UPDATED: Petition for SSL Rules Change - POLL ADDED (1 Viewer)

[Frank Black]

For those who are frustrated at the pace of SSL drafts and the absence of pms that facilitate draft speed, I suggest brainstorming to discuss whether a rules change could be made to facilitiate draft speed.

Opening suggestions include shortening the time clock or requiring the use of pms in certain situations.

Why limit ourselves to whining instead of at least brainstorming to help solve the problem at the ground level, the rules themselves? If we are unable to draft acceptable language, what have we lost? Not much. If we can draft language that works, then we have progress.

This thread is created to hopefully provide a central point for suggestions for rules changes.

** Updated to ask a poll on the simple question of whether the present rules about time allotted for picks should remain the same or change **

Rather than first ask a poll that includes suggested rule changes, I believe the first question should be the simple issue of whether we should change the rules to facilitate quicker drafts or keep the same rules. If the common sentiment is that the rules should change, we would then have a starting point to work on how they should change, if the FBG community and the SSL leaders agree. If the common sentiment is that the rules should stay the same, then the direction is clear.

I hope that enough people respond to give us a realistic view of what the common sentiment is.

 

[Toads]

Gotta Love It and gotta agree.

SSL #4, dispite it's shortcomings, managed to start later and finish sooner than some of it's predicessors. We did the mandatory "two positions ahead" alert and the mechanics of it were simple:

1) A pre-canned message for U R UP was sent, and saved. (Add a copy of this message to my sent items folder).

2) Same for "U R ON Deck," again saved.

3) Now, it's easy to access sent items, click on "Forward Message" and use the drop down to choose the reciepient of either message. All you do is save the entire draft order into the friends category and Wa La....you're golden!

What this accomplished is that it enabled any participant to email two spots ahead into the draft order.

Now, why was this important? Because many times, guys would participate (vote, check the draft, etc.) by remote hand held device. When they needed help, they would just state "Please PM for me." Then, the guy that was doing the deed, was helping out, would just make a post of "PM's Sent."

I tell ha, 'worked slicker than snot on a door knob."

What remained a mystery was why the #4, #3, #2 and #1 guys in a turn couldn't get it together to return on the back side of each turn. The turns were either a blow through so fast you missed it or guys would just "forget" they were gonna be up again.

One of Life's Mysteries I guess. If they'd just PM themselves, it "would'a worked slicker than...."

Added by Edit: it became apparent, after a while of observing the new message board recording feature of listing responses, that the

function was screwing up the entire communications deal. If you encounter a

you have to open the response to read the content. Guys gradually picked up on this and eliminated the

making their pick available with minimal hassell. Having to open every response to figure out what was going on was a MAJOR Impediment to Communications.And, after all, what is this thread about? It's not rules....it's about COMMUNICATIONS.

 

[Fiddles]

i dont want to know when im on deck

its useless imo

i may be on deck for 8 hours or more so what does the pm buy me?

just pm me when im up

 

[OldMilwaukee]

out

 

[Captain Hook]

The double PMs are only helpful if you know the guy who is ahead of you is one who checks in frequently or would have sent a list if he had any time problems..

The PROBLEM with the pace in these things is that some of the drafters just don't give a crap and will make their pick on their own sweet (?) time - the answer would be for a committee to put all those guys in the same draft - if they finish the day before the season who cares.

People who can't send a list of one or two players when they Know they have time problems shouldn't participate in these drafts. Guys who are one pick away and can't give ONE flipping name to someone who could post for them and say - I have to drive home and see my list - should also be on the sidelines.

 

[rzrback77]

i dont want to know when im on deckits useless imoi may be on deck for 8 hours or more so what does the pm buy me?just pm me when im up

Very I agree totally with this.

 

[rzrback77]

The problem occurs when most drafters check frequently and a few don't. The timer is set for eight hours and as long as the timer is eight hours ther will be some who only check every ten or twelve hours. When that occurs, the draft drags.

