wittyusername
Footballguy
Any links to articles and/or threads which provide advice for new Commissioners on setting up a league, organizing and running draft day, etc, etc? TIA
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First Time Commissioner (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter wittyusername
- Start date
jswalker1981
Footballguy
For running the draft, I would suggest using the FanDraft software. Bring a laptop with the software on it, and a projector, and shoot up the draft board on the wall. I've used it the past two years, and it is great for keeping owners from picking guys that are already taken. And it is nice to see what each team has as they draft. Also, when constructing the rules, always think of the worse-case scenario. This way you won't have to revise the rules during the season or at the end of the season. It is amazing how many times I've seen the loopholes in rules, and the other owners freak out when I take advantage of them. You have to make sure that your rulebook is secured against loopholes.
Black
Footballguy
I started a 2-person keeper about 4 years ago, it's going strong with all the original members. I am starting a Dynasty League this summer. If you've played FF, then you probably know all you need to know, you just need to get organized. Both of my leagues were based on all the things I was missing in other leagues I was in (mostly redraft).
1. Pick a League Type; Establish your Rules: What type of league do you want? Spell out your rules, scoring, cost, payout; ask here in the Sharkpool for Rules for different types of leagues. Try to ask specificially for what you want...there are probably 100s of different types of league rules.
2. Collecting GMs and Money: Email and get your guys committed to being GMs. If they are not all local, setup a PayPal account to receive Credit Card payments (you can receive the payments via CC for a small fee). All you have to do is attach it to a Bank Account (I setup a little Savings Account and use that). Otherwise, just be ready to request checks mailed/cash brought BEFORE the draft if you can.
3. Pick an online provider, and see if they have enough offerings to support message board, communication, postings, and of course, scoring. I have used Yahoo (insert hoots and boos here) and they work fine for me. I just copy rosters to a spreadsheet at the end of the season, and bring them back into Yahoo come August. I little admin for me, but I have to put in the rest of the draft results anyways, so no big deal. Yahoo has a 'message board' that is 'good enough'; plus it's easy to send out league emails.
You can setup a league messageboard (for free, I think) on FootballJabber.com. If you have a website of any type, most hosts have a control panel CPanel php app that easlily lets you setup a message board. Anyways, if you want a League Message Board and don't have any ideas, ask the Sharkpool.
4. Draft day: In the past, I have just had a whiteboard/cardboard grid where people wrote in names. Last year I ordered a board+color coded stickers for like $25, which made the draft go MUCH faster. We had 8 people face to face, 2 called in on speaker phone (Saturday morning, free minutes on cell phones). I have not used software yet, but might try to project the Draft Dominator from my laptop up on the wall this year (displaying CBSSports rankings...).
1. Pick a League Type; Establish your Rules: What type of league do you want? Spell out your rules, scoring, cost, payout; ask here in the Sharkpool for Rules for different types of leagues. Try to ask specificially for what you want...there are probably 100s of different types of league rules.
2. Collecting GMs and Money: Email and get your guys committed to being GMs. If they are not all local, setup a PayPal account to receive Credit Card payments (you can receive the payments via CC for a small fee). All you have to do is attach it to a Bank Account (I setup a little Savings Account and use that). Otherwise, just be ready to request checks mailed/cash brought BEFORE the draft if you can.
3. Pick an online provider, and see if they have enough offerings to support message board, communication, postings, and of course, scoring. I have used Yahoo (insert hoots and boos here) and they work fine for me. I just copy rosters to a spreadsheet at the end of the season, and bring them back into Yahoo come August. I little admin for me, but I have to put in the rest of the draft results anyways, so no big deal. Yahoo has a 'message board' that is 'good enough'; plus it's easy to send out league emails.
You can setup a league messageboard (for free, I think) on FootballJabber.com. If you have a website of any type, most hosts have a control panel CPanel php app that easlily lets you setup a message board. Anyways, if you want a League Message Board and don't have any ideas, ask the Sharkpool.
4. Draft day: In the past, I have just had a whiteboard/cardboard grid where people wrote in names. Last year I ordered a board+color coded stickers for like $25, which made the draft go MUCH faster. We had 8 people face to face, 2 called in on speaker phone (Saturday morning, free minutes on cell phones). I have not used software yet, but might try to project the Draft Dominator from my laptop up on the wall this year (displaying CBSSports rankings...).
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lacesout
Footballguy
Get money 3 weeks before the draft so no one backs out.
Have one back up team there to help out or take a teams place if someone is a no show.
Make sure your rules cover everything so no one can whine.
X-box also has a nice draft system that you can run off your x-box using live
Have one back up team there to help out or take a teams place if someone is a no show.
Make sure your rules cover everything so no one can whine.
X-box also has a nice draft system that you can run off your x-box using live
The Future Champs
Footballguy
I'd suggest starting with someone else's rules that are EXTREMELY comprehensive. Modify them as desired for your league, but a first time commish will never write up a proper set of rules on his own, and your league will suffer without good rules that are on paper and distributed to all owners before the first draft.If it's a money league, I'd consider having them sign the rules, if your state allows FF gambling. At the very least make sure they have a copy, and for your own records record the time and date that you gave them the copy.
wittyusername
Footballguy
Thanks folks - very helpful. Keep'em coming!
