankings ("OTR"). Players that join a
Premier League Club after July 14, 2008 will be added to the end of the list.
All rankings must be set by 23:59:59pm (UK time) on the day before the
player allocation date. The OTR are for information only and are not
necessarily indicative of ability or points-scoring potential for any player.
11. Player Allocation:
Automated Player Allocation
Note: Automated Player Allocation
may not take place prior to August 5, 2008.
11.1 Formation: During an automated player allocation,
each entrant's Team is assigned a squad of 20 Premier League players. Players
are assigned to each Team in a League by an automated process. Players will be
divided into two distinct groups, goalkeepers and defenders in one group, and
midfielders and forwards in the second. There are no restrictions on the number
of players in a Team in either category but a Team will not have more than 20
players in their squad.
11.2 Team Ordering: In automated player allocations, each Team
in the League will be ordered by being assigned a number between 1 and the
number of Teams in the League i.e. 1 - 10 if there are 10 Teams in the League.
The ordering is done randomly by an automated process.
11.3 Player Allocation: In automated player allocations Premier
League players are allocated to each Team on the basis of the Wish List
compiled by the entrant followed by the OTR , and the entrant order assigned by
the Game. So the top-ordered Team will be allocated their top- ranked player.
The second in order Team will be allocated their top-ranked player, unless he
has already been allocated. Once each Team has been allocated one player, the
ranking is reversed, so the last ordered Team will be allocated the next
player, and then backwards through the Team order. Player allocation will also
be made on the basis of that player's primary position until each Team has a
complete Team in a 4-4-2 formation as well as three position-specific
substitutes, with priority being given to position over player ranking. For
instance, if a Team has been allocated 5 midfielders (consisting of a left
midfielder, 2 central midfielders, a right midfielder and one additional
midfielder from any midfield position) and 6 defenders and goalkeepers (consisting
of a goalkeeper, a left back, 2 central defenders, a right back and one more
defensive player from any of these positions), but no forwards, the next player
allocated to that Team must be a forward, no matter that the entrant has ranked
another midfielder more highly. The final result of the player allocation
process is that each Team will have a squad of 20 players which will be formed
of at least 5 midfielders, 6 defenders/goalkeepers and 3 forwards.
|
Team Number
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
|
Player allocation order, first pass
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
|
Player allocation order, second
pass
|
10
|
9
|
8
|
7
|
6
|
Offline Player Allocation
11.4. Offline Player
Allocation: If a League
Chairman has chosen an offline allocation for their League then the player
allocation must happen offline and the Chairman will be responsible for
organising and running the offline allocation.Although it is suggested that offline allocations follow the above
conventions of alternate picks with the order reversed in even-numbered rounds,
the allocation method can be determined by the Chairman with the agreement of
the League members. Each entrant must be able to field a valid Team at the end
of the offline allocation i.e. a valid Team must consist of 20 Premier League
players with a 4-4-2 formation as well as three position-specific substitutes.
The Chairman is responsible for inputting correct Team
data after the completion of the offline allocation.
11.5 New Players: If a new player joins the Premier League
after the player allocation date, that player will be subject to the Notice
Period process set out in clause 18.
General
12. Active Players:
12.1 Although each
Team has a squad of 20 players, only 14 players may be Active players at any
one time: the default formation shall be 4-4-2: i.e. 4 midfielders, 4
defenders, 2 forwards, one goal keeper, and three substitute positions made up
of one forward position, one midfield position and one defender/goalkeeper
position. Alternative formations of 4-5-1 and 4-3-3 may be selected after the
player allocation has taken place. Once player allocation has taken place,
entrants may move players in and out of Active positions as they require,
subject to the rules set out below.
