The Short Answer: Your Starting 5 locks at the beginning of each calendar month. Once locked, you cannot change your lineup until the next month. Set your starters before the 1st.
How the Monthly Lock Works
Fantasy Fútbol runs on calendar months.
At the start of each month, your Starting 5 locks in place. Whatever lineup you have set when the lock hits is your lineup for that entire month.
No exceptions. No mid-month changes. No "I meant to swap them."
What Gets Locked
When the month locks, the following is frozen:
| Locked | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Your Starting 5 | The 5 teams that will earn you points this month |
| Your Bench | The 5 teams that will NOT earn you points this month |
You cannot move a bench team into your Starting 5, move a starter to your bench, or rearrange your lineup in any way.
What Doesn't Get Locked
| Not Locked | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Viewing match cards | You can always see your teams' results |
| Checking tables | League Table, GD, and MRP tables update in real-time |
| Preparing for next month | You can set up (but not yet lock) next month's lineup |
You're not frozen out of the app — you just can't change your lineup.
When Exactly Does It Lock?
The lock occurs at 12:00 AM local time on the 1st of each month.
| Month | Lock Date | Lock Time |
|---|---|---|
| September | September 1 | 12:00 AM |
| October | October 1 | 12:00 AM |
| November | November 1 | 12:00 AM |
| December | December 1 | 12:00 AM |
| January | January 1 | 12:00 AM |
| February | February 1 | 12:00 AM |
| March | March 1 | 12:00 AM |
| April | April 1 | 12:00 AM |
| May | May 1 | 12:00 AM |
Translation: If it's 11:59 PM on October 31st, you can still make changes. At 12:00 AM on November 1st, you're locked.
Note: "Local time" means your device's timezone. The app shows the lock deadline in your local time.
The Monthly Cycle
Days 1–30/31: Locked Period
Your Starting 5 is set. Watch your teams play. Track your points. No lineup changes allowed.
Last Few Days of the Month: Decision Time
- Review your Starting 5's performance
- Check your bench teams' (missed) performance
- Look at next month's fixtures for all 10 of your teams
- Decide if any swaps are needed
Before Midnight on the Last Day: Make Your Moves
If you want to change your lineup for next month, do it before the lock. Swap that underperforming starter for the bench team with easier fixtures.
12:00 AM on the 1st: Lock
Your new Starting 5 is set. The cycle repeats.
Why Monthly Locks Exist
Rewards Planning
Managers who study fixtures and think ahead gain an edge. You can't react to news on the 5th and swap your lineup — you had to anticipate it.
Prevents Micro-Management
Monthly locks mean you make one big decision per month, then enjoy watching your teams play.
Adds Drama
Nothing hurts more than watching your bench team score 15 points while your starter blanks. The lock makes both outcomes possible — and meaningful.
What If I Forget to Set My Lineup?
If you don't make any changes before the lock, your previous month's Starting 5 carries over.
This means you won't have an empty lineup, but you might be stuck with a suboptimal Starting 5. Don't rely on carry-over. Set your lineup intentionally.
Preparing for the Lock
One Week Before the Month Ends
- Pull up next month's fixture list for all 10 of your teams
- Count how many matches each team has
- Note which teams have European football
- Flag any teams you're considering swapping
2-3 Days Before the Lock
- Compare your current Starting 5 to potential swaps
- Finalize which 5 teams you want starting
- Make the changes in the app
Lock Day
Nothing to do. Your lineup is set. Enjoy the football.
Common Mistakes
"I thought I had more time"
The lock is at 12:00 AM on the 1st. If you were planning to set your lineup "later tonight" on October 31st and it's now 12:01 AM on November 1st, you missed it.
"I forgot about the international break"
International breaks don't pause the lock. The lock still happens on November 1st regardless of whether there's club football.
"My injured player is stuck in my Starting 5"
If your starter picks up an injury on the 3rd, they're in your lineup until next month. This rewards managers who monitor team news before the lock, not after.
"I accidentally benched my best team"
Double-check your lineup before the lock. There's no "undo" button once the month starts.
Strategic Considerations
Fixture Density
- December is notoriously congested — league + cup + European group stages concluding
- February–March is when European knockouts begin
- April–May has high-stakes matches — title races, relegation battles, European finals
International Breaks
November and March have international breaks that pause club football. Fewer matches = fewer scoring opportunities. Some teams still have cup commitments during break weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the League Admin extend the lock deadline?
No. The lock is system-wide and automatic.
What if there are no matches on the 1st?
The lock still happens at 12:00 AM on the 1st. You're locked even if matches don't start until the 3rd.
What if I want to keep the same Starting 5 every month?
You can. If you don't make any changes, your lineup carries over. But you'll likely leave points on the table by not adjusting to fixtures.
Is there a countdown timer in the app?
Yes. The app shows how long until the next lock so you always know your deadline.
Quick Reference
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| When does the lock happen? | 12:00 AM on the 1st of each month |
| What gets locked? | Your Starting 5 and Bench |
| Can I change mid-month? | No |
| What if I forget? | Previous month's lineup carries over |
| Will I be reminded? | Yes, via app notifications |
See Also
- Starting 5 vs. Bench — How to choose your monthly lineup
- Changing Your Starting 5 — Step-by-step instructions
- Competition Types — Fixture density by competition
- How Points Are Scored — What your locked lineup will earn