The general setup

The community will have a basic setup of a Forum or a Group (like Google groups). I am not decided yet on this aspect. 

I have experience in both areas - running a PHP Forum as Admin (max number of member was about 250) and a Group (maximum number was around 80). We may use a forum plus a group setup too.

We may even make the choice together about this with the smaller group of members we will be starting with.

The most important is to allow any community member to see in the more easy way possible any shared play/pick of other members, and to be able to subscribe, or to have a priority view of those member's shared plays/picks who they chose to follow (if any).

The setup used will also have easy access for voting procedures for everyone, and also easy way for any member to see important communications, which are to the interest of the whole community.

The moderation of the shared info posted will be done by myself (like invalidating wrongly shared plays/picks - any which is not respecting the "set of rules", and the form of posting) until a certain number of total members (this is also depending on the % of community members who will share their action on a regular basis), after which probably I will need to hire a moderator for this job.

Here I need to mention about those members who will post by mistake (or willfully) plays/picks with unreal odds. I (or the moderator in case if needed) will have no time to check all/or the most of the odds of the plays shared, relative to the time they were shared.

So even before starting, I need to let know all future community members, that we will need the help of all members on this fundamental issue: any members observing such unreal odds will need to signal about this. I really hope we will not have any member who willfully will try to share such plays/picks.

Set of rules regarding the shared plays/picks

1. The maximum number of plays/picks

a. Maximum 3 plays/picks are possible to be made in the time period of any "day".

If in any "day" a member has shared more than 3 plays/picks, all plays/picks beginning from the 4th one (in the order of posting) will be considered invalid.

Why? 

In my opinion this is the maximum number of plays/picks that can be followed by an "average" member who also has 2 plays on his own in that day, without putting the betting bankroll in too much danger.

For example, let's suppose that the maximum number of plays/picks in a day would be 4, and an average member who has 2 plays on his own in that day, is following just 2 other members. If all these plays/picks would be on different matches (this is highly probable on days with many sheduled matches, like Saturdays and Sundays), that average member would have to make 10 wagers on that day. 

That is way too much, because in case of a heavy losing day that record can seriously damage the bankroll. Besides that, it takes too much time to place 10 wagers, and probably with different values (different size of risk). 

b. A "day" in sharing plays/picks is considered for all the scheduled matches official start time between 13:00 CET (same day) - 14:55 CET (the next day)*.

  * - for "the next day" see "Time schedule of posting / start time of matches", "Late schedule matches".

Why? 

Using this period permits to have plays/picks practically covering the whole World, all the timezones.

2. All plays/picks are made risking (wagering) 1 unit of the bankroll.

a. 1 unit can be equal with these values: 

1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5% or 6% of the bankroll.

This is up to any member's decision. 

Why? 

This allows members who usually are playing lower/worst odds to have a higher value for a unit, and members who usually are playing higher/better odds to have a lower value for a unit. Members who are playing usually medium odds probably will have medium sized units (2-4% of bankroll).

For example, a member who usually is playing very low odds between 1.20-1.30 may use 6% of bankroll for 1 unit, while a member who usually is playing very high odds between 4.00-5.00 may use 1% of bankroll for 1 unit. 

b. All members giving any plays/tips must declare at the start the value of their "1 unit". 

c. Later it is not possible to change this value, for at least 3 full calendar months.

     (Example: a change by declaring/posting a new value for "1 unit" can be made just after 3, 4, 5, ....etc. full calendar months).

3. Plays/picks are possible to be made just on full time matches (90 minutes + extra time added).

4. Best and worst odds allowed to be used for any plays/picks made:

a. Best odds: 

5.00 / +400 (European/American odds)

b. Worst odds: 

1.20 / -500

5. Wager types allowed:

a.  "1", "X" or "2" 

(home team win, draw or away team win) 

b. Asian Handicap (AH)

(0, -0.25, -0.75, -1, -1.25, -1.5, -1.75, -2, -2.25, -2.5, -2.75, -3, -3.25, -3.5, -3.75, -4, -4.25, -4.5, -4.75, -5; or +0.25, +0.75, +1, +1.25, +1.5, +1.75, +2, +2.25, +2.5, +2.75, +3, +3.25, +3.5, +3.75, +4, +4.25, +4.5, +4.75, +5).

c. Goal Totals: 

Over (1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3, 3.25, 3.5, 3.75, 4, 4.25, 4.5, 4.75, 5) or 

Under (5, 4.75, 4.5, 4.25, 4, 3.75, 3.5, 3.25, 3, 2.75, 2.5, 2.25, 2, 1.75, 1.5, 1.25, 1)

d. "Both teams to score" (BTTS)

Why?

