Help
Frequently Asked Questions
How Sharp Leagues works — picks, leagues, standings, and more. Full contest rules live on each game's contest home, linked below.
Getting Started
What is Sharp Leagues?
Sharp Leagues is a free pick game platform. Each contest is a season-long game — like Survivor, where one losing pick can end your run, or Pick'em, where you pick every game and rack up points. You play inside leagues with friends or in the public Open pool.
Is it free to play?
Yes — completely. Creating an account, joining leagues, and making picks are all free. You play for the standings, the sweat, and the bragging rights.
How do I join a league?
From a contest's League page you can browse public leagues, join a private league with its invite code or invite link, or create your own league and become its commissioner. Every contest also has an Open pool you can join with one click.
Can I play in more than one league at once?
Yes. An entry can be attached to multiple compatible leagues, and leagues can allow multiple entries per player. Your entry's record is shared everywhere it's attached, so a win or loss counts in all of its leagues.
Picks & Grading
When do picks lock?
Each pick locks at that game's scheduled start time, shown and enforced in Eastern Time (ET). Locks are enforced on the server, and delays don't move the lock — the original scheduled start controls it. Until then you can change or cancel your pick.
How are picks graded?
Picks are graded automatically after a game goes final, using your league's rules — straight-up or against the spread, and whether a loss costs a life or ends your entry. Results, standings, and history update within minutes of the final score.
What happens if my game is postponed or canceled?
The pick is void. A void pick never costs a life, and in contests where each team can only be used once, the team is freed up to pick again later.
What if I forget to make a pick?
That depends on your league's settings. Leagues can auto-assign a fallback pick, charge the missed week as a loss, or simply leave you without a result for the week. Turn on pick-reminder emails in Settings so it doesn't happen.
Leagues & Commissioners
What does a commissioner do?
The league's creator is its commissioner. They set the rules before the season starts — lives, missed-pick policy, re-entry, pick reveal — and run the league during the season: granting lives where the rules allow, pausing when needed, and finalizing the standings at the end.
What do I win?
Bragging rights — and they're not nothing. When your commissioner finalizes the season, the final standings lock for good, so your title is on the record.
Can I get back in after being eliminated?
If your league allows re-entry, you can start a new entry until the league's re-entry deadline. The league page will show you a re-entry banner when it's available.
Do leagues have chat?
Yes — every league has its own chat, linked from the league page, so commissioners and players can talk through weekly picks all season.
Notifications & Account
What emails will I get?
Pick reminders before your pick locks, pick results after grading, entry-ended notices, and weekly league recaps. Every one of them can be switched off in Settings, and every email has an unsubscribe link. You can also enable browser push notifications.
Can I change my display name?
Yes. Your display name is what other players see in standings and chat, and you can change it any time in Settings.
AI Assistant
Can I use an AI assistant with Sharp Leagues?
Yes. Sharp Leagues connects to assistants like Claude and ChatGPT so you can check schedules, standings, and even submit picks by chat — every pick is previewed and confirmed before it counts. Set it up on the AI Assistant page.
Contest Rules
How does NFL Survivor work?
One team. Every week. No second chances. Read the full rules at /contest/nfl-survivor.
How does NFL Pick'em work?
Pick every week. Stack points across the full slate. Read the full rules at /contest/nfl-pickem.