This handbook provides support reps with standardized responses, escalation paths, and policies for commissioner-facing questions. It ensures consistency, legal compliance, and a professional, friendly tone across all Intercom conversations.
If you're looking at this page, please know, we will only be referencing contests that are ran on the Splash Sports Site (Interface). If you've restarted a past contest from RYP/OFP and you still are running that contest on RYP/OFP Interface, we will build and link a separate Handbook for you!
RunYourPool (Interface) Handbook Found Here - Again, this is for contests that are still running on RYP interface.
OfficeFootballPool (Interface) Handbook Found here - Again, this is for contests that are still running on OFP Interface
1. Entry Deadline
Definition: The entry deadline is the last time an entrant can join (buy or register for) a contest.
After the entry deadline:
No new entries can be created.
Commissioners cannot manually add or invite new entrants.
Entrants already in the contest can still make picks for upcoming weeks, but no additional entries are allowed.
Splash cannot manually add member/entries into a contest for commissioner
2. Pick Deadline
Definition: The pick deadline is when picks for a specific game or week lock.
Timing:
Survivor/Pick’em formats → locks at the start of the first eligible game for that week.
When you create your contest, you will have multiple options to choose from
When you contest has already started, the commissioner can edit the pick deadline for the next week
After the pick deadline:
No commissioner or entrant can make or edit picks.
Picks show as “locked” and remain hidden until games begin (integrity measure).
Commissioner cannot make a pick on behalf of a member after the pick deadline
3. Contest Settings – When You Can & Cannot Edit
Before Contest Starts (No Entries):
Commissioners can edit scoring rules, pick settings, entry limits and etc.
After Contest Starts (entries submitted):
Most settings cannot be changed to protect contest integrity.
Examples of locked settings: scoring rules, missed pick penalties, revival rules.
Commissioners cannot retroactively change pick deadlines or override game results.
Cannot edit settings after contest has already started
Allowed Post-Start Adjustments:
Inviting members (if entry deadline hasn’t passed).
Reviving entries (if enabled and before cutoff).
Viewing entrant information.
4. Invites Manager Section
Purpose: Tool for commissioners to invite members into their contest.
Key Functions:
Enter participant email addresses → system sends invite link.
Track pending invites (who has/hasn’t accepted).
Resend invites if needed.
Limitations:
Cannot force entry creation. Invitee must accept and complete entry setup before the entry deadline.
After entry deadline → no new invites are possible.
5. Entrants Manager Section
Purpose: Central hub for commissioners to view/manage existing entrants.
Key Functions:
View Entrants: See all confirmed members and their entries (how many entries, active entries, missed pick entries)
Email Entrants: Send announcements/reminders directly (e.g., “Don’t forget to make your picks”).
Revive Entries (if enabled):
Commissioners can manually revive an eliminated entry if within rules (and if before revive cutoff).
Entrants can also self-revive by paying buy-back fee (if set).
Need to revive members before the new weeks pick deadline, if you don't revive in time, Splash cannot manually revive members
Entry Details: View usernames, entry names, and history of picks.
Remove (Boot) Details:
Once a commissioner removes/boots an entry there is no possibility to after the contest has started
Once a commissioner removes/boots an entry before the contest starts, reach out to the CS team at support@splashsports.com with contest name, member email so we can un-boot the member
Once a member is removed/booted, their entry is permanently deleted (we CANNOT) get it back the entry if picks were made/were not made
Commissioner will need to re-invite that member back into the contest with the contest invite link
Pause Entry Details:
Once an entry is paused, that member cannot make picks until the entry is un-paused
You cannot choose which entries a commissioner can pause, its a pause all entries that a member has or none.
If an entry is paused and you miss the pick deadline to make a pick, that members entry will be deleted
Limitations:
Commissioners cannot edit picks on behalf of member once submitted.
Commissioners cannot delete individual games or override results.
Commissioners can only make one pick for a member before the pick deadline.
Commissioners do not have the ability to submit another pick on behalf of the member. The member would need to go to the contest and edit their entry.