These types of wagers can be found at all "serious" bookmakers, if they have the respective match on their betting menu. Other types of wager types may be not possible to be found at all major bookmakers, so having other types of wagers allowed would prevent many members to make the same wagers in case if following other members' plays/picks.

6. Parlays (Accumulators):

Parlays being a special kind of wagers, all the above wager types can be parlayed just under these conditions:

a. In any parlay just 2 plays/picks can be combined.

b. In any parlay the combined plays/picks must be from different matches.

c. The minimum odds off the components of a parlay must be 1.20 / -500 (the same like for any other play/pick).

d. The maximum odds off the components of a parlay must be 2.50 / +150.

In conclusion, the minimum odds of a parlay can be 1.44, and the maximum odds can be 6.25.

Why?

It is widely known that professional sports bettors never or almost never bet parlays, these being considered highly dangerous bets. The bookmakers are happy when customers are betting many parlays, and they are even more happy if those are at least 3 fold parlays.

Having a 3 fold parlay on both odds bigger than 2.50 / +150 would be an extreme long shot bet, and so would have very small chances of success.

7. The bookmaker listing validity conditions:

a. For any play/pick posted in the community, the lines and odds must be featuring in the "Pinnacle Sports" bookmaker's betting menu, minimum 3 minutes before the time of posting the respective play/pick.

b. Any play/pick must be posted with the average odds for all bookmakers, according to the "Oddsportal" website, shown no more than 3 minutes before the time of posting.

Why?

I consider "Pinnacle Sports" being the best bookmaker. They have the sharpest lines, they are never banning or restricting any forever winner customers, no matter how much they are in the "plus column" over many years.

Using just Pinnacle Sports, the disadvantage is that their betting menu on football matches is not as large as some bookmakers have, which are more axed on football. Also, many times Pinnacle Sports is slower to list a match in some not so important competitions, than many other sportsbooks. 

However, if there is any football match that can be found in the Pinnacle Sports' betting menu, you can be sure that this match can be also found in the betting menu of any important/"serious" bookmaker.

Secondly, I consider "Oddsportal"  the best football schedules/odds/results/standings listing website.

At any given time before the start of a match, the difference between the odds of the same line in two important bookmakers can be large enough. Using the average odds shown in the Oddsportal site, across many bookmakers, is assuring that all community members who are following other members' plays/picks will get the most correct odds when placing their wagers in their bookmakers.

By "most correct odds" I mean closest to the odds of the member who shared that play/pick if that member would place that play/pick in another bookmaker, or in the same bookmaker, but at a later time, compared to when he shared that play/pick.

Using average odds is also more correct for the establishing of the monthly records of members, which will count towards their rankings in the community (see the next chapter).

8. The time schedule of posting :

 a. "Regular schedule matches": 

These plays/picks must be posted between 7:00 - 13:00 CET (Monday - Friday), and 7:00 - 11:00 CET (Saturday and Sunday + some holidays - these will be announced always in advance).

The scheduled matches official start time must be between 15:00 - 22:55 CET (Monday - Friday), and 13:00 - 22:55 CET (Saturday and Sunday + some holidays).

Practically all matches in Europe and some in the Americas will be in this category.

 b. "Late schedule matches":

These plays/picks must be posted between 14:00 - 20:00 CET.

The scheduled matches official start time must be between 23:00 CET (same day) - 14:55 CET (the next day).

Practically most matches in the Americas, and all matches in Asia and Australia/Oceania will be in this category.

Important: 

No matches from Europe (including Israel, Turkey and the European part of Russia) should be posted in this category.

