Do you screen/interview potential owners for your league? (1 Viewer)

[BigTex]

As competitive as fantasy football is, it's important to ones own league to keep it that way especially for us Dynasty owners. There seems to be an increase of individuals that believe that once they've play in a "free" league that they know/played fantasy football.

This got me to thinking. How many of you interview potential owners?

Forget about the ones that post here in the Pool that's easy. I'm talking about the guy(s) you've never met before or met for the first time but he or someone who knows him claims to be a fantasy football vet.

Again, how do you screen/interview potential owners?

Let's here it.

Tex

 

[offdee]

Yes, I do and feel it's important. Can get a pretty good feel on how they answer the questions (detail, length, etc.) of their interest and how involved they will be. Basic questions...the most telling being the final question below. This is my initial screen.

------------

Thanks for the interest.

Please provide the following info to present to the

league for consideration in our search.

- e-mail address (to send you the league Constitution to review)

- real name

- age

- location

- how many years of FF experience

- how many other leagues currently in

- anything else you'd like the other league members to know about you

 

[BigTex]

Yes, I do and feel it's important. Can get a pretty good feel on how they answer the questions (detail, length, etc.) of their interest and how involved they will be. Basic questions...the most telling being the final question below. This is my initial screen.------------Thanks for the interest. Please provide the following info to present to theleague for consideration in our search.- e-mail address (to send you the league Constitution to review)- real name- age- location- how many years of FF experience- how many other leagues currently in- anything else you'd like the other league members to know about you

Thanks, this is good.

 

[TBLCommish]

I agree that is is vital to a league's success to interview and know all potential GMs. I also require ALL of my new GMs to complete a one year probation period to ensure that they are the right guys for the job.

 

[TheFanatic]

My main league is extremely complex ($32 million salary cap, 1-3 year contracts, signing bonuses, no trade clauses, deferred money, franchise tags, transition tags, draft pick compensation for RFA's, etc). Most trades need a lawyer, team of accountants and an abacus to get the deal done.

I try to outline the complexities of the league and see what questions they have. If they have none, the guy doesn't get my vote. Nobody picks up the rules in under a year. I want to see what kind of questions the guy asks. And as the answers and questions get more complicated I want to sense that the guy is excited about the league and the complex rule system rather than someone who is intimidated or annoyed by them....

 

[Jeff Tefertiller]

In a competitive keper/dynasty league, I think it is very important to scren the owners. Most times, you can differentiate the "resumes" fairly easily. Another thought is to talk to leaguemantes (or commish) in other leagues the candidates are in. There are plenty of good knowledgeable owners, good human beings, etc. that I would not want in a league I am in ... especially if commish.

 

[jevy]

What is the point in interviewing and recruiting the best 9 or 11 or 13 owners for your league if no questions are asked and no effort is made to determine the person's loyalty to a league?

Personally, I would rather have a league full of owners with a decent knowledge of FF who will stick around for a numbers of years over a league full of 'Shark Pool' owners who will leave after 1 year if they are in the bottom half of the league.

 

[remote controller]

We have 2 leagues. One is in it's 15th year and still has 8 of the original 10 owners. One owner died, and the other left before last season, in a conflict with the Commish. Our other league is entering it's 12th year. It is a 12 team redraft, with 8 of 8 owners from the other league and 4 others. This is our tryout league.

 

[BigTex]

What is the point in interviewing and recruiting the best 9 or 11 or 13 owners for your league if no questions are asked and no effort is made to determine the person's loyalty to a league?Personally, I would rather have a league full of owners with a decent knowledge of FF who will stick around for a numbers of years over a league full of 'Shark Pool' owners who will leave after 1 year if they are in the bottom half of the league.

I'm not sure I follow you. This is not about recruiting or recruiting the best. This is about potenial candidates for an opening in your league to keep it competitive. I'm not sure anyone said you had to be a "Shark" but at the same time you don't need guppies in a dynasty format because they'll bring the league down. And the fact is some think they know "fantasy" football because they are familiar with P. Manning, LT2, LJ, C. Johnson, etc....but who doesn't, Mrs. Tex know about these guys. What happens when I get in the middle to late rounds and guys like DJ Hackett, B. Marshall or Norwood is on the clock.....hell the "Average Joe" wouldn't know what to do but pull out an outdated magazine.You all have brought out some good pointers.

 

[BigTex]

In a competitive keper/dynasty league, I think it is very important to scren the owners. Most times, you can differentiate the "resumes" fairly easily. Another thought is to talk to leaguemantes (or commish) in other leagues the candidates are in. There are plenty of good knowledgeable owners, good human beings, etc. that I would not want in a league I am in ... especially if commish.

wannabee?

