The Short Answer: Fantasy Fútbol runs in weeks that go from Tuesday through the following Monday. Your Starting 5 for a week locks the Monday night before it begins, at 11:59 PM Pacific. Once a week has started, its lineup cannot be changed.
How the Weekly Lock Works
Every week is its own scoring window: Tuesday through the following Monday.
Before each window opens, you choose which 5 of your 10 clubs start. When the lock hits, that lineup is set for the whole window. Whatever you had in place at the lock is what counts.
Then the next week opens for editing, and you get to decide again.
When Exactly Does It Lock?
Every Monday at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.
It is one moment for everyone in the world. Your league-mates in other time zones face the same deadline you do, so nobody gets extra hours.
| Where you are | When the lock hits |
|---|---|
| US Pacific | Monday, 11:59 PM |
| US Eastern | Tuesday, 2:59 AM |
| UK | Tuesday, 7:59 AM |
| Central Europe | Tuesday, 8:59 AM |
Note: For a few weeks a year, when clocks change on different dates in the US and Europe, the European times above shift by an hour.
Why Tuesday to Monday?
Because that is how the sport groups its matches.
- Monday night league games finish the weekend's round, so they belong to the week that is closing.
- Tuesday is when European nights begin, so Champions League, Europa League and Conference League matchdays open a new week.
The lock lands hours before the earliest Tuesday kickoff in Europe. Nobody can change a lineup for a week whose matches have already started.
What Gets Locked
| Locked | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Your Starting 5 | The 5 clubs earning you points this week |
| Your Bench | The 5 clubs not earning you points this week |
During a locked week you cannot move a bench club into your Starting 5, move a starter to the bench, or reorder the lineup.
What Doesn't Get Locked
| Not locked | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Match cards | You can always see your clubs' results |
| Tables | League Table, GD and MR tables keep updating |
| Next week's lineup | Open for changes right up to the next lock |
The Weekly Rhythm
Tuesday to Monday: the week plays out
Your Starting 5 is set. European nights midweek, league matches at the weekend, any cup ties in between. Every match your starters play counts.
Any time before Monday night: set next week
Next week's lineup is open the whole time. Look at who plays whom, and how many times, and make your swaps whenever you are ready.
Monday 11:59 PM Pacific: lock
Next week's lineup becomes this week's. The week after that opens for editing.
What If I Do Nothing?
Your lineup carries forward. If you make no changes before the lock, the Starting 5 and Bench you had last week are used again, automatically, every week.
You will never have an empty lineup, and you never have to re-enter anything. A manager who sets a Starting 5 once and leaves it alone all season still has a valid lineup every week.
You will probably leave points on the table that way, though. The managers who look at each week's fixtures are the ones who find the edge.
Why the Lock Exists
It rewards reading the fixtures
Football weeks are uneven. One of your clubs might play a league match and a cup tie while another plays once, or not at all. The weekly decision is where you turn that knowledge into points.
It keeps the week honest
Once matches start, nobody can react to a result by swapping a club in or out. Everyone commits before a ball is kicked.
It keeps it light
One decision a week, made whenever suits you. Then you just watch the football.
Common Mistakes
"I thought I had until Tuesday"
The lock is Monday night Pacific. For most of the US that is very late Monday or the small hours of Tuesday. In Europe it is early Tuesday morning. Set your lineup before you go to bed on Monday.
"There are no matches this week, so it doesn't matter"
International breaks do not pause the lock. Weeks keep rolling every Tuesday, and some clubs still have cup ties during a break.
"I benched the club with two matches"
Check how many times each of your clubs plays in the coming week before you commit. A club with a league match and a European night has twice the chances to score.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the League Admin move the lock?
No. The lock is the same for every league and happens automatically.
Can I change my lineup during the week?
No. The current week is locked. You can change next week's lineup at any time before Monday night.
Do I have to change my lineup every week?
No. If you are happy with your Starting 5, do nothing and it carries forward.
Will I be reminded?
Yes. The app sends reminders before the Monday night lock, as long as notifications are turned on.
Does the weekly lock change how points are scored?
No. Points are earned per match exactly as before. The lock only decides which 5 clubs count in a given week.
Quick Reference
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| When does the lock happen? | Every Monday at 11:59 PM Pacific |
| How long is a week? | Tuesday through the following Monday |
| What gets locked? | Your Starting 5 and Bench for that week |
| Can I change mid-week? | No, only next week's lineup |
| What if I do nothing? | Last week's lineup carries forward |
| Will I be reminded? | Yes, by push notification |
See Also
- Starting 5 vs. Bench: how to choose your weekly lineup
- Changing Your Starting 5: step-by-step instructions
- Competition Types: which matches count
- How Points Are Scored: what your locked lineup earns