9. Any plays/picks posted by any member will be considered invalid if at least one of conditions 1. - 8. are not respected.

10. Minimum number of plays/picks per week and a calendar month:

a. Any member must have minimum 2 plays/tips per week (a week is considered the 7 days from Monday to Sunday), except in case of c.

b. Any member must have minimum 15 plays/tips per calendar month (a calendar month is the period from the 1st day of the month to the last day of a month).

c. If in any calendar month there have remained maximum 10 days, and any member wants to have no more plays/tips for that calendar month, latest in the 1st of those 10 days by 11:00 CET those members must post that there will be no more plays/tips for that calendar month.

d. If at least one of conditions a., b. and c. are not respected, the respective site members do not qualify for possible rankings in the respective calendar month.

How to share (to post) a play/pick:

There is no set model which needs to be respected about how the posting of a play/pick must look. However, it needs to be clear, and have to contain all these elements:

a. The competition for which the match is played.

If it is a competition inside a country write the name of the country. If it is an international club or national team competition, write the name of the competition. 

Examples: Champions League, Europa League, Europa Conference League, Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana, AFC Champions League, CAF Confederation Cup, Africa Super League (club competitions); Euro 2024, UEFA Nations League, Copa América, Africa Cup of Nations, World Cup, World Cup Qualifiers Europe, World Coup Qualifiers South America, World Coup Qualifiers Africa (national team competitions).

If the competition is inside a country, write the level of that competition or the full name of that competition (it is better to use the first method), or the full name of the competiton, if it is a cup game.

Examples: "England 1" or "England, Premier League" - both are OK, but the first is better; "Germany 1" or "Germany, Bundesliga" - both are OK, but the first is better; "Italy 2" or "Italy, Serie B" - both are OK, but the first is better; Spain, Copa Del Rey; France, Coupe De France; Netherlands, KNVB Beker.

b. The official scheduled start time of the match. 

This always needs to bet in CET (Central European Time). 

For example, look at the "Oddsportal" website. 

If you are in another timezone, you can make a membership at Oddsportal, and set your time there at "CET" (it shows: "GMT +1: Amsterdam, Berlin, Bern, Rome, Stockholm" or "GMT +1: Prague, Belgrade, Bratislava, Budapest, Vienna" in Oddsportal). 

You need to use Oddsportal anyway, because you need to post the average odds at bookmakers from this site. If you look at the Oddsportal's start time shown before posting your play/pick, you will be always sure that your post will show the correct start time of the match.

c. The name of the teams involved in the match. 

Should be exactly as it appears in the Oddsportal website, not in the bookmaker's menu, where the wager was placed. 

(So the home team must be always the first listed. - This is a note just for USA and Canadian based members.)

d. The actual play/pick.

Must contain in this order: 

1. The team's name on which the play is made (exactly as it appears in Oddsportal), in case of "1" "X" "2" or Asian Handicap type wager; or

"TOTAL OVER" or "TOTAL UNDER", in case of a goal totals type wager; or

"BTTS", in case of a both teams to score type wager

2. "To Win" or "To Draw", in case of "1" "X" "2" type wager or the actual value of the AH, in case of Asian Handicap type wager; or 

The actual value of the number of goals, in case of a goal totals type wager; or

"YES" or "NO", in case of a both teams to score type wager

3. The odds associated with that play/pick. 

You can use either European (Decimal) or American (Moneyline) odds, this is totally up to you. The best is to show both kinds of odds, like for example: 1.80 / -125. You can put the odds in parentheses "(1.80 / -125)" if you want, this is again up to you.

e. Analysis/explanation of the play/pick.

This is totally up to you. You can never post anything about why you are making the respective play/pick, or you can have always write-ups.

Any shared play/pick which is missing parts a., b., c,. d., or any of these parts are not clear, or have errors (wrong info) will be considered invalid, no matter if the outcome of such plays are win or lost.

Prizes structure /rewarding the most value shared

Between the 1st day of any calendar month (starting at 9:00 CET) and the end of the 4th day of that calendar month (latest until 23:59 CET) all members of the community will be allowed to vote openly to establish a ranking for the previous calendar month for those community members who in their opinion had the most valuable contribution to the community. 