12.2 The game uses
the following position breakdown for players:
GK - goalkeeper
LB - left back
CB - centre back
RB - right back
LM - left midfield player
CM - central midfield player
RM - right midfield player
FOR - forward
Each team within a league will
have a squad of 20 players of which a maximum of the following 14 will be in
scoring positions in a 4-4-2 formation plus three substitutes as follows:
1 GK
1 LB
2 CB
1 RB
1 ANY OF GK, LB, CB, RB sub
1 LM
2 CM
1 RM
1 ANY OF LM, CM, RM sub
2 FOR
1 FOR sub
In a 4-5-1 formation:
1 GK
1 LB
2 CB
1 RB
1 ANY OF GK, LB, CB, RB sub
1 LM
3 CM
1 RM
1 ANY OF LM, CM, RM sub
1 FOR
1 FOR SUB
In a 4-3-3 formation:
1 GK
1 LB
2 CB
1 RB
1 ANY OF GK, LB, CB, RB sub
1 LM
1 CM
1 RM
1 ANY OF LM, CM, RM sub
3 FOR
1 FOR sub.
12.3 Player Eligibility:All players are attributed with
a primary playing position either GK, LB, CB, RB, LM, CM, RM or FOR. A player's
primary playing position will be determined by the Promoter. Some players will
also have an additional playing position, the eligibility for which will be
determined by the Promoter and will be based on that player's performance
during the 2007/08 season.As set out in
clause 11.3, entrants must have a Team that consists of a squad of 20 and
includes a valid 4-4-2 formation and three position specific substitutes.The allocation process will use the primary
position and any additional player eligibility to form a valid squad. Once
player allocation has taken place, entrants will be able to move players in
their team based on player eligibility.The
eligibility of a player to appear in a position shall be indicated on the
player profiles. Eligibility will be added to players throughout the season but
only when a player has started a Premier League match in a new position at the
beginning of the match.
13. Frozen Players: Players may be selected to be Active
players at any time up to 5 minutes before the start of an Eligible Game in
which that player's Team is scheduled to play. Players will be treated as
scheduled to play if they are listed on the Game's official list of players for
each Eligible Game. Five minutes before each Eligible Game, the players
scheduled to play in that Eligible Game will be frozen in game play until the
end of that day (ie midnight)
14.1 Maximum Plays in 4-4-2
Default Formation: Each
Active position may only be played 38 times during the Game. For instance, if
on Saturday an entrant plays Ashley Cole as an Active left back, and then on
Sunday replaces Cole with Gael Clichy, that left back position for that Team
will be deemed to have been played twice. Within the default 4-4-2 formation
there are three positions to which two players are allocated, centre back, centre
midfield and forward.For each of these
playing positions the number of plays will be combined e.g. the two forwards
will be able to play 76 times between them during the Game.
14.2 Maximum Plays for
alternative formations.
The 4-4-2 formation shall be the default by which the
38 plays per position shall be calculated.So if a 4-3-3 formation is selected on the first Saturday of the season
and the three forward positions are all played, the forward positions may only
be used 73 more times during the Game.If
the entrant has used an alternative formation to the default 4-4-2, it is the
entrant's responsibility to use other formations to maximise the use of all plays
per position.
15. Scoring
15.1 Scoring Events: An entrant will accumulate points based on
the performance of the Active players in Premier League Eligible Games
according to the following categories. Players who are not assigned as Active
players for any Eligible Game will not score points during that Eligible Game.
|
|
Scoring Event
|
|
Goalkeepers and Defenders
|
Clean Sheets
|
|
|
Goals/Assists
|
|
|
Defence (Total of:
Interceptions/Tackles/Blocks)
|
|
|
Minutes played (to a maximum of
90 per game)
|
|
|
Points (as per club's results) =
The total number of points eligible active players' teams earn during matches
the players have participated in
|
|
Midfielders and Forwards
|
Goals
|
|
|
Assists
|
|
|
Successful passes
|
|
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Minutes played (to a maximum of
90 per game)
|
|
|
Points (as per club's results) =
The total number of points eligible active players' teams earn during matches
the players have participated in
|
15.2 Scoring Rules
(a) Successful
Pass: A "Successful pass" is defined as the movement of the ball from
one player (the "passer") to another player (the "receiver")
where the receiver is a member of the same team as the passer who controls or
touches the ball legally without any prior interference or deflection by any
player from the opposing team.
