Squad selection
You may enter one fantasy soccer team, multiple teams will be deleted. Your team must consist of:
- 2 Goalkeepers
- 5 Defenders
- 5 Midfielders
- 3 Forwards
The number of players you can select from a single team depends on the stage of the competition:
| Stage | Players from a single team |
|---|---|
| Regular season | 3 |
| Playoffs | 8 |
| MLS Cup Final | 12 |
Each player has been given a value. The initial value of your group stage squad must not exceed 100 million Dollars, though this may increase due to player value changes. The value of each player can be found here.
Scoring
During the season the fantasy soccer players will be allocated a point score after each game, based on their performances in the matches. Points are awarded as detailed in the table below:
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| For playing in a game | 1 |
| For playing at least 60 minutes in a game (includes playing points mentioned above) | 2 |
| For each goal scored by your goalkeeper or defenders | 6 |
| For each goal scored by your midfielders or forwards | 5 |
| For each assist * | 3 |
| For your goalkeeper conceding 0 goals (must also play at least 60 minutes) | 4 |
| For your defenders conceding 0 goals (must also play at least 60 minutes) | 4 |
| For your midfielders conceding 0 goals (must also play at least 60 minutes) | 1 |
| For every penalty miss | -2 |
| For every penalty save | 5 |
| For every 2 goals conceded by your goalkeeper or defenders | -1 |
| For every yellow card | -1 |
| For every red card (includes any yellow card points) | -3 |
| For every 3 saves | 1 |
Assists *
An assist is awarded when a pass or cross leads to a goal being scored (no defender touch must interfere with the pass) Live assists are provisional and will be reviewed within 24 hours of the match.
As an addition, bonus points are awarded to players for their contribution to the game.
Attacking Bonus
Players will score extra points for positive play:
| 1 point for every 3 crosses (A cross is defined where the ball is played to their own player in the penalty area) |
| 1 point for every 3 key passes (A key pass is one that leads to a shot at goal) |
| 1 point for every big chance created (A big chance is one where the analyst determines the player should score) |
| -1 point for every big chance missed |
Defending Bonus
Players will also score extra points for good defending:
| 1 point for every 6 clearances, blocks or interceptions |
| 1 point for every 6 recovered balls |
| -1 point for every error leading to a goal |
Deadlines
Your team must be entered by the round deadline to score points for that round. Any transfers made after the deadline will become active at the next deadline.
| Round | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Round 1 | Mar 02 3:45PM EST |
| Round 2 | Mar 09 1:15PM EST |
| Round 3 | Mar 16 12:15PM EDT |
| Round 4 | Mar 23 3:15PM EDT |
| Round 5 | Mar 30 1:45PM EDT |
| Round 6 | Apr 05 8:15PM EDT |
| Round 7 | Apr 13 3:45PM EDT |
| Round 8 | Apr 17 7:15PM EDT |
| Round 9 | Apr 27 1:45PM EDT |
| Round 10 | May 02 10:15PM EDT |
| Round 11 | May 08 6:45PM EDT |
| Round 12 | May 15 7:15PM EDT |
| Round 13 | May 25 6:45PM EDT |
| Round 14 | Jun 01 5:45PM EDT |
| Round 15 | Jun 05 7:15PM EDT |
| Round 16 | Jun 15 4:45PM EDT |
| Round 17 | Jun 22 6:45PM EDT |
| Round 18 | Jun 29 12:45PM EDT |
| Round 19 | Jul 03 6:45PM EDT |
| Round 20 | Jul 06 7:15PM EDT |
| Round 21 | Jul 12 7:15PM EDT |
| Round 22 | Jul 17 8:45PM EDT |
| Round 23 | Jul 27 1:45PM EDT |
| Round 24 | Aug 03 6:45PM EDT |
| Round 25 | Aug 10 6:45PM EDT |
| Round 26 | Aug 17 6:45PM EDT |
| Round 27 | Aug 21 10:15PM EDT |
| Round 28 | Aug 30 6:45PM EDT |
| Round 29 | Sep 04 7:15PM EDT |
| Round 30 | Sep 11 7:15PM EDT |
| Round 31 | Sep 20 9:45PM EDT |
| Round 32 | Sep 27 7:45PM EDT |
| Round 33 | Oct 04 7:45PM EDT |
| Round 34 | Oct 09 8:15PM EDT |
| Round 35 | Oct 16 10:15PM EDT |
| Round 36 | Oct 23 8:45PM EDT |
| Wildcard Playoff | Oct 30 8:30PM EDT |
| Conference Semi Finals - 1st Leg | Nov 02 9:30PM EDT |
| Conference Semi Finals - 2nd Leg | Nov 06 7:30PM EST |
| Conference Finals - 1st Leg | Nov 09 3:30PM EST |
| Conference Finals - 2nd Leg | Nov 23 3:30PM EST |
| MLS Cup Final | Dec 07 4:00PM EST |
Substitutions
Use the 'My Team' page to select eleven players to form your team for the next round. Your formation will automatically change based on the players you have chosen.