This most valuable contribution essentially means that those members who are getting voted will have the best shared plays/picks record for the month which is analyzed. However, I think that many community members will not vote exclusively based on this aspect.

For example, those contributor members, who may have slightly weaker records (or even clearly weaker records), but almost always have their plays/picks on the more important competitions' matches, or those contributor members, who usually also are sharing some explanations about why they are making their plays/picks, may get higher rankings than those who almost always have their shared plays/picks on less important competitions' matches, or those who never, or almost never share explanations about why they are making their plays/picks.

This is just my opinion, and any member will be free to vote as they wish, the only condition will be that they can not vote themselves. 

Having 4 full days to vote on the last month's results is more than enough in my opinion for any member to cast their vote, if they intend to vote at all.

Based on the open vote of the community's members, the best contributor members ranked at the top, in the order established by the number of votes for each of them, will be rewarded financially. 

Payments will be sent using PayPal, beginning with the 5th calendar day (earliest at 9:00 CET) and ending with the 9th calendar day (latest until 23:59 CET) of the month in which the votes were made (counting for the previous calendar month's results).

*******************

Here are 4 cases for which I have a modelling of the prizes/rewards structure, depending on the total number of members of the community in the month for which the votes were made:

Example A - If the community had just 60 members:

1st Place: 140 (USD)

2nd Place: 120

3rd place: 100

4th Place: 80

5th Place: 20

Example B - If the community had 100 members:

1st Place: 230 (USD)

2nd Place: 190

3rd place: 150

4th Place: 130

5th Place: 65

Example C - If the community had 200 members:

1st Place: 460 (USD)

2nd Place: 380

3rd place: 300

4th Place: 260

5th Place: 130

Example D - If the community had 400 members (the max number possible):

1st Place: 920 (USD)

2nd Place: 760

3rd place: 600

4th Place: 520

5th Place:  260

All these examples are based on a monthly membership fee of USD 20 for our community paid through PayPal, and PayPal fees of average 7% lost on any send/receive transactions.

In all cases the ranked community members would get a free membership month for the next month (after the calendar month in which the rankings were established), and the difference of the reward amount will sent to these members. 

For example, in case of "C" the amounts sent would be:

1st Place: 440 (USD)

2nd Place: 360

3rd place: 280

4th Place: 240

5th Place: 110

It is important to understand that this structure of prizes/rewards is just a proposal, and it can be changed - just the sum of all payouts related to the total number of members in the month before needs to remain the same, and there can be max 8 places in the ranking.

For example, we could have 2 more ranked members added (Place 6 and Place 7), in case if the membership was between 201-400, or we can have a Place 6 added, in case if the membership was between 101-200, a Place 7 added, in case if the membership was between 201-300, and a Place 8 added, in case if the membership was between 301-400. 

These modifications (if any) will be done after the community starts rolling, if the majority of members will have this desire.

Membership fee

There will be a membership fee of USD 20 for every calendar month, payable with Paypal.  

This membership fee will increase every year just with the % of the inflation. The total amount at “Prizes structure /rewarding” for members will also increase with the same %.

Of course we will begin for free, for a period of time not set, until we will get used how everything is running smoothly, and until some better handicappers, worth to be followed will prevail.

Why is there needed a membership fee at all?

a. The “Prizes structure /rewarding” will be based on this fee.

b. The existence of a membership fee will separate those who are not serious about this whole project, are free stuff hunters/tire kickers, from those who truly understand the value which this community can and should add to their football betting activity.

c. It is a very small amount (equal with a small wager), but gives a feel of importance to all those who will participate. It is a well known psychology factor: in case if one has to spend something vs something totally free, will care a lot more about the matter that money was spent for.

d. Supervising the day to day good running of the community (including the voting procedures) and the disbursement of the prizes/rewards every month, will imply the necessity of many hours per week total implication from knowledgeable and dependable persons. I will do this work by myself until a certain number of forum member is reached, after which I may need to hire a moderator.

e. There will be technical costs with the community: hosting, domain name and such.