Help!

What is gaffr?

gaffr is simple way to share your ideas about football - you can assemble an online graphic to show friends and fellow supporters your opinion on team selection and formation. Sometimes it's easier to convey these ideas in pictures!

How do I create a team?

Simply select up to eleven players and place them on the pitch. You can use formation guides to help position players on the pitch.

How do I add a player?

Just click on the "Add player" button to the top left of the pitch, select the type of player you wish to add to your team, select the player, and click "Add". The player will be lined up at the touchline, ready for you to drag onto the pitch.

How do I move players on the pitch?

Just drag and drop - as simply as that. You can drag one player at a time, and position them anywhere on the pitch. If you attempt to drop them in an invalid position - such as outside the pitch area or onto another player - they will be reverted to their start position.

I can't move players, and they won't stay where I want!

Ensure you're not dropping a player onto another player, or placing the icon too close to another. The only place outside the pitch where you can drop a player is in the "remove" area, and these players will be - removed!

If you're trying to get players very close to each other, move the icon incrementally until you cannot make any further changes.

Remember, a player must be dropped directly over a position marker if you're using a snap-to formation guide mode (see below).

How do I remove a player?

Just drag the icon off the pitch towards the red arrow - the player will be removed from the pitch.

How do I select a formation?

You're free to place players on the pitch anywhere you wish - there are no requirements to select a formal formation.

However, you can use formation guides to help you assemble your starting XI in a recognised structure. Just click on the "Edit formation" button to the top left of the pitch, and select the formation you wish to use. You'll see a chalkboard preview of the formation next to the selection list. Click "Set formation", and a guide will appear on the pitch.

How do I use a formation guide?

Formation guides are not shown when you share a team - they are simply to help you set your players out on the pitch. A formation guide will appear on the pitch, and you can use it to help you choose where on the pitch to position players. You do not have to place the player on the position marker, it is simply a guide (unless you select "lock" - see below).

What do the initials on the formation guides mean?

The letters on the position markers of the formation guides indicate the name of this position on the pitch.

GK
goalkeeper
RB
right back
CB
centre back
LB
left back
RM
right midfield
CM
centre midfield
LM
left midfield
DM
defensive midfield
RCM
right central midfield
LCM
left central midfield
RWB
right wing back
LWB
left wing back
RW
right wing
CF
centre forward
LW
left wing
SS
support striker

What are extended formations?

These differ from the basic formations in having small tactical and positional tweaks in some areas of the pitch, such as a diamond in midfield.

What does "lock players to formation" mean?

Should you wish, you can ensure players on the pitch snap exactly to the positions in the formation guides. If you check the box next to "Lock players to formation" when you are selecting a formation, you will be able to place players only on position markers in the formation.

When you drag a player, the position markers will light up to inform you that you are using this formation guide mode - there's no point in trying to position players elsewhere on the pitch, as they will be reverted to their original position.

You do not need to change the formation to use this mode - simply click the "Edit formation" button and check the box without selecting a new formation if you wish.

You may wish to use this method to start with a tight formation, then disable the formation guide and move players out of their initial formation positions. Simply uncheck the box on the "Edit formations" popups to disable the positional snapping - or click "clear formation guide".

I can't place a player on the guides - it keeps flying back to its start position

You'll need to ensure you're dropping the player directly over the position marker, and ensure it's not overlapping another player.

What should I call my team?

Just click on the "Add notes" button to the right of the pitch to add a little annotation to your team: you can give your team a name "Starting XI against USA" for example, and a brief note to explain your tactical intentions.

How can I show others the team I have selected?

Click on the "Share team" button to the right of the pitch - you'll have options to link to your team from the most popular social networks, embed a link in your blog or on a forum, or send a link to your team via email.

The social network buttons do not work!

You'll need to ensure you're able to login to the relevant social network for these links to be effective.

I tried to send my team via email, but nothing happens!

Please check you've filled out the fields with an asterisk next to them - these are required before the emails will be sent.

If I edit a team a friend has sent me, has this changed their team?

No - your edits form a new team, which you can then embed in social networks, or send through email the same as if you'd started from scratch! Your friend's team will remain the same as when they shared it with you.

I just shared my team, but I need to make a change!

You'll be able to edit your team after sharing, right up until you close your browser! If you're editing a team, and someone sends you theirs, your original will be held in memory and a link to revert to this will appear next to the pitch on your friend's team.