 

[jevy]

What is the point in interviewing and recruiting the best 9 or 11 or 13 owners for your league if no questions are asked and no effort is made to determine the person's loyalty to a league?Personally, I would rather have a league full of owners with a decent knowledge of FF who will stick around for a numbers of years over a league full of 'Shark Pool' owners who will leave after 1 year if they are in the bottom half of the league.

I'm not sure I follow you. This is not about recruiting or recruiting the best. This is about potenial candidates for an opening in your league to keep it competitive. I'm not sure anyone said you had to be a "Shark" but at the same time you don't need guppies in a dynasty format because they'll bring the league down. And the fact is some think they know "fantasy" football because they are familiar with P. Manning, LT2, LJ, C. Johnson, etc....but who doesn't, Mrs. Tex know about these guys. What happens when I get in the middle to late rounds and guys like DJ Hackett, B. Marshall or Norwood is on the clock.....hell the "Average Joe" wouldn't know what to do but pull out an outdated magazine.You all have brought out some good pointers.

What I was trying to say is shouldn't there be just as much emphasis placed on finding owners that won't bail on a league if they aren't competitive after the first year as there is on finding knowledgeable owners?

 

[Anthony Borbely]

What is the point in interviewing and recruiting the best 9 or 11 or 13 owners for your league if no questions are asked and no effort is made to determine the person's loyalty to a league?Personally, I would rather have a league full of owners with a decent knowledge of FF who will stick around for a numbers of years over a league full of 'Shark Pool' owners who will leave after 1 year if they are in the bottom half of the league.

I'm not sure I follow you. This is not about recruiting or recruiting the best. This is about potenial candidates for an opening in your league to keep it competitive. I'm not sure anyone said you had to be a "Shark" but at the same time you don't need guppies in a dynasty format because they'll bring the league down. And the fact is some think they know "fantasy" football because they are familiar with P. Manning, LT2, LJ, C. Johnson, etc....but who doesn't, Mrs. Tex know about these guys. What happens when I get in the middle to late rounds and guys like DJ Hackett, B. Marshall or Norwood is on the clock.....hell the "Average Joe" wouldn't know what to do but pull out an outdated magazine.You all have brought out some good pointers.

What I was trying to say is shouldn't there be just as much emphasis placed on finding owners that won't bail on a league if they aren't competitive after the first year as there is on finding knowledgeable owners?

I personally want both in my leagues.

 

[Post Corner]

Depends on the league.

In my primary dynasty league, we DEFINATELY screen owners. In fact, won't even consider them unless a personal recommendation is made by another owenr in the league. Then we "interview" them and vote off-line as a league whether they are in or out.

As anyone who has been there will let you know, it doesn't take long to ruin a great, long standing league with a couple of bad owners.

 

[Jeff Tefertiller]

In a competitive keper/dynasty league, I think it is very important to scren the owners. Most times, you can differentiate the "resumes" fairly easily. Another thought is to talk to leaguemantes (or commish) in other leagues the candidates are in. There are plenty of good knowledgeable owners, good human beings, etc. that I would not want in a league I am in ... especially if commish.

wannabee?

 

[Chop_Block]

It's a good question and this is a great thread - I have been in some leagues (most notably, last year) where owners who have even been cool for YEARS have flamed out. So on an almost side note, it's important to make sure all the owners sin your league are still happy - one guy I played with last year ended up calling the league commishs (there were two so if a trade or somethign involved one commish, the other could rule fairly) cheaters and some other not-so-nice names and starting more drama than I have ever seen. And from my vantage point, he was pretty out of line.

I spoke with him after he left/was booted and I don't think anyone took his temperature before the season - if they had, they might have seen it coming. He had alot of concerns and issues he never mentioned and maybe he would have imploded anyway, but I honestly think the parting could have been amicable.

So as important as it is to get good owners in your league, you have to make sure the guys already there stay cool.

 

[Chop_Block]

It's a good question and this is a great thread - I have been in some leagues (most notably, last year) where owners who have even been cool for YEARS have flamed out. So on an almost side note, it's important to make sure all the owners sin your league are still happy - one guy I played with last year ended up calling the league commishs (there were two so if a trade or somethign involved one commish, the other could rule fairly) cheaters and some other not-so-nice names and starting more drama than I have ever seen. And from my vantage point, he was pretty out of line.

I spoke with him after he left/was booted and I don't think anyone took his temperature before the season - if they had, they might have seen it coming. He had alot of concerns and issues he never mentioned and maybe he would have imploded anyway, but I honestly think the parting could have been amicable.

So as important as it is to get good owners in your league, you have to make sure the guys already there stay cool.

 

[hitmenssharpshooters]

Funny you mention.

8th owner resigned 2 months ago. We had a period of 2 weeks to have each owner put a "bio" of the person they are nominating.

It's hard when you haven't met a guy to just say "hey, come on in" without feeling his ff experience.

my 2 cents.

