Football Squares Boards & March Madness Pools

Whether you're hosting a Super Bowl party, running an office pool for March Madness, or organizing a fundraiser, understanding how sports squares and bracket pools work helps you run a smooth, fun event.

What Are Sports Squares?

Sports squares (also called football squares or Super Bowl squares) is a game where participants pick squares on a 10×10 grid. Each square corresponds to a unique pair of numbers, one for each team, from 0 to 9. Winners are determined by matching the last digit of each team's score at the end of each quarter. For example, if the score is 17-24 at halftime, the winning square is the one with Home 7 and Away 4. This creates four winners per game (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4), keeping everyone engaged throughout the entire matchup.

Why Sports Squares Works for Any Gathering

Sports squares has been a staple at Super Bowl parties for decades because it's simple, fair, and exciting. The random number assignment means no one can pick "lucky" numbers; everyone has an equal shot. It works for NFL games, college football, and even basketball. March Madness squares boards use the same concept: a grid where each square ties to score combinations, with winners determined at the end of each half or game segment.

March Madness Bracket Pools Explained

A March Madness bracket pool is different from squares. Participants fill out a full 63-game NCAA Tournament bracket, picking the winner of each game before the tournament starts. As games are played, a leaderboard updates based on correct picks. Custom scoring (e.g., more points for later rounds) and tiebreakers (like total score of the championship game) add strategy. Bracket pools are ideal for office competitions, friend groups, and watch parties during the three weeks of March Madness.

Best Practices for Organizers

Create your board or pool early, at least a few days before the game or Selection Sunday. Share the link widely via email, text, or QR code so players can join from any device. Set clear rules upfront: prize distribution (equal per quarter vs. weighted toward the final), whether overtime counts, and how many squares each person can pick. Use the approval feature to control who joins. Lock the board before kickoff so numbers are assigned fairly and no one picks after the game starts.

Why Go Digital?

Paper squares boards require manual number drawing, score tracking, and re-sharing when the board fills. Digital boards handle all of that: random assignment, live score updates, and instant sharing. Players join with a link. No app or account needed. Organizers manage everything from one place. Whether you're running a small family pool or a large office fundraiser, going digital saves time and reduces errors.