6. Leaderboard Page
Purpose: Displays contest standings in real-time.
Details Displayed:
Handle/Usernames → displayed publicly with parentheses (e.g., “username (1)”).
Entry Names → not shown on leaderboard but can be viewed in Entrants Manager.
Scores/Records → updated as games finish.
Limitations:
Alphabetical sorting and advanced search → will be available soon!
Updates:
Searching & filtering for a username/handle name or entry name is now available
7. Stats Page
Purpose: Provides a breakdown of pick and contest data.
Details Displayed:
Pick distribution → how many entrants picked each team/player.
Survival percentages (in Survivor formats).
High/low scoring results (Pick’em formats).
User’s individual history of picks and performance.
Commissioner Use Case:
Share stats with entrants for transparency.
Limitations:
Cannot be edited or manipulated by commissioners.
Updates occur automatically as games complete.
Common FAQ Questions:
Question: I accidentally selected a Splash-Managed Contest instead of Self-Managed contest where I want to collect the fees, not Splash, can you switch the payout for me?
Answer: No, commissioners will need to delete the contest and create a new contest with the correct Managed option.
Question: Can you merge/move a members entry from one member to another on Splash?
Answer: No, we cannot merge or transfer entries from one members account to another members account. Each member is responsible for creating their own entries.
Question: If I'm a commissioner of a contest, and do not have an entry, how can I view the standings?
Answer: If you (commissioner) has the Splash Sports app, or if you do not, you will want to download it, you will be able to view the leaderboard/standings/stats page on the app.
Our team is already working on website view!
Question: How can I (commissioner) turn on Spectator Mode, so others that are not in my contest can view standings/stats and etc?
Answer: You will want to reach out to the support team at support@splashsports.com and we can help with your request. Just provide us the Contest Name, and we then can further assist.
Question: Can I extend the payment deadline for my contest?
Answer: No, you cannot extend the payment deadline for any contest on the site.
Question: I accidentally revived the wrong member, can I un-revive them?
Answer: No, you cannot un-revive that member, you can either remove that entry from the contest or you can pause, if the member only has one entry.
Question: Can eliminated entries still see the leaderboard/standings and etc?
Answer: Yes, members would go to MY CONTEST > FINAL > Select Contest > View Leaderboard/Stats
Question: Can members delete an entry within a contest after the contest has already started?
Answer: No, once the contest has started members cannot delete an entry they no longer want. They will need to reach out to the commissioner and the commissioner can go into their Entrants Manager section, and remove that entry from the contest.
Question: Can a commissioner edit a pick on behalf of a member if the member has already made a pick?
Answer: No, commissioner can only make a pick for a member on behalf of the member before the weeks pick deadline. Picks made by the commissioner cannot be made after the pick deadline has passed.
Question: A member told me they wanted Team A for Week 4, but now they want team B, why can I edit the pick before the member? It still shows before the pick deadline.
Answer: A commissioner can only make a pick for a member on their behalf before the pick deadline and only available once. A commissioner cannot edit another pick for that entry even if its before the pick deadline. The member will need to edit their entry if they want a different team.
Question: Where can I find my contest that have ended/over with?
Answer: You will go to your My Contest Section > Select Final. This is where you will see all your contests that are finalized/over will/ended.
Question: What does “Missed Pick Penalty” mean in a Confidence contest?
Answer: It determines how points are assigned if a player forgets to make a pick.
Highest Available Points: The missed pick gets the highest unused confidence value.
Lowest Available Points: The missed pick gets the lowest unused confidence value.
This works the same way it did on RunYourPool (RYP), so it should feel familiar if you’ve played there before.
Question: How do I edit my confidence points?
Answer: Click Edit next to your entry, then you will select "edit confidence points", you will take the 3 diagonal lines, select that and move the team up or down based on your rank settings.
Question: How do I update my handle (username)?
Answer: You can update your handle/username by going to Avatar > My Account > My Profile > Edit and making your changes there.
Question: Can new entrants be added after the entry deadline?
