FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FormBaller is a football player form tracking application designed specifically for identifying players at peak performance using recency-weighted momentum analysis.

Traditional stats sites show season averages. FormBaller shows current momentum - who's performing at their peak this week.

FormBaller is a football player form tracking platform that uses recency-weighted analysis to identify which players are performing at their best right now.

How it works:

• We track 1000+ players across Europe's top 5 leagues + UEFA competitions
• Analyze last 10 matches with gradient weighting (1.5x for most recent → 0.6x for 10th match)
• Apply momentum modifiers (hot streak bonuses, dry spell penalties)
• Generate form scores (20-100) that predict immediate future performance

Result: You see which players are in peak form for fantasy football transfers, captain picks, and sports betting decisions.

Yes, FormBaller is completely free.

• No subscription required: Access all player form scores, rankings, and comparisons
• No credit card needed: Browse and analyze without payment
• Optional account: Create free account to save favorite players and get personalized alerts
• Ad-supported: We keep FormBaller free through optional non-intrusive advertising

Our mission is to make high-quality form tracking accessible to every fantasy football manager and sports bettor.

FormBaller tracks players across Europe's top 5 leagues + UEFA competitions:

We do NOT currently track domestic cups (FA Cup, Copa del Rey, etc.) as they often feature heavy rotation and don't reflect true player form.

Finding in-form players for FPL is simple:

1. Go to "Rankings" page - automatically sorted by form score (highest first)
2. Filter by position: Looking for a midfielder? Click "Midfielders" tab
3. Filter by league: Only want Premier League? Use league filter
4. Look for 80+ scores: These players are in excellent/elite form right now
5. Cross-reference fixtures: Check if high-form players have favorable upcoming matches

Yes! Use our player comparison tool:

1. Click "Compare" in the main navigation
2. Search and select up to 4 players
3. View side-by-side comparison of:
   • Current form scores
   • Recent match ratings
   • Goals/assists in last 10 matches
   • Form trajectory (improving or declining)

Perfect for: FPL transfer decisions ("Should I bring in Player A or Player B?"), sports betting value comparisons, or analyzing tactical matchups.

Form scores range from 20-100, with higher = better current form:

Remember: Form is about current trajectory, not overall season quality. A world-class player can have a 45 form score if they're in a slump.

Form scores update after every match day:

• Match data sync: Within 2-4 hours after final whistle
• Form recalculation: Happens automatically once new match data arrives
• Multiple leagues: Updates stagger based on fixture schedules (Premier League Saturday → La Liga Sunday, etc.)
• Real-time priority: High-profile matches and popular players update first

Pro tip: Check FormBaller on Monday mornings (Europe time) after weekend fixtures for the most comprehensive form picture across all leagues.

Finding the optimal FPL captain using form scores:

Example: Haaland (95 form) vs Burnley (H) = obvious captain. But if Palmer (88 form) vs West Ham (H) at 15% ownership, that's a potential season-winning differential.

Form scores predict immediate future performance - perfect for weekly captain decisions.

Absolutely - this is FormBaller's primary use case:

The FormBaller edge: Traditional stats sites show season averages. By the time everyone notices a player is hot, their price already rose. Form scores spot momentum 2-3 weeks early.

Form scores are significantly more predictive than traditional season averages:

For sports betting: Use form scores as ONE factor alongside:

• Opposition defensive quality
• Home/away splits
• Historical head-to-head
• Team tactics and playing style

Remember: Football is inherently unpredictable. Form scores indicate probability, not certainty. Always bet responsibly.

Use BOTH - data + intuition = best decisions:

Form scores excel at removing recency bias and emotional attachment. Your "gut" often overvalues recent personal experiences or player reputation.

Example: Your gut says "Salah always performs" but his form score is 62 (declining). Data suggests caution - maybe investigate fixture difficulty, minutes, or tactical changes before captaining.

The best FPL managers combine statistical rigor (FormBaller) with football intelligence (your knowledge).

A form score (20-100) measures a player's current momentum using recency-weighted analysis:

Key principle: Recent performances matter 2.5x more than older ones, capturing hot streaks and cold spells as they develop.

→ Read detailed methodology

Recency weighting captures momentum that simple averages miss:

Why it matters: Football is momentum-driven. Players "in form" demonstrate confidence, sharpness, and team trust. Recent trajectory predicts immediate future better than historical averages.

For FPL/betting: You need to know who's hot right now, not who was good 3 months ago.

Momentum modifiers that capture hot streaks and cold spells:

These modifiers separate players on genuine hot streaks from those having fluky good weeks.

Yes - goalkeepers use a completely specialized formula:

Outfield player calculations don't work for goalkeepers (goals/assists irrelevant, different success metrics). We use a goalkeeper-specific system:

Why this matters: A goalkeeper can have excellent form despite conceding (made 10 saves vs dominant team) OR keep clean sheets with 0 saves (team dominates). The formula captures both scenarios.

