Free tool
Printable football squares
Set up a grid, print it, and fill it in by hand. Free, no account, and nothing to install — put your teams in, hit print, and take it to the party.
Print it blank. Sell every square first, then fill the numbers in — if people can see the digits while they're picking, the squares stop being random and the good ones go first.
Football Squares
| Home → | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Away ↓ | ||||||||||
squareshq.com — free printable football squares
How to run it
- Print it blank. Leave the number strips empty — that part matters, and the next step explains why.
- Sell every square. One price for everyone. People write their name in whichever squares they want.
- Draw the numbers. Only once the board is full, write 0–9 across the top in random order, then again down the side. Two separate draws, not one.
- Pay out by quarter. Take the last digit of each team's score and find where they meet. That square wins.
Why the numbers go on last
Football scores aren't evenly spread. Touchdowns move a score by 7 and field goals by 3, so final digits cluster: 0 and 7 are the strongest, 3 and 4 close behind, and 2 and 5 are close to dead. Anyone who knows that and can see the numbers while they're picking will take the good squares, and everyone else is playing a worse game without being told.
Selling first and drawing afterwards is the whole fairness mechanism. It costs nothing and it's the one rule worth being strict about.
Common questions
Should I print the numbers on the grid?
No — print it blank and fill the numbers in after every square is sold. Anyone who can see the digits while they're picking will take the good ones, and 0 and 7 are worth far more than 2 and 5. Drawing afterwards is what makes the squares fair.
What size should I print?
A 10×10 grid fits an ordinary sheet of paper with room to write a name in each square. If you're expecting fewer than about 25 people, use the 5×5 grid instead — each row and column then covers two digits, and you won't be left with a half-empty board.
How do the numbers work once they're drawn?
Each row and column gets a digit from 0 to 9. At the end of each quarter, take the last digit of each team's score and find the square where those two meet. That square wins that quarter.
How much should each square cost?
Whatever the group is comfortable with — $5 and $10 are the usual choices. A $5 square on a full 10×10 board makes a $500 pot. Write the price and the payout split on the sheet before you sell any squares, and there's nothing to argue about later.
Do I have to print it at all?
No. If you'd rather not chase people with a clipboard, you can run the same pool online — players claim their own squares from a link, the numbers are drawn for you, and the winning square is worked out at each score.
Rather not chase people with a pen?
The same pool, run online: players claim their own squares from one link, the numbers are drawn for you, and the winning square is worked out at every score. Free to host.
Create a free boardNew to squares? Read the full guide to how it works, including reverse squares, touching squares and payout splits.