The Survivor Pool is an optional extra feature open to all players. It will use the same input screen and the same display screens so it should be easy for all. You use your same name and password, so there is no need to 'Sign-in' again.
While you do not need to be a season player to participate in the Survivor Pool, you still must be at least a paid weekly player for each week. If you fail to get your picks or entry fee in for a given week, then you fail to Survive. Anyone planning to try to Survive is encouraged to be a season player and pay in full at the start of the season.
The rules are simple. Each week each participant selects one of the normal weekly picks to be the Survivor entry for the week. If that team wins (and remember, a tie counts as a loss), the participant Survives to try again the next week. The last Survivor gets the entire pot. In the case where there is more than one Survivor and all lose, they will be considered joint Survivors and split the pot.
To make it more challenging, a team may only be selected once. (You are responsible for remembering which teams you have already used. The system knows - but doesn't display that info when you are entering your picks.) If you enter your weekly picks and don't specify the Survivor team, or if the team you specify is one that you have already used, you will automatically be assigned the highest point pick that you have not yet used. If there is no valid choice then you just failed to Survive!
The entry screen has a Survivor button. Select the team you want and click Survivor. This has no effect on the regular selection process and may be done at any time. You may also change your selection prior to submission by selecting a different team and clicking on Survivor again. When all picks are in and properly arranged and you have selected your Survivor entry, click Submit as usual. Those who are not participants or who have already failed to Survive, may click this button if they wish. It will just be ignored.
The display pages will be modified slightly to show the Survivor pool status. The name of each active participant will be underlined. Their Survivor team entry will also be underlined. This allows all to check what is happening and which team to root for (or against). A separate status page will be posted each week with the Survivor Pool standings.
The entry fee is $10. The fee must be paid before the deadline for the first week of the pool. The first Survivor pool will start with Week 1. There may be more than one Survivor Pool running concurrently. The first Pool will start with the first week of the season. If the survival rate is such that there is a large early dropout and if there is sufficient interest, a second Survivor Pool will start at a later week and run concurrently. The second Survivor Pool will be totally independent from the first one. Players may join the second pool even if they are still surviving in the first. The entry fee and prizes are also separate.