Sign up for the 2013 Prep Pigskin Pick'em Challenge - NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN...official rules are below.

DOWN, SET...HIKE!

The High School football season is here and we couldn't be more excited to keep you, our faithful readers, up to speed on the weekly happenings around the valley. Of course, following all the action is easy, but don’t stop there…try becoming a part of the action!

Can you or your friends correctly pick the most winners every week from all the local High School Prep Football games? Prove it! Sign up for our 2013 Prep Pigskin Pick 'em Challenge for a chance to win an iPad mini, for FREE! You can even test your pick em skills against JP (@MrMediaDude) from our Sports department...so let the games begin!

Weekly winners will be featured in the Valley News Newspaper and the overall winner with the most correct picks at the end of the regular season will win an iPad Mini...once again, for FREE!

Click here to go to http://www.poolhoster.com and you will be whisked away to the registration page. Once you sign up, find the Valley News Sports - 2013 Prep Pigskin Picks - Weekly pool, and then pick your winners! There are no age restrictions. Just simply sign up, enter and play. Registration is free and takes less than a minute.

We hope you’re ready to play the Valley News Sports - 2013 Prep Pigskin Pick 'em Challenge, not only for bragging rights, but of course for a chance to win an iPad mini as well! Good Luck, your gonna need it!

2013 Valley News Sports Pick ‘em Challenge official rules:

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. YOU MUST HAVE INTERNET ACCESS PRIOR TO THE START DATE OF THE SWEEPSTAKES.

DEADLINES: Registration opens at 9:00 a.m. CST, Tuesday, August 27, 2013. The contest begins with the first regular season High School Football game on Friday, September 6, 2013 and concludes with the final game of the regular season schedule (the “Contest Period.”) The Contest is intended for recreational purposes only and is not be used for any form of gambling. The Contest is administered by Valley News Sports (The “Contest Administrator”) on behalf of The Village News, Inc. (“Contest Sponsor.”) Valley News Sports is offering weekly newspaper mentions for winners winners and a grand prize of a brand new iPad mini to the overall winner and has rules to determine these winners.

REGISTRATION PROCESS: Each participant must complete the registration process to become eligible to play. The registration is a simple process that involves submitting a user’s contact information, screen name creation, and password selection. Once this process is completed, users will be directed to the home page where they can participate in the contest.

PLAYING THE GAME: Each week, the game operator will display the match-ups on the "make picks" page. The season starts with the first week 1 game and ends on the last week 12 game. All picks must be made prior to 12:00 pm PST on Friday of each week (unless a Thursday game is played in a particular week and then the cutoff time will be 12:00 pm PST on the Thursday of that week.) Early games must be selected prior to the start of that early game.

TEAM PERFORMANCE: Each week the scores will be calculated and posted for viewing. The “Results” tab will detail a user’s weekly and cumulative performance.

WINNING THE GAME: Each week, every user’s score is posted on the standings page. Players with the most points are listed at the top. Tie-breaking rules will determine the rank for players with the same number of points. The “default game winner” is the player who has the most cumulative points at the end of the season after tie-breaking rules are applied.

TOP CUMULATIVE STANDINGS SCORE: If there is a tie for the Top Cumulative Standings Score (Best Cumulative Score), the following tiebreakers will apply:

Tiebreaker # 1 - Total number of correct picks for all weeks

Tiebreaker # 2 - Total number of correct picks for all “Games of the Week”

Tiebreaker # 3 - Smallest tiebreaker absolute differential for the total score in the designated Week 12 tie-breaker game (calculated by: finding the absolute difference between the user predicted total score in designated Week 12 tie-breaker game and the actual score of the designated Week 12 tie-breaker game). The tie breaking will continue (week 11, then week 10, etc.) until a winner is determined.

In all cases, an entry that does not win a tiebreaker is eliminated from consideration. Odds of winning prizes depend on the total number of eligible entries received and the relative U.S. football knowledge of all Entrants.

WEEKLY STANDINGS SCORE: If there is a tie for the Weekly Standings (Best Score in a Given Week), the following tiebreakers will apply:

Tiebreaker # 1 - Smallest tiebreaker absolute differential for the total score in the designated week’s tie-breaker game (calculated by: finding the absolute difference between the user predicted total score in designated week’s tie-breaker game and the actual score of the designated week’s tie-breaker game).

Tiebreaker # 2 - Total number of correct picks for the given week

Tiebreaker # 3 - Correct predicted winner for the “Game of the Week” matchup

Tiebreaker # 4 – Random drawing

In all cases, an entry that does not win a tiebreaker is eliminated from consideration. Odds of winning prizes depend on the total number of eligible entries received and the relative U.S. football knowledge of all Entrants.

NOTE: Updated standings will be available every Tuesday, unless unforeseen problems arise.

WINNING STRATEGY: There is a great deal of strategy that goes into the game of Pickem Challenge. Some players wish to select their favorite teams to win, while other managers will spend hours researching the statistics for each match-up. There are many different strategies that have won. Football's a great sport, so whatever your strategy, remember to have fun and enjoy the game.