Same recency weighting (1.5x → 0.6x) and inactivity decay apply.

Players need minimum 5 qualifying matches (15+ minutes played) for a form score:

• Insufficient matches: Fewer than 5 qualifying matches (15+ minutes) played
• Long-term injury: No matches in 30+ days causes score to decay to floor or expire
• Rotation players: Constantly subbed in for 10-14 minutes don't accumulate qualifying matches
• Recent transfers: New signings need time to build match history in our database
• Youth players: Reserve team matches don't count - only senior league appearances

Players will appear once they accumulate 5 qualifying matches. Check back after a few gameweeks.

Smart midfielder evaluation - the "Rodri/Jorginho Exception":

Not all midfielders are goal-scorers. Defensive/deep-lying playmakers (Rodri, Jorginho, Busquets) can have excellent form without scoring.

Example: Rodri goes 5 games without scoring/assisting but dominates possession with 90% passing accuracy and 95 touches/game. He gets only -0.16 penalty instead of -0.52, recognizing his elite playmaking contribution.

This prevents unfairly punishing midfielders who contribute in non-attacking ways, while still penalizing attacking midfielders (like Mount, Havertz) who should be producing goals/assists.

No - but an optional free account unlocks extra features:

Account creation takes 30 seconds - only requires email. No payment info needed.

Yes (with free account):

1. Create a free account
2. Go to "My Squad" section
3. Add your 15 FPL players
4. View aggregate form dashboard:
   • Average squad form score
   • Players in excellent form (85+)
   • Players declining (below 60)
   • Suggested transfers based on form

Perfect for weekly FPL decisions: Instantly see which of your players are in-form (start them) and which are cold (bench or transfer out).

You can create multiple squads (e.g., FPL main team, UCL Fantasy, Draft league).

Currently web-only, mobile apps planned for future:

• Current: FormBaller works on mobile browsers (responsive design)
• Future: Native iOS/Android apps under consideration based on user demand
• Interim solution: Add formballer.com to your phone's home screen for app-like experience

We're prioritizing core web platform features first, but native apps are on the roadmap if users request them.

FormBaller uses Sportmonks API as our primary data provider:

• Match ratings: 0-10 scale from Sportmonks (similar to SofaScore/WhoScored methodology)
• Player stats: Goals, assists, minutes, clean sheets, saves, passing, touches, etc.
• Match results: Real-time scores and fixture data
• Coverage: Top 5 European leagues + UEFA competitions

Data quality: Sportmonks is a professional-grade API used by sports analytics companies and betting platforms globally.

We sync data within 2-4 hours of match completion, then run our proprietary form calculation algorithms.

Different platforms use different data providers with unique rating methodologies:

• FormBaller: Uses Sportmonks ratings (0-10 scale)
• SofaScore: Proprietary algorithm with different weighting
• WhoScored: Opta-powered ratings with unique calculation method
• FotMob: Blend of multiple data sources

Small rating differences (0.2-0.5) between platforms are completely normal and don't significantly impact form scores due to our averaging and weighting system.

What matters: Trends and momentum direction, not whether a specific match was rated 7.8 vs 8.0 by different providers.

Not currently. We focus exclusively on domestic league matches and UEFA competitions.

• Currently tracked: Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League
• Not tracked: FA Cup, Copa del Rey, Coppa Italia, DFB-Pokal, Coupe de France, League Cups

Why? League form is most predictive for fantasy football and sports betting. Domestic cup matches often feature heavy rotation, lower intensity, and don't reflect true player form.

Domestic cups may be added in future phases based on user demand and technical feasibility.

Minimal data collection only - we respect your privacy:

• With account: Email address only (for login and optional notifications)
• Without account: Anonymous usage analytics (page views, clicks) via privacy-friendly tools
• We NEVER: Sell your data, share with third parties (except as required by law), or track you across other websites

Full details in our Privacy Policy. GDPR compliant.

Your data is yours. We're here to provide football insights, not harvest personal information.

FormBaller uses cookies to provide essential functionality and, with your consent, for analytics and advertising.

We never sell your data. Analytics and advertising cookies help us keep FormBaller free while improving the service.

→ View complete Cookie Policy with detailed cookie list

Yes, absolutely. You have full control over your data (GDPR right to erasure):

• Request deletion: Contact us via email or account settings
• Timeline: Account and all personal data removed within 7 days
• What's deleted: Email, password, saved preferences, watchlists
• What remains: Anonymized usage analytics (cannot be linked back to you)

GDPR compliant. No questions asked. Your right to be forgotten is respected.

No. FormBaller is a completely independent platform.

• Not affiliated with: Premier League, La Liga, FIFA, UEFA, or any football clubs
• Not endorsed by: Any players, teams, leagues, or football organizations
• Independent analysis: We provide unbiased form tracking using publicly available data
• Not affiliated with: SofaScore, FotMob, FlashScore, WhoScored, or any stats platforms

All league and team logos are trademarks of their respective owners, used for identification purposes only under fair use.