 

[Ghost of Bill Walsh]

I didn't make it into any of the SSL drafts, hope to next year, but I did try and help out by taking lists from a few people and made their picks for them. Next year,if I don't make it into any of the SSL drafts I'd glady take lists from anyone to help the drafts move along. I have no problem with lists from multiple people as I'm a straight shooter, play fair and adhere and conform to all rules set in place. If I have lists from multiple people I can assure you no one knows who's on those lists but me and I make their pick strictly based on the order of players they've given me. I do try and look out for them as well if I see any bye week conflicts with players they have ranked on their list and the players they've already chosen.

One other idea that may help is to encourage owners to take on a draft partner for their team that can pick for them if they are indisposed, out, incapacitated(like me when if I'm drunk,DOH) or for whatever reason. If they take on a draft partner they can get a plan in place that's acceptable to both for the team before the draft starts. I know if I had a draft partner and was unavailble I'd have enough trust and faith in them to make a pick that would help my team. Such partner could make the pick if the owner hasn't been reached or the their draft time limit winds down to within a couple of hours of expiring. I know it's frustrating when drafts bog down and I'd be willing to help in any way I can.

In an effort to help out with the future SSL drafts and seeing that they move along smoothly I'd be willing to sacrifice any membership in any of the SSL drafts and offer my services as a designated proxy list person. The SSL drafts are excellant drafts with very qualified and outstanding fantasy football owners. If you'd like for me to act as a designated proxy list taker I'd sacrifice not being a member of any of the SSL drafts. Please don't take this as trying to suck up or brown-nose but merely an effort on my part to help ensure that an outstanding format as the SSL's continues to thrive. I'm a fantasy football fanatic and enjoy helping people when I can. Also, I think Toads may attest to this, I can and would give my opinion on any player/players an owner may consider drafting which can be good feedback or input.

 

[Fullback Fro]

I think the format is as good as its going to be. If you want a shorter draft. Shorten the clock.

 

[bostonfred]

Only rule change I might propose is turning the clock off overnight for four hours instead of eight.

I think it's reasonable for the MBSLs to have a separate league for people who want a shorter clock. The SSLs have some tradition with the top finishers going into the top league the following year, but we've split the other leagues up using other criteria before, and it's not a bad idea to try it again.

 

[Reaper]

The double PMs are only helpful if you know the guy who is ahead of you is one who checks in frequently or would have sent a list if he had any time problems..The PROBLEM with the pace in these things is that some of the drafters just don't give a crap and will make their pick on their own sweet (?) time - the answer would be for a committee to put all those guys in the same draft - if they finish the day before the season who cares.People who can't send a list of one or two players when they Know they have time problems shouldn't participate in these drafts. Guys who are one pick away and can't give ONE flipping name to someone who could post for them and say - I have to drive home and see my list - should also be on the sidelines.

Love the idea of having the people who don't care about time all in 1 draft and the people who want to fast draft in another.....I'm also fine with the "On Deck" PM's .... rarely if ever, am I 2 picks out and I can't send a list...Also I find it baffling when guys are in the 15 spot, they make a pick and then show up 4+ hours later... I'd rather send a list and Not get "My guy" over holding up a draft for many hours. I care more about not making people wait then having the most optimal SSL team personally.

 

[Reaper]

Only rule change I might propose is turning the clock off overnight for four hours instead of eight. I think it's reasonable for the MBSLs to have a separate league for people who want a shorter clock. The SSLs have some tradition with the top finishers going into the top league the following year, but we've split the other leagues up using other criteria before, and it's not a bad idea to try it again.

Maybe the SSL's and it's tiering should stick and then we have the other Survivor leagues with Time considerations... Or maybe just have SSL1 with top finishers from the prior year with SSL2 = Fast Draft and SSL3 the Slow "bostonfred Style" draft.

 

[Master Shake]

sometimes life (work and family) get in the way of beer and football...

I know that I got caught out of town for work, where I had limited access to a computer for about a week, as a result I got put on a short clock in the infamous SuperSlowLeague 3(SSL3). what would have helped is if I could have received a text on my cell, I could have easily managed picks on the fly from my phone. I did this later on in the draft and it worked swimmingly.

