sushinsky4tsar
Footballguy
I'm the commissioner of a long standing re-draft league. In general, we've had pretty decent luck with eliminated teams continuing to do the minimum at the end of the season, playing for pride, submitting a full lineup, etc. Even though these teams have probably checked out from competing for free agents in FAAB bidding, they're playing out the year.
Last season we had a couple of trades that were pretty questionable at the end of the regular season. I don't think there was collusion. They weren't so bad as to be overturned by our league's veto system. But just kind of reaked of, what the heck, I'm eliminated, sure I'll do that trade my buddy asked for. The other was more of a desperation move for a team that had 0.2% chance of making the playoffs. A number of the playoff teams were pretty miffed by what these trades did to the competitive balance.
Biggest takeaway is that we've been too lenient with our league's trade deadline in the name of giving owners more flexibility to retool if they take injuries late in the season. We probably need to move it up a week or two to just before week 12 or 13.
Second takeaway, I would really like to bolster our league's punishment for finishing dead last in the Toilet Bowl tournament and/or increase the incentive to keep fielding the best team possible.
We do a pathetic $20 token to the Toilet Bowl Champion. I can't imagine anyone is too motivated by that, but there's no appetite to give any decent payout to a team that couldn't finish in the top 8 of a 14-team field.
We play up the "King Turd" title. Put their name, likeness on display of the toilet at the next draft. But nothing with any teeth. We tried to give the champ the privilege of naming their team and providing their logo in the following season, but that definitely didn't take off.
So I'm looking for ideas on fun punishments / incentives you do to keep the non-playoff teams engaged in your leagues. We do a live draft with nearly 100% of the owners accounted for, so we have that going for ourselves.
Last season we had a couple of trades that were pretty questionable at the end of the regular season. I don't think there was collusion. They weren't so bad as to be overturned by our league's veto system. But just kind of reaked of, what the heck, I'm eliminated, sure I'll do that trade my buddy asked for. The other was more of a desperation move for a team that had 0.2% chance of making the playoffs. A number of the playoff teams were pretty miffed by what these trades did to the competitive balance.
Biggest takeaway is that we've been too lenient with our league's trade deadline in the name of giving owners more flexibility to retool if they take injuries late in the season. We probably need to move it up a week or two to just before week 12 or 13.
Second takeaway, I would really like to bolster our league's punishment for finishing dead last in the Toilet Bowl tournament and/or increase the incentive to keep fielding the best team possible.
We do a pathetic $20 token to the Toilet Bowl Champion. I can't imagine anyone is too motivated by that, but there's no appetite to give any decent payout to a team that couldn't finish in the top 8 of a 14-team field.
We play up the "King Turd" title. Put their name, likeness on display of the toilet at the next draft. But nothing with any teeth. We tried to give the champ the privilege of naming their team and providing their logo in the following season, but that definitely didn't take off.
So I'm looking for ideas on fun punishments / incentives you do to keep the non-playoff teams engaged in your leagues. We do a live draft with nearly 100% of the owners accounted for, so we have that going for ourselves.
- This is a complete re-draft, so not really a fan of the play the Toilet Bowl to win pick X in the next draft.
- Spending a day at the Waffle House is kind of played out, also few remaining options for 24-hour restaurants in my area. Pretty sure they're not agreeing to it anyway.
- I like the idea of putting them through a "mini-combine", even though that might be a big undertaking. Complete with 40-yard dash, 3-cone drill, Wunderlich test. Keep track of the historical results.
- I think there might be some potential for high-score payouts in the final three weeks of the regular season, but I hate taking funds away from the championship payout to do it.
- Half-time performance at the next draft, song of the champ's choosing. They have to commit fully or pay the champ's entry fee (or maybe fund the high score payouts in the final 3 weeks).
- Stand them up in front of garage door, water balloon barrage at the next draft every time they announce their pick. One round for every loss. Or just do the first round with one balloon for every loss.