Answer: No. Once the entry deadline has passed, neither commissioners nor Splash Sports can manually add new entrants or create new entries in the contest.
Question: Can I use the Splash Sports app outside of the US and Canada?
Answer: At this time, the Splash Sports app is only available in the US and Canada. If you’re located elsewhere, you can still access and manage your contests through our website at www.splashsports.com. We appreciate your understanding and hope to expand app access to more countries in the future.
Question: How do I review or edit my contest settings? Can Splash review my settings for me?
Answer: You can review your own contest settings under Contest Details > Manage Contest > Settings.
Question: How do I revive members in my Self-Managed Survivor contest?
Answer: You can revive members after the week ends under Commissioner > Manage Contest > Entrants Manager > Revivals
Question: Can Splash merge members or entries from one contest into another?
Answer: No. We cannot and do not merge members or entries between contests. Each contest is managed separately, and entries must be created directly in the contest a participant intends to join.
If an entry was made in the wrong contest, the participant will need to create a new entry in the correct contest before the entry or pick deadline. If the deadline has already passed, unfortunately, nothing can be done.
Question: How does pick management work for commissioners?
Answer: Here's how it works:
Visibility: Commissioners can see that a pick was submitted/locked, but they cannot see the specific team(s) until that game begins.
Editing Picks: Once a member has made a pick, commissioners cannot edit it.
Making Picks for Members: Commissioners may only make a pick on a member’s behalf if that member has not submitted a pick yet. To do this, go to Entrants Manager > Select Member > Make Pick.
Deadlines: All picks — whether made by a member or by a commissioner on their behalf — must be submitted before the pick deadline. Once the deadline passes, picks lock and cannot be changed.
Question: Can commissioners edit member details in the Entrants Manager section?
Answer: No. At this time, commissioners cannot edit member details such as name, email address, entry information, or entries within the Entrants Manager section.
If updates are needed, the member must log in and make those changes directly from their own account. Commissioners can reach out and request that members update their information before the contest begins.
We understand this functionality could be helpful, and we’ve passed the request to our product team for future consideration.
Question: How Does Billing Work for Self-Managed Contests?
Answer: Billing is based on the total number of entries in the contest at the time payment is made — this includes entries with or without picks. Extra entries, even if no picks were submitted, are counted in the total at checkout.
Question: How can I make sure I’m charged the correct amount?
Answer: Before paying, review your contest’s entry list and remove any unwanted entries (especially those without picks). Only proceed to payment once the correct entries remain.
Question: How do I remove unused entries?
Answer: Yes, you will go to your Entrants Manager Section:
Go to your Contest > Entries (or Members/Entries list).
Select the entry you want to remove.
Choose Remove/Delete entry and confirm.
Question: Why can I only email my members once every 24 hours?
Answer: Commissioners can send one email to the entire group every 24 hours, but you can send multiple emails to smaller subsets of members within that same period.
Why this limit exists:
This safeguard protects email deliverability for everyone. If too many messages go out at once from splashsports.com, inbox providers may flag them as spam, leading to unsubscribes or poor inbox placement — which impacts all commissioners and members.
What you can do:
Use smaller groups: Target specific segments (e.g., unpaid members, those without picks).
Stagger sends: Split updates across smaller groups instead of the full list.
Share your invite/join link: Post in your group chat/text thread for reminders without using email.
Optional: Use your personal email client (BCC members) for larger communications, directing them back to your contest.
Tips for better deliverability:
Keep subject lines short and clear.
Only send necessary updates to reduce unsubscribes.
Question: Can I export the standings or leaderboard page?
Answer: Unfortunately, exporting the standings/leaderboard page is not available right now. However, this feature is on our product roadmap and will be available in future seasons.
Question: How do I view entrant details in my contest?
Answer: Select the contest in question.
Click Manage Contest > Entrants Manager.
From there, you’ll see:
A list of all entrants who have joined the contest
Each entry’s status and associated details
Add Notes if needed (Same as RYP and OFP)
Question: How do I send an email reminder to specific members of my contest?
Answer: Select the contest in question.