(b) Assists: An "assist" is defined as the
movement of the ball from the "passer" to the goal scorer (where the
goal scorer is a member of the same team as the passer) who goes on to score
the goal without losing possession of the ball. In the passage into goal it may
be deviated by the goalkeeper or a defender as long as it is not subsequently
declared an own goal on the day of the match. The "assist" must not have a
significant touch or interference from a member of the opposing team. If the
touch or interference is such that without it the ball would not have reached
the goal scorer then no assist will be granted. No assists will be given for
penalties.Assists will be awarded by
the Games judging panel and the Promoter will not enter into any correspondence
about such decisions.
(c) Defensive play: Defensive players
(including goalkeepers) will be scored for each of the following situations
where the event takes place in the player's own half of the pitch:
i)
A "Tackle" on an opponent that results in possession of the ball shifting to
the side of the tackling player. This includes a goalkeeper diving at the feet
of an oncoming player and a "Catch"
ii).
The
interception of a pass which results in possession of the ball shifting to the
side of the player making the interception.
iii.
A "Tackle"
on an opponent which results in the ball going out of play
iv). The "Interception" of a
pass which results in the ball going out of play
v.
The "Block"
or "Interception" of a shot or cross, which shall include a "Save".
(d) An
"Interception" is defined as where any player legally denies a
"Successful pass" by the opposing team and retains possession of the
ball either for himself or his team.
(e) A
"Catch" is defined where a goalkeeper gains and retains possession of
the ball legally with his hands where the ball at the time of gaining
possession is off the ground.
(f) A
"Tackle" is defined as the act of a player legally dispossessing an
opponent of possession of the ball.
(g) A
"Block" is defined as where any player legally denies a
"Successful pass" or an attempt on goal by a member of the opposing
team such that this act is not an "Interception".
(h) A
"Save" is where a goalkeeper legally comes into contact with the ball
to prevent a goal being scored.
(i) A "Clean Sheet" is awarded to any
eligible player who plays in a match during which their team does not concede a
goal
(j) "Minutes" is
the number of minutes a player plays during a match.This can be no more than 90 minutes and
injury time is not included.Minutes
played by substitutes will only count if they commence play before the end of
normal time and will only be attributed with minutes played before the end of
normal time. Minutes will be counted as whole minutes. In the event a player is
substituted or ceases playing in a match for any reason and is not replaced,
then the player leaving the match will have their total match time rounded down
to the nearest minute.Any player
replacing another player in the match will have their playing minutes rounded
up to the nearest minute such that the combined total of both players equals 90
minutes.Therefore, a player being
substituted at 87mins 35secs will have been deemed to have been on the pitch
for 87 minutes and his substitute for 3 minutes unless he, in turn, is
substituted or dismissed.
(k)
"Points" are as defined in the table above.
(l) A player who
has been awarded points will retain those points regardless of whether that
Scoring Event is attributed to another player at a later date - e.g. if a goal
is attributed to another player. Any player that is subsequently awarded the
Scoring Event will not receive the points retrospectively, nor will the
original scorer lose points. Due to timing reasons, the decisions of the
Premier League's "disputed goals panel" will not be taken into
account.
(m) Any player who
comes on as a substitute will be awarded points for a clean sheet as if they
had played for the full game. Players substituted off also score points in
normal fashion regardless of how long they were on the pitch.
(n) Any player transferred from one Premier League club
to another Premier League club will continue to score points for the purposes
of the Game. Any player transferred from one Premier League club to a
non-Premier League club will have his points total frozen for that season until
such time that he rejoins a Premier League club.
