How to join a pool

1. What You Need to Join

• To join a pool on Beat The Cut, you need two things: an invite link (from the pool host) and a Beat The Cut account.
• If you already have an account, clicking the invite link handles everything. If you don't have one, sign-up takes about 30 seconds and happens automatically as part of the join flow.
• You do not need to purchase any tier to join a pool as a member. Only the host pays.

2. Step 1: Get the Invite Link from the Host

• The pool host shares a unique invite link — it looks something like beatthecut.com/join/abc123.
• Ask your host to send it by text, email, or group chat. They'll find it in their pool settings page.
• Each pool has one permanent invite link. If the host generates a new one (by refreshing their invite code), older links stop working.

3. Step 2: Sign Up or Log In

• Click the invite link. If you're already signed in, you'll go straight to the pool join page.
• If you're not signed in, you'll be taken to the login screen. Sign up or log in — and then the app automatically brings you back to the pool join page. You don't lose your place.
• Use any sign-up method: email/password or Google. Either works.
• Your account is now tied to your pool membership. Other members will see your display name on the leaderboard.

4. Step 3: Accept Pool Rules and Join

• The join page shows you the pool name, the scoring format, the cut penalty, and the WD penalty.
• Take a moment to read these. Scoring format matters — it determines how the winner is calculated.
• Click "Join Pool" to confirm. You're in.
• You are now a member of the pool. The host is notified.

5. What You Can (and Can't) Do as a Member

• As a member, you can set and edit your team, view the leaderboard, and see other members' picks once the tournament is live.
• You cannot change pool settings, invite other members, or modify the scoring format. Those are host-only actions.
• You can leave a pool at any time from your pool page. If you leave after the tournament locks, your team stays on the leaderboard as a record.

6. What's Next: Set Your Team

• Once you've joined, head to the pool's draft page and pick your players before the tournament locks.
• The draft is open a few days before each tournament starts. You'll get a notification when it opens.
• If you join after the draft has opened, you'll see a countdown to the lock time. Pick your team before it hits zero.
• After the tournament starts, the leaderboard goes live and you can track your standing in real time.

7. Troubleshooting: Invalid Invite Code

• If you see "Invalid invite code," the most likely reason is that the host refreshed their invite link after the original one was shared.
• Ask the host to resend the invite link from their current pool settings page.
• Less common causes: a typo in the URL, or a link that got mangled by a messaging app. Try copying and pasting the full link directly into your browser.

8. Troubleshooting: Pool Is Full

• Some pools have a member limit. Free-tier pools max out at 4 members (not counting the host). If the pool is full, you'll see an error when trying to join.
• Your options: ask the host to upgrade their pool tier (which removes the member cap), or ask if someone is leaving so their spot opens up.
• If you think there's a mistake and the pool shouldn't be full, contact the host directly. They can see the current member count in pool settings.