Your substitutes do not score points. However, once a round has started you can choose to take control of your squad by making manager substitutions, or do nothing and allow automatic substitutions to take place at the end of the round.
Manager substitutions
Brand new to the 2013 game, manager substitutions allow you more flexibility to make alterations during a round. After all matches on a single day have finished and before the next matches start, you can:
- Replace any player who has not played, with one from your bench whose team is yet to play.
- Change your captain (if he did not play), with a player from your squad whose team is yet to play.
Substitutions and captain changes cannot be cancelled once confirmed.
An unlimited number of manager substitutions can be made, however, it is not possible to make manager substitutions after games on the last day of the round, as all fixtures will have been completed.
If a manager substitution or captain change is made then no automatic substitutions or vice captain changes will take place on your team that round.
Automatic substitutions
If no manager substitutions or captain changes are made, automatic substitutions will take place at the end of the round, when all matches have been played.
If your goalkeeper plays no part in the round, then the computer will substitute the player for your replacement goalkeeper, if they played in the round.
If any of your outfield players play no part in the round, then the computer will try to substitute the inactive player for one of your replacements. This is done by replacing them with your highest priority substitute who actually played in the round. You can change your substitution priorities on the 'My Team' page.
Captain and Vice-Captain
You must nominate a captain and vice-captain from your starting 11. Your captain's score will be doubled.
If your captain plays 0 minutes in the round and no manager substitutions or captain changes have been made, the captain will be changed to the vice-captain.
If both your captain and vice-captain play 0 minutes in a round, then no player's score will be doubled.
Transfers
Use the Transfers page to change your squad for the next round. The number of free transfers which can be made are as follows:
| Next round | Deadline | Free Transfers |
|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Mar 02 3:45PM EST | Unlimited |
| Round 2 | Mar 09 1:15PM EST | 2 |
| Round 3 | Mar 16 12:15PM EDT | 2 |
| Round 4 | Mar 23 3:15PM EDT | 2 |
| Round 5 | Mar 30 1:45PM EDT | 2 |
| Round 6 | Apr 05 8:15PM EDT | 3 |
| Round 7 | Apr 13 3:45PM EDT | 2 |
| Round 8 | Apr 17 7:15PM EDT | 2 |
| Round 9 | Apr 27 1:45PM EDT | 2 |
| Round 10 | May 02 10:15PM EDT | 2 |
| Round 11 | May 08 6:45PM EDT | 2 |
| Round 12 | May 15 7:15PM EDT | 2 |
| Round 13 | May 25 6:45PM EDT | 2 |
| Round 14 | Jun 01 5:45PM EDT | 2 |
| Round 15 | Jun 05 7:15PM EDT | 3 |
| Round 16 | Jun 15 4:45PM EDT | 3 |
| Round 17 | Jun 22 6:45PM EDT | 2 |
| Round 18 | Jun 29 12:45PM EDT | 2 |
| Round 19 | Jul 03 6:45PM EDT | 2 |
| Round 20 | Jul 06 7:15PM EDT | 2 |
| Round 21 | Jul 12 7:15PM EDT | 2 |
| Round 22 | Jul 17 8:45PM EDT | 2 |
| Round 23 | Jul 27 1:45PM EDT | 2 |
| Round 24 | Aug 03 6:45PM EDT | 2 |
| Round 25 | Aug 10 6:45PM EDT | 2 |
| Round 26 | Aug 17 6:45PM EDT | 2 |
| Round 27 | Aug 21 10:15PM EDT | 2 |
| Round 28 | Aug 30 6:45PM EDT | 2 |
| Round 29 | Sep 04 7:15PM EDT | 2 |
| Round 30 | Sep 11 7:15PM EDT | 2 |
| Round 31 | Sep 20 9:45PM EDT | 2 |
| Round 32 | Sep 27 7:45PM EDT | 2 |
| Round 33 | Oct 04 7:45PM EDT | 2 |
| Round 34 | Oct 09 8:15PM EDT | 2 |
| Round 35 | Oct 16 10:15PM EDT | 2 |
| Round 36 | Oct 23 8:45PM EDT | 2 |
| Wildcard Playoff | Oct 30 8:30PM EDT | Unlimited |
| Conference Semi Finals - 1st Leg | Nov 02 9:30PM EDT | 10 |
| Conference Semi Finals - 2nd Leg | Nov 06 7:30PM EST | 4 |
| Conference Finals - 1st Leg | Nov 09 3:30PM EST | 6 |
| Conference Finals - 2nd Leg | Nov 23 3:30PM EST | 4 |
| MLS Cup Final | Dec 07 4:00PM EST | 6 |
Any additional transfers made in the same period will deduct 4 points from your total.