(o) These
"How to Score" rules remain the same for games involving injury
and/or extra time. Accordingly, in order for a midfielder, goalkeeper or a
defender to score points in a game involving injury and/or extra time, the
score must be 0-0 after injury and/or extra time. Penalty shoot-outs do not
count. Replays are counted as separate games which for the avoidance of doubt
have their own points scoring potential.
(p) The Promoter's
record of Scoring Events is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
15.3 How Teams Score: Collating scores is a two step process.
(a) Firstly, the
values of each Scoring Event category is totalled for each Team. The Teams in a
League are placed in order of the total they have acquired in that Scoring
Event category, from highest to lowest.
Secondly, Teams will then be
awarded points according to that ranking and the number of Teams in the League.
For example, in a League of 10 Teams, 10 points will be awarded to the highest
ranked Team in each scoring category, 9 points to the next highest ranked. In
the event of a tie in a particular category, the total number of points
available for those tied places would be added and allocated equally between
the tied Teams. For example in a League comprising 10 Teams, if 2 Teams were
tied for first place for the Clean Sheets Scoring Event, each Team would
receive 9.5 points (10 + 9, then divided by 2).
(b) The points
from all ten Scoring Event categories are then totalled to determine an overall
score for that Team. The Team with the highest point total is in first place.
Scoring is carried out each day that Eligible Game is played.
(c) The totals in
each Scoring Events category will be the cumulative number of Scoring Events in
the season to date. However, as points are awarded on each Team's position
relative to the others in a league, a Team can lose points over time.
(d) Therefore, the
overall ranking of a Team within a League will rise and fall throughout the
Game depending on how it performs relative to the performance of other League
members. Entrants should note that Teams do not compete with Teams outside
their own League. There will be no play-offs in the Leagues. Statistics from
all Premier League Eligible Games are used to determine standings and the
entrant whose Team scores the most points in the League will be the overall
winner of that League at the end of the season. Entrants should note that
winning a League does not qualify entrants for a prize - see clauses 21 and 22
16. Transfers: Unlimited inter-Team transfers are
permitted within each League. However, transfers within a League are only
permitted on a swap basis: if an entrant wants a player or players in another Team
they must propose one or more of their players as a swap. An Entrant may
transfer as many players as he wishes during the Game. Players may swap one player in their Team for
a player in another Team or they may propose an uneven trade.In an uneven trade, Entrants may propose a
transfer that involves multiple players - e.g. two players for one or three
players for one. If an uneven transfer is proposed and accepted, the entrant
whose Team receives the greater number of players must drop as many players
from their existing squad as necessary to maintain a squad size of 20 players. Entrants
must nominate which player they would be prepared to drop in an uneven trade at
the stage when the trade is proposed. The entrant whose Team receives the
lesser number will be permitted to sign out-of-contract players to make their
squad size up to 20.
The non-proposing entrant will have 24
hours from the time the offer is made to reject or accept the proposed swap.
The non-proposing entrant may reject the transfer at any time during that 24
hours. A rejection or acceptance once given is final. Failure to respond to a
proposed swap constitutes rejection of the proposal. If the non-proposing
entrant counters the transfer by proposing an alternative swap involving different
players, the time will be extended by 24 hours for the parties to agree. If the
transfer is accepted, it will be under "review" for 48 hours from the
time it is accepted. All transfers must be approved by at least 50% of the
Teams in the League (calculated without reference to the proposing and
accepting Teams). A vote to approve or disapprove the transfer, once given by a
Team, is final.
17. Out of Contract Players: Depending on the number of Teams in a
League, each League will have a number of players not assigned to a Team.
Players not assigned to a Team are deemed to be out of contract players and are
available to any Team in the League in accordance with clause 18. Any players
who join the Premier League after player allocation has taken place will be
deemed to be an out of contract player.