OTHER NOTES: All user selections must be completed prior to the kickoff each early game and by 12:00 pm PST on every Friday.

Any user attempting to make selection changes close to the deadline, risks the chance of not getting in his/her changes on time.

We are not responsible for late entries, server congestion, faulty Internet connections, etc., which may cause your picks not to be made.

We will post the scores every Tuesday morning unless unforeseen complications arise.

Any scoring disputes must be called to our attention via email by Noon ET on Wednesdays within the week following the scoring dispute in question.

The game operator reserves the right to deny any scoring inaccuracies at any time due to circumstances beyond our control.

Any team caught or suspected of system tampering, game interference or breaking our terms and conditions, may be removed from the game at any time and without notice. We also reserve the right to pursue legal and criminal action upon those member(s).

All scores are final.

ELIGIBILITY: Children can play, but must have parental consent first. In order to claim prize, overall winners must either be a legal resident who is eighteen (18) years of age, or children must have a parent accompany them when picking up prize. Void where prohibited by law. Employees, temporary employees, independent contractors and interns of the Contest Sponsors, the Contest Administrator, and each of their respective subsidiaries, parents, partners, other sweepstakes sponsors, advertising and promotional agencies (hereinafter "Sweepstakes Providers") and the immediate family members of each, and any persons living with, any such employees are not eligible to enter or to win. The term "immediate family members" includes spouses, parents, grandparents, siblings, children, and grandchildren. Winners of previous Village News, Inc. sweepstakes or contests are not eligible to win another Village News, Inc sweepstakes or contest within a 90-day period. LIMIT one (1) entry (registration) per person and per e-mail address. Multiple entries per person or email address will be disqualified.

ENTRY: Register by visiting http://www.poolhoster.com/members.php and login. Then click on Valley News Sports - 2013 Prep Pigskin Picks - Week 1 under Current Pools and follow the on-line instructions to obtain a username and password ("log-in ID"). Please remember your log-in ID so that you may return to the site to enter the Contest, make changes to your selections (up to the Contest Entry Deadline) and check standings and updates during the Contest. You may enter the Contest up until the Contest Entry Deadline eligible to enter the Contest. Each participant must complete the registration process to become eligible to play. Registration is free and is a simple process that involves submitting a user’s contact information, team name creation, and password selection. Once this process is completed, users will be directed to the home page where they can participate in the contest.

WINNERS AND PRIZES: One (1) grand prize winner will receive a 16GB iPad Mini with Wi-Fi. Approximate retail value: $329.00. Total retail value of grand prize is $1,249.00. One grand prize winner will be determined by scoring specified above at the end of the twelve week regular season for the Prep football teams that are covered through the Valley News Sports Magazine.

All expenses not stated herein (including, but not limited to, taxes and fees on the prize and other personal expenses incurred in connection with the redemption, receipt and/or use of the prize or participating in any prize-related activity) are the responsibility of each winner. An IRS Form 1099 will be issued for all prizes with a retail value in excess of $600. Prizes are not transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash and no substitutions are allowed (except by the Contest Sponsor due to prize unavailability, in which case a prize of equal or greater value will be substituted). Contest Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Entries will be declared made by the authorized account holder of the e-mail address submitted at time of entry. "Authorized account holder" is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, or other organization (e.g., business, education, institution, etc.) responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address. Contest Sponsor and Administrator are not responsible for (i) entries not received due to lost, failed, delayed or interrupted connections, including Internet/Web-server/network/phone-line connections or miscommunications, or other electronic malfunctions, computer or telephone, hardware or software failures, malfunctions, or garbled or jumbled transmissions or (ii) for any incorrect or inaccurate information in the Contest or for any technical or human error that may occur in the processing of entries in the Contest. The Contest Sponsor and Administrator reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to cancel or suspend the Contest should virus, bugs, unauthorized human intervention or other causes beyond the control of the Contest Sponsor or Administrator, that in the Contest Sponsor's sole opinion, corrupt or impair the administration, security, fairness, or proper operation or play of the Contest and, in any such event, select winners, either by highest scores achieved prior to event requiring such termination, cancellation or suspension or, if necessary, by random drawing from all eligible registrations received prior to event requiring such action. In the event that any legal or regulatory authority challenges the contest, the Contest Sponsor and Administrator reserve the right to discontinue or modify the Contest, or to disqualify participants residing in the affected geographic areas. The game operator shall have no liability to any players who are disqualified due to such an action

The Contest Sponsor reserves the right to verify the eligibility of any participant. Any attempt by an entrant to deliberately damage any website or undermine the legitimate operation of this Contest is a violation of criminal and/or civil laws and should such an attempt be made, the Contest Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify the entrant and seek damages and other remedies to the fullest extent permitted by law. By participating, each entrant agrees to be bound by these Official Rules and further agrees that: (i) notwithstanding any contrary provision in Contest Sponsor or Contest Administrators privacy policies, if legally permissible, the Contest Sponsor and its parents, subsidiaries and affiliate have the right to publicize his or her name, voice, city/state of residence, photograph and/or likeness for advertising, trade and/or any other purpose in any media or format now or hereafter known without further compensation, authorization or remuneration; and (ii) the Contest Sponsor and the Contest Administrator and their respective parents, affiliates and subsidiaries and all of their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents shall have no liability whatsoever for any loss, injury, or damage to entrant or any other person or entity, including personal injury, death, or damage to personal or real property, due in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, by reason of the acceptance, possession, use or misuse of the prize or participation in this Contest. All federal, state and local laws apply. Contest void where prohibited or restricted by law.