Go to Entrants Manager.
Check the boxes next to the members you’d like to contact.
Click Email Entrants in the upper-right corner.
A new window will open with Selected Entrants highlighted. Type your message and click Send.
Question: How can I see if my members have made their picks?
Answer: Go to the Commissioner tab.
Click into your contest.
Select Manage Entrants within the contest.
You’ll see entrant information, including whether entries have picks or no picks.
You can also download entrant info by clicking Download.
Question: What should I do if my members aren’t receiving their contest invite?
Answer: Here are multiple options your members can check:
Check spam or promotions folders: Invites can sometimes be filtered, especially if you’re a new commissioner or haven’t sent invites recently. As a backup, you may also want to send your contest link from your personal email.
Search for “noreply@e.splashsports.com”: If the invite is found in spam, ask members to mark it as Not Spam or move it to their inbox. This will help ensure future updates and reminders go straight to their inbox.
Question: How do entry fees and payouts work in Self-Managed contests?
Answer: For entertainment-only (Self-Managed) contests on Splash Sports, commissioners may, depending on state laws, collect entry fees and manage payouts on their own, outside of the platform. There is a service fee with running your contest on our platform.
Please note:
Splash Sports does not facilitate or oversee any part of this process.
All financial transactions are the sole responsibility of the commissioner and their entrants.
Splash Sports does not assume responsibility for funds collected or distributed outside the platform and cannot support payment-related disputes in Self-Managed contests.
Question: What if I want Splash Sports to handle payments?
Answer: If you’d prefer Splash Sports to collect entry fees and facilitate prize payouts, you can choose the Splash-Managed contest option. This option is available in eligible states and ensures full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
Question: How do I pay the service fee for my Self-Managed contest or check the cost?
Answer: Go to your Commissioner tab.
Select the Active tab.
Click Manage on the contest.
Select Pay Service Fee to view the cost and complete payment.
Question: Can I select specific games for my NFL or NCAAF contest picksheet on Splash?
Answer: No, right now you can only select conferences, not individual games, selecting specific games is only possible by restarting from RYP or OFP
Question: Can I create a brand-new combined NFL + CFB contest on Splash?
Answer: Not at this time. Commissioners cannot create brand-new NFL + CFB combined contests from scratch. This format is currently only available when doing a reset of an existing contest.
Question: Can I edit my Payout Structure within a Splash-Managed Contest?
Answer: No, you cannot edit the payout structure after your contest has been created, and definitely not after the contest has already started/ended.
Question: How do Survivor contests work on Splash?
Answer: Here is how Survivor Works on Splash:
About the Contest
The entrant who survives the longest wins the full prize.
If all remaining entrants are eliminated in the same slate, they will split the prize equally.
If multiple entrants survive through the final slate, they also split the prize equally.
Pick deadlines are shown at the top of each week’s tab as “Picks lock” with date/time.
If an entrant runs out of eligible teams, they cannot advance (depending on specific settings setup by commissioner)
Core Rules
Picking Winners Mode: Pick winning teams to advance. Losses, ties, missed picks, or running out of teams = elimination.
Picking Losers Mode: Pick losing teams to advance. Wins, ties, missed picks, or running out of teams = elimination.
No Tiebreakers: If multiple winners remain, the prize is split equally (Splash-Managed) For Self-Managed contest, the commissioner and members can figure out a tie-breaker outside the site.
Optional Commissioner Settings
Extra Lives: Entries lose a life (heart icon) for each wrong/missed pick. Eliminated when lives = 0.
Team Use Limit: Set how many times a team can be picked (once, twice, or three times).
Double Pick Weeks: Certain weeks require two correct picks. Both team loss = lose a life or elimination.
Contest Revivals: If all entries are eliminated in the same slate, contest revives until a single winner remains.
Entry Revivals (Buybacks): Eliminated entries may be revived (limit set by commissioner). Must be done before the next slate’s deadline. Revived entries keep past history, no extra lives.
Auto Picks: If enabled, system makes a pick automatically if no pick is submitted before the deadline.