18. Notice:
18.1 Discarded Players: An entrant may select an out of contract
player to replace an existing member of that Team's squad of 20 players. Other
League Members may select the discarded player. Once placed on notice, the
discarded player can no longer be used as an Active player, and can't be used
as an Active player by any other entrant in the League. As soon as the
discarded player is on notice, the added player can be used as an Active
player. During the notice period each entrant may register their claim to
acquire the player for their Team. If more than one Team Manager wishes to
claim the player, the player will assigned to the entrant whose Team is at the
top of the Notice Priority List.
18.2 Notice Priority List The Notice Priority List contains all the
Teams in the League and will be in the reverse order of the Team Ordering set
out in clause 11.2, so an entrant who was 1st for player allocation in a League
of 10 Teams will initially be position 10 in the Notice Priority List. Once an
entrant has been appointed a player through the Notice Priority List they will
go to the bottom of the list. If the player is not claimed during the Notice
Period they become an out of contract player. Adding an out of contract player
to a squad does not affect an entrant's position on the Notice Priority List.
19 Email Updates: Entrants will receive game announcements
and Chairman communications by email. Entrants may also elect to receive game
updates and other information.
20 Scoring Updates: Scores will be updated within 4 hours of
the last Eligible Game on each day that an Eligible Game is played.
21 Weekly/Monthly Prize Draws:
21.1 Weekly Prize Draws: Commencing with the first weekly prize
draw on Tuesday 9th September there will be a weekly prize draw each
week until the end of the Game (May
2009). Entrants will be eligible for a weekly prize if the player allocation
for their League took place prior to the 1st day of the calendar month in which
the week begins. Details of the prize(s) for each week will be published on the
Game site prior to the draw. Teams which are ranked first, second or third in
any League as at midnight of the last day of each prize week i.e. midnight
Monday, will be eligible for entry into the prize draw. Teams that are tied for
any of first, second or third in a League will all be entered in the draw,
provided the Teams are active and have begun scoring points. The winning
Team(s) will be drawn at random from all the eligible Teams each Tuesday and
will be announced within 14 days of the date prize draw.Weekly prize draws will not be made in the
event that the preceding week has contained 3 or less Premier League fixtures.
For example there will be no weekly prize draws during weeks where
international matches or FA Cup matches are played.
21.2 Monthly Prize Draws: Commencing with the first monthly prize
at the end of September 2008 there will be a monthly draw each month until the
end of the Game (May 2009) Entrants will be eligible for a prize if the player
allocation for their League took place prior to the 1st day of that month.
Details of the prize(s) for that month will be published on the website prior
to the draw. Teams which are ranked first, second or third in any League as at
midnight of the last day of each month will be eligible for entry into the
prize draw. Teams that are tied for any of first, second or third in a League
will all be entered in the draw, provided the Teams are active and have begun
scoring points. The winning Team(s) will drawn at random from all the eligible
Teams by the 10th day of the following month and will be announced within 14
days of the date prize draw.
22 End of Game Prize Draw: At the end of the Game (May 2009) there
will be a final prize draw. Details of the prize(s) for the end of Game prize
draw will be published prior to the draw. Teams which are ranked first in any
League after the last Eligible Game will be eligible for entry into the prize
draw. Teams that are tied for first in a League will all be entered in the
draw, provided the Teams are active and have begun scoring points. The winning
Team(s) will drawn at random from all the eligible Teams by the 10th day of the
following month and will be announced within 14 days of the date prize draw.
23 General Prize Draw Rules:
23.1 The winner(s) are responsible
for ensuring they are able to accept the prize as set out in and in accordance
with these terms and conditions. In the event they are unable to do so or
cannot be contacted then the Promoter reserves the right to redraw the prize.
The Promoter is not liable for any costs incurred in order for the winner or
guests to enjoy their prize. If the prize or an element of the prize is not
utilised it will be forfeited. Prizes are non-negotiable, non-transferable and
non-refundable. No cash alternative is available.
23.2 The Promoter
retains the right to substitute any prize with another of similar value in the
event the original prize offered is not available due to circumstances beyond
its reasonable control.