 

[code]

I screen prospective owners for cultural fit, understanding of our rules, and FF experience...we also require new owners to be sponsored by a current owner and then we put the nomination to a league vote...they have always been unanimously in favor, but it is a good qualification and gives other owners a chance to ask any important follow up questions...

 

[Jeff Tefertiller]

Hey Tex, I can tell you from experience that I have found a fine line between having other owners nominate their buddies and getting a 1st hand vouch for a future owner. Sometimes you get a guy nominate his buddy and you do not have the same scrutiny as you would otherwise.

One method I like is taking nominations, put Bios on the webpage, let other owners ask questions, then put up for league vote (only if you trust your owners).

 

[BigTex]

In a competitive keper/dynasty league, I think it is very important to scren the owners. Most times, you can differentiate the "resumes" fairly easily. Another thought is to talk to leaguemantes (or commish) in other leagues the candidates are in. There are plenty of good knowledgeable owners, good human beings, etc. that I would not want in a league I am in ... especially if commish.

wannabee?

Outstanding! It's about time they put you on staff. This site's staff get's stronger and stronger every year. Congrats!:makenotetoself: wannabee now works for the "MAN," keep eye on wannabee.

 

[BigTex]

What is the point in interviewing and recruiting the best 9 or 11 or 13 owners for your league if no questions are asked and no effort is made to determine the person's loyalty to a league?Personally, I would rather have a league full of owners with a decent knowledge of FF who will stick around for a numbers of years over a league full of 'Shark Pool' owners who will leave after 1 year if they are in the bottom half of the league.

I'm not sure I follow you. This is not about recruiting or recruiting the best. This is about potenial candidates for an opening in your league to keep it competitive. I'm not sure anyone said you had to be a "Shark" but at the same time you don't need guppies in a dynasty format because they'll bring the league down. And the fact is some think they know "fantasy" football because they are familiar with P. Manning, LT2, LJ, C. Johnson, etc....but who doesn't, Mrs. Tex know about these guys. What happens when I get in the middle to late rounds and guys like DJ Hackett, B. Marshall or Norwood is on the clock.....hell the "Average Joe" wouldn't know what to do but pull out an outdated magazine.You all have brought out some good pointers.

What I was trying to say is shouldn't there be just as much emphasis placed on finding owners that won't bail on a league if they aren't competitive after the first year as there is on finding knowledgeable owners?

Yes sir, absolutely and doing some type of screening/interview can help keep a league on track to be competitive year-in/year-out.

 

[BigTex]

It's a good question and this is a great thread - I have been in some leagues (most notably, last year) where owners who have even been cool for YEARS have flamed out. So on an almost side note, it's important to make sure all the owners sin your league are still happy - one guy I played with last year ended up calling the league commishs (there were two so if a trade or somethign involved one commish, the other could rule fairly) cheaters and some other not-so-nice names and starting more drama than I have ever seen. And from my vantage point, he was pretty out of line.I spoke with him after he left/was booted and I don't think anyone took his temperature before the season - if they had, they might have seen it coming. He had alot of concerns and issues he never mentioned and maybe he would have imploded anyway, but I honestly think the parting could have been amicable.So as important as it is to get good owners in your league, you have to make sure the guys already there stay cool.

One of my Dynasty leagues I commish in, I have a Chairperson and two Captians to balance the power of the commish (Tex) but we just voted to eliminate a longtime owner from the league because of signs that we notice were effecting the entire league. The owner humbly agree to move on.Good stuff and thanks for sharing CB.

 

[BigTex]

Hey Tex, I can tell you from experience that I have found a fine line between having other owners nominate their buddies and getting a 1st hand vouch for a future owner. Sometimes you get a guy nominate his buddy and you do not have the same scrutiny as you would otherwise.One method I like is taking nominations, put Bios on the webpage, let other owners ask questions, then put up for league vote (only if you trust your owners).

Thanks Jeff!

 

[BigTex]

Here's what I've compiled from the responses:

Thanks for the interest. Please provide the following info to present to the league for consideration in our search for a potential owner.- e-mail address (to send you the league Constitution/ByLaws to review)- real name- age- location- how many years of FF experience?- how many other leagues currently in?- what type of leagues have you played in i.e. Dynasty, Keeper, Redraft, Auction, etc…and how many years in each? -what fantasy football sites have you participated in i.e. Yahoo, ESPN, NFL.com, etc…and how many years in each? Please provide a link to your league if possible.- anything else you'd like the other league members to know about you?*Please note that you have been personally recommended by one of our league owners as a potential candidate to join are league. As a potential owner we will review your information and respond accordingly. If you decide to join our league understand that you will be on a one year probation period to ensure that you are the right guys for the job. Part of this process is that we take an off-line league wide vote for our potential owners. Also understand that there may be other potential owners for this vacancy as well.Good luck,commish

Anything else?