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
Aside from the specifics you decide on, here are a few things from the process side that help separate good leagues from less good ones IMO...
Tell people in advance when things are going to happen.
Remind them of upcoming deadlines.
Do the things you're supposed to do on time and exactly the way you said you were going to.
Explain your thinking if you have to deviate from the rules and ask for feedback before you make a final decision.
Tell people in advance when things are going to happen.
Remind them of upcoming deadlines.
Do the things you're supposed to do on time and exactly the way you said you were going to.
Explain your thinking if you have to deviate from the rules and ask for feedback before you make a final decision.
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Black
Footballguy
An addendum to my previous post...
Have a rule that states the Commish's word is final. In my leagues, I did put in some democratic language like 'league vote' and 'majority vote' to settle issues that the rules don't address, deadbeat owners, bad trades, etc. I have changed that to say "the Commish can call a league vote"...but ultimately, you'll need to specify the Commish's decision is binding. You can lose control of a league really quick if you don't. If someone doesn't like the rules, then they can get out next year. You don't want your league to diminish or erode when stuff comes up you didn't plan for.
It can be alot of work to do all the communications, etc., and it sucks to be bound by some stupid vote to alter YOUR league in a way you don't like.
In the same vein...you can't be a dou-bag and might have to go out of your way to show you are on the up-and-up. You might have to put up your own trades to league vote, etc. to be sure that there is no dissent. If you have cool friends/GMs, it's not a problem. Most will learn to trust you and just defer to you anyways, esp after a couple of years.
Last year, for instance, I changed a Roster position on my team about 15 minutes before a Thursday night game (as allowed by the online provider), but my opponent didn't refresh their page til about halftime, and was surprised to see a different player. I explained that even if the Commish changed a player mid-game, there is a public posting and time-stamp on the league homepage. I went to the trouble to actually change two players that were non-consequential (changed, then changed back) so all teams could see that the Commish cannot do anything like that secretly. I didn't have to prove anything, but I preferred to.
PM me your email, and I am happy to email you my 2-person Keeper and Dynasty League rules..each only about 3 pages, but based on about 10 leagues I got from FBG posters in the SharkPool. I 'borrowed' alot of language from leagues that have been around awhile, but tried to keep it simple.
Have a rule that states the Commish's word is final. In my leagues, I did put in some democratic language like 'league vote' and 'majority vote' to settle issues that the rules don't address, deadbeat owners, bad trades, etc. I have changed that to say "the Commish can call a league vote"...but ultimately, you'll need to specify the Commish's decision is binding. You can lose control of a league really quick if you don't. If someone doesn't like the rules, then they can get out next year. You don't want your league to diminish or erode when stuff comes up you didn't plan for.
It can be alot of work to do all the communications, etc., and it sucks to be bound by some stupid vote to alter YOUR league in a way you don't like.
In the same vein...you can't be a dou-bag and might have to go out of your way to show you are on the up-and-up. You might have to put up your own trades to league vote, etc. to be sure that there is no dissent. If you have cool friends/GMs, it's not a problem. Most will learn to trust you and just defer to you anyways, esp after a couple of years.
Last year, for instance, I changed a Roster position on my team about 15 minutes before a Thursday night game (as allowed by the online provider), but my opponent didn't refresh their page til about halftime, and was surprised to see a different player. I explained that even if the Commish changed a player mid-game, there is a public posting and time-stamp on the league homepage. I went to the trouble to actually change two players that were non-consequential (changed, then changed back) so all teams could see that the Commish cannot do anything like that secretly. I didn't have to prove anything, but I preferred to.
PM me your email, and I am happy to email you my 2-person Keeper and Dynasty League rules..each only about 3 pages, but based on about 10 leagues I got from FBG posters in the SharkPool. I 'borrowed' alot of language from leagues that have been around awhile, but tried to keep it simple.
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senor peso 2006
Footballguy
sencond the motion to have some form of draft board or software to record the draft. I'm still low tech and use a board, it speeds the draft and keeps the annoying question "has brady be picked yet" from being asked. Added bonus, spread sheet the draft every year once it is done. After a few years you will have a pretty good track record of how your league mangers like to draft, which will help you better perpare.
Handle the money anyway you want, but keep in mind that you being the commish means that you are on the hook for the prize money. Someone doesn't pay, its your job to collect, but its not the problem of the money winners. So collect up front or just make sure you know and trust the guys you play with and they are good for it. (my opinion)
Handle the money anyway you want, but keep in mind that you being the commish means that you are on the hook for the prize money. Someone doesn't pay, its your job to collect, but its not the problem of the money winners. So collect up front or just make sure you know and trust the guys you play with and they are good for it. (my opinion)
Beefeaters
Footballguy
Strippers, Beer and Wings
The Kansas Comet
Footballguy
Good rules info in this thread :
Rules Leagues Should Consider
If you like, I can send you a copy of my league rules. They're not perfect, but perhaps you'll see things you can use. Just let me know.
ETA: Here's a good thread about draft day. Draft Ideas
Rules Leagues Should Consider
If you like, I can send you a copy of my league rules. They're not perfect, but perhaps you'll see things you can use. Just let me know.
ETA: Here's a good thread about draft day. Draft Ideas
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