23.3 The Promote
accepts no responsibility for any damage, loss, liabilities, injury or
disappointment incurred or suffered by the winner(s) or their guest(s) due to
of entering the draw or accepting any prize.
23.4 The Promoter
reserves the right at any time and from time to time to modify or discontinue,
temporarily or permanently, any draw with or without prior notice due to
reasons outside their control.
23.5 The judge's
decision is final.
23.6 By entering
the Game the winner(s) agrees to their name and general location being used for
publicity purposes by the Promoter in any and all media.
23.7 The winner(s)
may be required to submit valid identification before receiving their prize.
23.8 Prize
specific terms and conditions may be added in addition to these terms and
conditions as and when each prize draw is announced. Additional terms will be
published on the websites.
23.9 For a list of
winners please send a stamped envelope to The Times PlayTheGame, stating for
which prize draw you would like winners' details.
23.10 Competition
rules published elsewhere in "Times Online" form part of these rules.
24 Privacy: The Game is administered by the Promoter
in conjunction with an affiliated company based in the US. The Promoter
is the Data Controller for the purposes of the Data Protection Act 1998, for
details of our privacy policy please go to http://www.nidp.com
25 Awarding of Prizes: The awarding of the weekly prizes will
take place each applicable Tuesday, the awarding of monthly prizes will take
place within one week of the last Eligible Game of each applicable month, and
the awarding of the final end-of-season prizes will take place within fourteen
days of the final Eligible Game of the season following which the winners will
be notified in accordance with clause 15. The judges' calculation of scores
will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
26 Contacting Winners: Following the awarding of prizes results
will be announced and all winners will be formally notified via the contact
details provided on their entry form within 28 days of the announcement of the
prize. If a winner cannot be located within three months of the announcement
date, the prize will be forfeited. The winners agree to allow the free use of
their names, photographs, general location and Team name and selections for
publicity and news purposes in The Times and on TimesOnline. All winners' names
will be available upon request by sending a stamped addressed envelope to the
Competitions Department of Times Newspapers Ltd at the address below marked
'PlayTheGame 08-09 Winners', and each entrant consents to the use of their
personal data for these purposes.
27 Liability: In respect of the operation of the Game
and interpretation of these Terms and Conditions, the Promoter's decision will
be final and no correspondence will be entered into. The Promoter and its
subsidiary, associated and affiliated companies do not accept liability for
lost, corrupted, damaged, unclear, inaudible, delayed or otherwise invalid
entries. Proof of calling or sending or transmission of an entry shall not be
proof of receipt or acceptance of an entry. The Promoter and its subsidiary,
associated and affiliated companies do not accept liability for technical,
hardware or software failures of any kind or lost or unavailable network
conditions which may limit or prohibit the opportunity to participate in the
Game. The Promoter reserves the right to amend and/or waive these Terms and
Conditions or any part thereof at any time and entrants agree that no liability
shall attach to the Promoter as a result thereof, and that the exercise of such
discretion shall not result in any compensation or payment being payable or
paid to any entrant. It is a condition of entry of the Game that these Terms
and Conditions and the "Scoring" rules detailed at Clause 15 above
and the latest promotional and explanatory copy which form part of these Terms
and Conditions are accepted as binding and that the entrant agrees to abide by
these Terms and Conditions. If there is any inconsistency between these Terms
and Conditions and any other promotional or explanatory copy, these Terms and
Conditions shall prevail. Except for death or personal injury caused by their
negligent acts or omissions, the Promoter will only be liable to any entrant
for any loss or damage which is responsibly foreseeable consequence of a breach
by the Promoter of these Terms and Conditions. The Promoter will not be liable
for any loss or damage caused by it, its employees or agents in circumstances
where (i) they are not at fault for errors or inaccuracies, or (ii) the loss or
damage is not foreseeable to the entrant and the Promoter, or (iii) the loss or
damage is a business loss or the losses were caused in the course of business,
including losses relating to lost data, lost profits or business interruption.