 

[Cecil Lammey]

My main auction league (dynasty hybrid) has a minor league system. If you do good in that league and we have an opening, then you are a consideration. Very good for weeding out bad/disinterested owners.

 

[BigTex]

My main auction league (dynasty hybrid) has a minor league system. If you do good in that league and we have an opening, then you are a consideration. Very good for weeding out bad/disinterested owners.

Wow! Never would have thought of something like this, this will definately be taken under advisement.

 

[Anthony Borbely]

If they play at mfl or another site where you can access the league, I suggest linking to the league they are in and looking for signs of them being active, such as transactions and message board posts. You can also get a feel for how competitive they are by looking at the moves they make and their drafts and rosters. I realize we all value players different and have different strategy, but you should be able to tell by the above if they are a good fit for your league, along with the other questions you posted. Anyone can say they are this and that, but being able to poke around their league page can show you a lot.

 

[brbarnhart]

I have friends who want to join our local league. My question always used to be "What team does Dominic Davis play for". It proved to be an telling question. Someone that everyone who followed fantasy football would know, but the average NFL fan would have no idea who he was. I am not sure who would be the current player like that.

Other then that, I am also about league loyalty. We all had to start somewhere. I am sure we all took our lumps in our first season or two. I want someone who has the tensity to come back and try again.

 

[BigTex]

If they play at mfl or another site where you can access the league, I suggest linking to the league they are in and looking for signs of them being active, such as transactions and message board posts. You can also get a feel for how competitive they are by looking at the moves they make and their drafts and rosters. I realize we all value players different and have different strategy, but you should be able to tell by the above if they are a good fit for your league, along with the other questions you posted. Anyone can say they are this and that, but being able to poke around their league page can show you a lot.

Good idea AB, it's added.

 

[BigTex]

I have friends who want to join our local league. My question always used to be "What team does Dominic Davis play for". It proved to be an telling question. Someone that everyone who followed fantasy football would know, but the average NFL fan would have no idea who he was. I am not sure who would be the current player like that. Other then that, I am also about league loyalty. We all had to start somewhere. I am sure we all took our lumps in our first season or two. I want someone who has the tensity to come back and try again.

One of many great reasons to do a screening/interview.

 

[Dirty Weasel]

Here is a fantasy football quiz that should be given to all potential owners....

- What do the following acronyms stand for (ADP, PPR, RBBC, VBD)? Any FF'er not knowing these basic terms is a newbie who should stick to local or yahoo leagues.

- How do you correctly pronounce Houshmandzadeh? Better yet, ask them to spell it.

- Tiki Barber always seems to be underrated. What is the earliest round you will draft Tiki in this year? If they spit out a number, DENIED!

- Send them a link to a mock draft where there have been some horrible picks and ask them to critique it (i.e. JaMarcus Russell in the 5th round, Peyton Manning as the 1st overall pick, a defense drafted in the 4th round, or a kicker drafted in the 7th round). Make sure to tell them what the starting requirements are, whether or not it's PPR, and if it's a redraft or dynasty league. You can go to www.fantasyfootballcalculator.com, sign up early as all 8 people in the mock, then do the enitre draft yourself. That way you can make if whatever you want. Throw in some players that fall a few rounds later than their ADP to see if he spots them. Also, draft a few teams where the QB2 has the same bye week as QB1, or a team that drafts multiple kickers.

Last year, I decided to play in a new dynasty league with a group of folks I'd never met. It was a 12-team league hunting for 3 more owners. I threw my name in the hat, and got a phone call from the commish. He was interviewing me, and I was thinking, "excellent, I'm gonna like this league", because he was asking all the normal questions I would expect. I must've answered to his satisfaction, because I made it into the league. The online draft went well, and all of the other owners seemed savvy. I was excited about this new league and thought I'd found one that I'd stay with for many years. About a week after the draft, the commish starts sending e-mails to the entire league about his political agenda. One of the owners (I assume he was from China, his last name was Chen) takes offense to one of his e-mails, and asks the commish not to send any more political rants. The commish basically replied, "if you don't like it, screw you". This went on all season, with the commish sending umpteen e-mails daily, like he was some sort of crazed militant. Yes, the league itself was competitive, but just not my style. Needless to say, I won't be playing in that league in 2007, and neither will 4 other owners. The commish was a friggin' fruitcake!

 

[Cecil Lammey]

My main auction league (dynasty hybrid) has a minor league system. If you do good in that league and we have an opening, then you are a consideration. Very good for weeding out bad/disinterested owners.

Wow! Never would have thought of something like this, this will definately be taken under advisement.

I constantly get requests to join the Colorado Pigskin League. We have also dropped a couple of owners that are in the CPL down to the minors. Good way to keep everyone motivated.