How to launch your league: timeline from draw to kick-off

February 21, 2026

Why a draw-to-kick-off plan boosts sign-ups

A great league launch feels easy. People know what to do. They join fast. They invite others.

This guide is for Fantasy Football (is Prediction Game in English) in the OfficeFantasy style. That means you predict match results. You do not pick players.

Use this as a simple project plan with a clear rollout timeline and key milestones.

What you need before you start (one short checklist)

Set these up first. It keeps the launch smooth.

Goal: staff engagement, customer retention, leads, or club community
Audience: employees, clients, members, or mixed
Prize plan: weekly and overall prizes (small works well)
Rules: scoring, tie-breaks, late entry policy
Owner: one person to run it, one backup
Comms: email, Teams/Slack, posters, QR code

Timeline overview (from draw to kick-off)

Below is a practical launch timeline you can run in any business, sports club, or marketing team.

Milestone 1: Within 24 hours of the draw — lock your league plan

Do these tasks on day 1.

Confirm the league name and who can join
Set scoring rules in plain words
Pick prize types (vouchers, days off, merch, bar tab)
Decide your “story”: bragging rights plus simple rewards

Tip: Keep rules short. One screen is enough.

Milestone 2: Days 2–4 — build the league and test the journey

Now make it real.

Create the league and join link
Set the start date and cut-off time
Test on mobile in under 60 seconds
Ask 3 people to do a quick test join

Your key metric: “Can someone join and place a prediction in 2 minutes?”

Milestone 3: Days 5–7 — launch to your core group first

Start with a smaller group. This creates early buzz.

Invite team leads, captains, or office champions
Ask them to invite 5 more people each
Share a simple “How it works” card:
- Predict match results
- Get points
- Climb the table

Keep the message short. One call to action.

Milestone 4: Week 2 — full launch and marketing push

This is your main rollout.

Send a launch email with:
- join link
- prize summary
- deadline for first predictions
Post twice on internal channels
Add posters in high-traffic spots (reception, break room, clubhouse)
If you have customers, add it to:
- newsletters
- order follow-ups
- in-venue screens

Make the deadline clear. Urgency lifts entries.

Milestone 5: 7–3 days before kick-off — drive the last 30%

Most people join late. Plan for it.

Send a “Last chance to join” message
Share a simple leaderboard teaser (even if empty)
Highlight a weekly prize to boost early predictions
Give managers a one-line script to share in meetings

Keep it friendly. Keep it fast.

Milestone 6: 48 hours before kick-off — reduce admin work

This is where organisers win time back.

Confirm who handles questions
Prepare 3 copy-and-paste replies (rules, deadline, join link)
Schedule reminders for:
- first match
- weekly deadline
- mid-tournament push

If you want a solid process, use a simple project checklist like the one in this CIPD project management factsheet.

Milestone 7: Kick-off week — make it feel live

Energy matters more than perfection.

Post a welcome message on day 1
Share “Matchday reminder” messages
Celebrate early leaders
Share one fun stat each week (most accurate predictor, biggest upset)

Short posts work best. One image helps.

A simple weekly rhythm (keeps engagement high)

Use the same cadence each week:

Monday: fixtures this week + quick reminder
Matchday: “Predictions close soon”
Next day: winners + leaderboard + next prize

This takes minutes. It keeps people coming back.

Common launch mistakes (and the easy fixes)

Too many rules: cut them down to 5 lines
Big prizes only: add small weekly wins
No reminders: schedule them once, then relax
Late clarity: say again that it is prediction, not players