I would suggest that everyone provide a cell number at the onset of the draft, and then if there are issues a simple text would be an easy backup way to notify someone if they are sitting on the clock for an extended time period.

 

[teamramrod]

sometimes life (work and family) get in the way of beer and football...I know that I got caught out of town for work, where I had limited access to a computer for about a week, as a result I got put on a short clock in the infamous SuperSlowLeague 3(SSL3). what would have helped is if I could have received a text on my cell, I could have easily managed picks on the fly from my phone. I did this later on in the draft and it worked swimmingly.I would suggest that everyone provide a cell number at the onset of the draft, and then if there are issues a simple text would be an easy backup way to notify someone if they are sitting on the clock for an extended time period.

I am often away from the puter. I supplied my info to the folks on either side of me and that worked well. Or, there are enough of us in the forum who semi know each other and you can have them watch out for you too. Domination really had my back in SSL2 and the PDSL drafts.Peace

 

[Atomic Punk]

I don't think anything really needs to be changed, people just have to realize that just because someone writes a 10 word message saying how slow the draft is going doesn't mean that it is "whining" or the end of the world. It is just a little venting ... nothing more, nothing less.

I agree that if the rules state 8 hours then you get 8 hours. I have just always come from the school of thought that respects other's time. I know I have the right to question a cashier about the price and quality of every article I buy at the local store checkout, but if there are others that are waiting, I just move along and try not to hold others up. I have done an entire draft by sending lists for three rounds at a time, so I know it is possible.

If we all took are full 8 hours that can, we would still be in round 14 of the PDSL.

I say just leave well enough alone, check in as often as you can, PM always, send lists as often as possible and grow a thicker skin when people (like me) make the occasional comment abiout things going slow.

Punk

 

[BassNBrew]

Only rule change I might propose is turning the clock off overnight for four hours instead of eight. I think it's reasonable for the MBSLs to have a separate league for people who want a shorter clock. The SSLs have some tradition with the top finishers going into the top league the following year, but we've split the other leagues up using other criteria before, and it's not a bad idea to try it again.

I did this one year but got gripes about East Coast bias. I think it was off from 1-5. Pretty good idea in my book.Another year I set up MBSLs with a short clock, standard clock, and super slow clock. All the fast drafters signed up for the super slow league and proceeded to finish the draft in 2 weeks or so. Could get enough to sign up for the short clock and had to change it as I recall.

 

[Fiddles]

I don't think anything really needs to be changed, people just have to realize that just because someone writes a 10 word message saying how slow the draft is going doesn't mean that it is "whining" or the end of the world. It is just a little venting ... nothing more, nothing less.I agree that if the rules state 8 hours then you get 8 hours. I have just always come from the school of thought that respects other's time. I know I have the right to question a cashier about the price and quality of every article I buy at the local store checkout, but if there are others that are waiting, I just move along and try not to hold others up. I have done an entire draft by sending lists for three rounds at a time, so I know it is possible.If we all took are full 8 hours that can, we would still be in round 14 of the PDSL.I say just leave well enough alone, check in as often as you can, PM always, send lists as often as possible and grow a thicker skin when people (like me) make the occasional comment abiout things going slow.Punk

very well said

 

[Pickle Rody]

If it ain't broke........don't fix it.

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

I think the gripes are going to come more often as a weekend, especially a holiday one, approach.

3 Weeks is acceptable to move things along.

One suggestion might be a shorter clock as the draft progresses for everyone - say 6 hours after Round 6, 4 hours after Round 12 - which I don't think would kill anyone.

PMs are always the best way to keep things moving, but I can see why some might want to wait to send a list (if they are 5-10 players away). I haven't seen much in SSL3 PMs which might have been one of the issues.

 

[nittanylion]

I think the format is as good as its going to be. If you want a shorter draft. Shorten the clock.

This Thread starts and ends with this Post. It really IS that simple.

 

[Toads]

That's quite a post (See GoBW). To lay down your participation in an effort to help out. Now, there's "A Man After Me Own Heart."

This thread is gonna be fruitful, for sure.