If you enter after the start of the first round, you can make unlimited transfers before the next round.
If you do not use all of your free transfers in a round, you are able to make one additional free transfer the following round. If you do not use this saved free transfer in the following round, it will be carried over until you do. You can never have more than 1 saved transfer.
Transfer wildcard
A wildcard allows you to make unlimited free transfers throughout a round. You can use up to 2 a season.
Playing a wildcard will remove any points deductions from transfers already made in the same round.
One wildcard can be played at any time. The other wildcard can only be used after round 20 starts (Jul 06 7:15PM EDT) until round 25 ends (Aug 17 6:45PM EDT); as this wildcard isn't available until after the round 20 deadline, the earliest these transfers will be active is round 21.
When playing a wildcard, any saved free transfers will be lost. You will be back to the usual free transfers the following round.
Player values
Player prices vary during the regular season dependent on the popularity of the player in the transfer market. Player values will not change until the season starts or after the start of the last regular season round.
If you sell a player for a higher price than you paid, then a sell-on fee of 50% (rounded up to the nearest 0.1 million) will be applied on the profits. For example, if you buy a player for 4.2 million and when you transfer the player their value is 4.5 million then you will only receive 4.3 million.
Leagues
Each player competes and is automatically entered in a number of leagues. These are:
- The overall league involving all registered players
- A league for players starting the same round as you
- A league for supporters of your favourite team (optional)
- Private leagues with your friends and colleagues (optional)
- Public leagues with other game players (optional)
You can be in up to 15 private leagues and 3 public leagues.
Private and public leagues use either a classic or head to head scoring system.
Classic scoring
Teams are ranked based on the total points in the game. In the event of a tie between teams, the team who has made the least transfers will be positioned higher.
Phases
Each league is run on a phase and overall basis. The phases are as follow:
| Phase | First Round | Last Round |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | Round 1 | MLS Cup Final |
| Regular Season | Round 1 | Round 36 |
| March | Round 1 | Round 5 |
| April | Round 6 | Round 9 |
| May | Round 10 | Round 13 |
| June | Round 14 | Round 18 |
| July | Round 19 | Round 23 |
| August | Round 24 | Round 28 |
| September | Round 29 | Round 32 |
| October | Round 33 | Round 36 |
| Playoffs | Wildcard Playoff | MLS Cup Final |
Head to Head scoring
Each round you will play a match against another team in the league, with a match result based on game scores. 3 points will be awarded for a win and 1 point for a draw. In the event of a tie, the team with the most game points will be positioned higher.
Any points deducted for making transfers leading up to the round will be deducted from your head to head score.
If your league has an odd number of teams then an average player will be added to ensure everyone has a match each round. The average player will score the average game points each round.
Optionally, a head to head league may end with a knock-out stage where the league winner is decided by a final match in the last round.
If a knock-out match is drawn, then the following tie-breaks will be applied until a winner is found:
- Most Goals scored in the round
- Fewest Goals conceded in the round
- Virtual coin toss
Contact us
To ask a question about the game please email mlsfantasy@ismgames.com.