Helpful Notes
Double Pick Weeks can be adjusted in commissioner settings.
Contest details show “This contest was created by…” for transparency.
Deadlines are firm — once “Picks lock,” no further changes are possible.
Question: How many Best Bets can I make each week?
Answer: urrently, only one Best Bet per week is supported.
Our engineering team is aware of the request to allow multiple Best Bets, and it is already on the roadmap for future updates — planned for next season.
Question: Can I withdraw my site credits?
Answer: No. Site credits cannot be withdrawn. Withdrawals are only available for funds you’ve personally deposited or for any winnings earned from contests.
Question: What’s the difference between Splash-Managed and Self-Managed contests?
Answer: Here are the differences -->
About Splash-Managed
Splash collects entry fees, holds the prize pool, and pays out winnings directly to players at the end of the contest.
State eligibility, age checks, and tax reporting (e.g., 1099-MISC when applicable) are handled by Splash.
Some settings are locked to meet compliance requirements; payout formats are limited (e.g., most Survivor contests are winner-take-all).
Splash Support covers both commissioners and players for account, payments, and prize withdrawal questions.
Legal in 40+ states.
About Self-Managed
The commissioner collects entry fees (if any) and pays out winnings outside of Splash — Splash never touches player funds.
Offers more flexibility: some additional settings may be available (format-dependent), and legacy options may carry over if restarted from an RYP/OFP pool.
Splash Support helps with site features and troubleshooting, but cannot handle payouts, mediate money disputes, or manage tax forms.
A good fit for private leagues that want custom rules and manage their own payments.
Anyone can participate in a Self-Managed contest.
Quick Reference
Who handles money?
Splash-Managed: Splash
Self-Managed: Commissioner (outside Splash)
Compliance & tax forms
Splash-Managed: Handled by Splash
Self-Managed: Commissioner’s responsibility
Question: Do I get an email confirmation when I make my picks?
Answer: No. At this time, Splash does not send email confirmations when picks are submitted.
After you make your selections, a confirmation pop-up will appear on your screen letting you know your picks have been saved.
You can always double-check your picks by revisiting your picks page in your contest before the deadline.
Question: How can I tell if a member’s pick was made using Auto-Pick?
Answer: On the standings page, any entry submitted with Auto-Pick will display an “A” next to the member’s pick.
Question:You already made picks for all weeks within the contest, how do you now change the teams?
Answer: Good news, you now have the ability to remove future picks in advance!
To do this:
Go to the week you’d like to remove the pick from.
De-select the team you previously chose.
Be sure to click Save to confirm the change.
This gives you more flexibility to adjust your picks as the season goes on.
Question: How do Double Pick Weeks work in Survivor contests?
Answer: In Double Pick Weeks, entrants must select two teams. Both teams must win in order to advance to the next slate.
If one team wins but the other loses, the entrant is eliminated.
Missed picks or ties during Double Pick Weeks also result in elimination (unless extra lives are enabled).
Question: What does the (X) mean next to entries on the standings page?
Answer: The (X) simply indicates the entry number. This helps members differentiate between multiple entries when a user has joined the same contest more than once.
Question: Can I assign a co-commissioner or secondary admin to my contest?
Answer: Not at this time. The platform does not currently support co-commissioners or secondary admins.
We understand how valuable this feature would be and have already passed the request to our engineering team. It’s on the roadmap, and we hope to offer more commissioner tools in future updates.
Note: If you were a co-commissioner in a previous RYP or OFP pool, the contest now appears under the original commissioner’s account in the Commissioner tab. They will need to invite you to join the contest from there.
Question: Can commissioners manually add members to their contests?
Answer: No. Commissioners can no longer manually add members to contests. This option has been removed for legal and compliance reasons.
Now, each member must create their own account and join a contest directly using the commissioner’s invite link. We recommend sharing your contest invite link with members so they can register and join securely on their own.
Workaround:
If a member does not have an email address, you may create an additional entry under your own account and rename that entry to the member. This way, you can still manage their entry and make picks on their behalf.