IMPORTANT WINNER INFORMATION: It is the responsibility of the Entrant to keep all mailing and e-mail information up-to-date and accurate. Winners should allow up to 6-8 weeks after they return their signed, notarized affidavit to receive their prize.

Contest Sponsor reserves the right to award the actual cash equivalent of any prize in lieu of the prize itself. Prizes returned as undeliverable or otherwise not claimed within fourteen (14) days after being sent will be forfeited (and the Contest Sponsor will have no further responsibility to the initially selected winner) and awarded to an alternate winner. Contest Sponsor is only obligated to contact a single alternate. In all instances in which Contest Sponsor notifies, or seeks to deliver a prize to or otherwise attempts to contact an alternate winner, if such alternate winner is unavailable or disqualified or if the prize is returned as undeliverable, within the time frames otherwise allotted for the initially selected winner, then Contest Sponsor may choose either not to award the prize or to donate it to another person or entity, in its sole discretion.

Entrants acknowledge that Contest Sponsor, Contest Administrator and their respective agencies have neither made nor are in any manner responsible for any warranty, representation or guarantee, express or implied, in fact or in law, relative to any prize, including but not limited to its quality. Except for a standard limited warranty that the prize manufacturer may include with the prize, the prize is awarded "as is" and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, (including, without limitation, any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose). For an additional copy of the official rules, please click on the terms and conditions link at the bottom of our web site. This may be printed and read at your convenience.

NOTIFICATION: One grand prize winner will be determined by scoring specified in the VALLEY NEWS PREP FOOTBALL PICKem CONTEST RULES at the end of the twelve week Prep regular season. Weekly winners will be determined by scoring specified in the VALLEY NEWS PREP FOOTBALL PICKem CONTEST RULES All winners will be contacted by a Valley News representative.

Winner selection shall be final. In order to be named a winner, potential winners may be required to execute and return an Affidavit of Eligibility/Prize Acceptance Form/Release of liability upon accepting a prize. Noncompliance will result in disqualification and an alternate winner may be selected.

EMAIL CHANGE OF ADDRESS POLICY: It is the sole responsibility of the Entrant to notify the Sponsor in the event of his or her email address changing. To do so, click on the “Account” sub section under the “main” navigation. Failure to maintain a valid email address may result in that user’s disqualification and the forfeiture of any prizes won in conjunction of this contest.

WINNERS LIST: Official Rules and the name of the winner may be obtained by sending a self-addressed, stamped #10 envelope to: The Village News, Inc. 127 West Elder Street, Fallbrook CA 92028 . Indicate “VALLEY NEWS SPORTS PREP PICK EM CHALLENGE” Rules Request or Winner’s List on the outside of the envelope as applicable. Limit one (1) request per envelope. The request must include the name of the Contest. Winners List will be available 5 days after the winners are confirmed. Questions regarding this Contest may be addressed to: The Village News, Inc. 127 West Elder Street, Fallbrook CA 92028 .

INTERNET PROBLEMS: If for any reason the Internet portion of the program is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, terrorism, work stoppage, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of the game operator, which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this contest, the game operator reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process, and to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the contest. In such event, the game operator further reserves the right to award prizes to the player with the most points as of the termination date.

TECHNOLOGY PROBLEMS: The game operator assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries or transactions. The game operator is not responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer on-line systems, servers, or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any email entry or transaction to be received on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any Web site, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to participant's or any other person's computer related to or resulting from participation or downloading any materials in this contest.

CAUTION: Any attempt by a contestant to deliberately damage any web site or undermine the legitimate operation of the game is a violation of criminal and civil laws and should such an attempt be made, the game operator reserves the right to seek damages from any such contestant to the fullest extent permitted by law. In the event of a dispute, entries made by Internet will be declared made by the authorized account holder of the e-mail address submitted at time of entry. "Authorized account holder" is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, on-line service provider or other organization (e.g., business, educational institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address. In the event that any legal or regulatory authority challenges the contest, the game operator reserves the right to discontinue or modify the Contest, or to disqualify participants residing in the affected geographic areas. The game operator shall have no liability to any players who are disqualified due to such an action.

FALSE REGISTRATION: The game operator reserves the right to disqualify any user who has registered with non valid or false information. To qualify for any prize, users must have valid registration information by the contest ending date. Any information that is inaccurate or misleading will result in that user’s disqualification and the forfeiture of any prizes won in conjunction of this contest.

DISCLAIMER: The game operator is in no way connected or affiliated with the High Schools, or any of its affiliated teams, players, or parents. All references to any professional football name or term is purely nominative and not intended to imply connection affiliation or endorsement.