28 Copyright: Copyright in the name PlayTheGame (in
relation to fantasy games) and copyright in the Game rules, the game mechanics
and the scoring system is the sole property of the Promoter or a subsidiary,
associated or affiliated company of the Promoter. Single copies of the Game
rules may be copied or printed off by each entrant solely for their use in
connection with the Game but otherwise no information or material relating to
the Game may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the prior written
consent of the Promoter.
29 Promoter: Times Newspapers Limited 1 Virginia Street London
E98 1RL.
30 General and Help: The Promoter will make reasonable efforts
to ensure the accuracy of the Game information in The Times newspaper and on
the Website and to update such information on a regular basis, but does not
guarantee that such information will be accurate or up-to-date at all times. If
you have any problems in accessing details about your Team or any other details
regarding your entry/entries, or any general queries please email playthegame@timesonline.co.uk.
31 Complaints: The Promoter reserves the right to
investigate any complaints that it receives but shall be under no obligation to
do so. Should the Promoter choose to exercise this right, its decision shall be
final and binding on all complainants and it shall not enter into any
correspondence regarding its decision or any other matter. The Promoter
reserves the right to refuse to accept any entry if at its sole discretion the
entrant has not complied with the Game rules or if the entrant has in the sole
view of the Promoter contravened the spirit of the Game. If any provision of
the Game rules proves to be illegal or unenforceable, this shall not prevent
the remaining provisions continuing in full force and effect. The Game rules
will be interpreted in accordance with English law and the entrants agree that
all claims arising from their participation in the Game which they may bring
against the Promoter will be under the exclusive jurisdiction of the English
Courts.
32 Inter-League Disputes: The Promoter accepts no liability for any
disputes which may arise between Teams/Team Managers within Leagues, nor for
any meetings via electronic media or other media or in person which may take
place between players. In the event of a dispute which becomes known to the Promoter
the Promoter reserves the right to rule on such dispute in order to protect the
smooth running of the Game and in such case the Promoter's decision will be
final.
33 Bulletin Boards: Once a League has been formed entrants
will be able to view and post messages on their own league's Bulletin Board.
The Bulletin Board will only be viewable to entrants who are participating in
that League (the "members"). Members agree that any posts on the
boards are private conversations between members and are not to be published
outside of the Bulletin Board environment. Members agree that they, and not the
Promoter, are solely responsible for all messages and any material or
information that they transmit to other members and for their interactions with
other members in connection with the Bulletin Boards and that they must use the
Bulletin Boards solely in the context of the Game and for lawful purposes only.
Members must not use the Bulletin Boards for any of the following: (i) for
fraudulent purposes or in connection with a criminal offence or other unlawful
activity; (ii) to send, use or reuse any material which is offensive, abusive,
indecent, defamatory, racist, obscene or menacing, or in breach of copyright,
trademark, confidence, privacy or any other rights; or (iii) to cause
annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety. Members accept that the Promoter
does not endorse and has no control over the content posted by members. The
Promoter makes no warranties, express or implied, as to the content or to the
accuracy and reliability of the content or any material or information that
members transmit. The Promoter assumes no responsibility for monitoring the
Bulletin Boards for inappropriate content or conduct. However, if at any time
the Promoter chooses, in its sole discretion, to monitor the Bulletin Boards,
except as required by law or regulation, the Promoter nonetheless assumes no
responsibility for the content, no obligation to modify or remove any
inappropriate content, and no responsibility for the conduct of the member
submitting any such content. The Promoter reserves the right to remove the
Bulletin Board facility from any League at anytime if in its own discretion any
posts contravene the spirit of the Game or the posts are deemed to be in breach
of the conditions of use set out above. If a member believes that any message
or activity on their Bulletin Board contravenes these rules or in any other way
concerns them then they can report it - there is a "report abuse"
button on each bulletin board.
© Times Newspapers Limited 2008
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