"Maybe Something Will Come Of It":

1) A Standard Set Of Operation Procedures (User's Manual/Instructions)...drawn from the archives of "The Experieced," will emerge.

2) Their Scope will include:

a) directions for participants regarding STANDARD FORMAT FOR ENTERING YOUR CHOICE. What's up now is TOTAL CHAOS....all format's all threads.

For instance, in SSL #4, a request was finally made, late in the draft, for guys to standardize the information they made when they posted. That was a reasonable request as the guy monitoring the thread had to digest the pick, figure out the bye week, identify the team the player played on (after FA Movement)....you get it....standard reporting helps everybody.

b) Choices in the CHOICE THREAD

c) Comments and peanut gallery sthick in the SECOND AND SEPERATE THREAD.

d) Eliminate quotes for entering picks. Simple: if you push reply, there's no quote that shows when the post is viewed in the new FBG's thread format. If you don't have to open the post to figure out who was picked....that's a lot easier to do than to have to open every quoted pick to figure out who was drafted (especially when your in rush hour traffic on the Los Angeles 105).

Added By Edit; If you push reply, you fall as a poster to the original thread. If you are at an individual post in "the string" and push reply, you have to eliminate the

text to allow your "orignial content" (i.e., your draft pick) to show under an individual quoted thread. At least I think that's how it works. In the new FBG's format, this

phenomina is screwing up the Mock Draft function.....big time. There's gotta be a way to navigate through the

mess.Added By Full Edit #2: in order to get color it's gotta be "full edit." Here's what's screwed up: when I'm camped on an indiviual post....say the last post in the string, if I hit the Reply function, I get a

text from the post I'm camped on. If I got to the bottom of the string and find Reply (the one next to "Quick Reply") my post goes to the bottom of the string, as a modifier/commentor to the orginal post. There is no way to post under an individul post within the string and not have the

dealie showing....unless I erase the quote to get my content to lead that "modifier post" under the orginal individual post. In short: when I hit reply when I'm camped on an original post, I shouldn't get the quote mess....I should be able to reply to an individual post (with out quoted material) when I hit "Reply." If I want "Quote" I hit quote and get quote....I'm getting quote now when I hit reply and I'm getting quote when I hit quote....that's a Board MalFunction? Why do I ALLWAYS get quoted material leading the post ? To continuing just having random methods for a well defined process is absurd. It's amazing that this thing's been happening this well in the vacuum of Murphy's Law....it's is pretty incredible that it happens as well as it does, actually.

With a little trouble shooting, this deal can be standardized and the guys that rotate in to head it up will have a Standard Set Of Operating Procedures to go by when they fire up thread #1 of any Mock Draft . You got rules, why no SSOP's?

Maybe it's time to examine the process and to try to figure out how to have guys like GoBW rewarded for their service to Humanity. Next year, I'll PM him when it's "Show Time." I wouldn't have caught the sign up thread unless I mistakenly posted in SSL #3 returning thread....and was directed to the alternate sign-Up thread by PM. If you didn't "do this last" year, you have no clue as to where to post to get envolved. With 30,000 + guys and gals on these boards, that's a lot of available users that don't know zippity about the process that would maybe like to know how to get envolved in the 2 pt/ reception TE draft process.

 

[LHUCKS]

I would make the following minor changes.

1) adjust the overnight clock to be more West coast friendly...just one hour would be a significant upgrade

2) shorten the clock to 6 hours...I'm in SSL3 right now, and quite honestly a draft that takes a month just isn't fun and also has some competiion repercussions

 

[Atomic Punk]

I would make the following minor changes.1) adjust the overnight clock to be more West coast friendly...just one hour would be a significant upgrade2) shorten the clock to 6 hours...I'm in SSL3 right now, and quite honestly a draft that takes a month just isn't fun and also has some competiion repercussions

I can agree with both of these suggestions ... simple, but likely pretty effective.

 

[Fiddles]

6 hours is more than enough

 

[Sinrman]

One suggestion might be a shorter clock as the draft progresses for everyone - say 6 hours after Round 6, 4 hours after Round 12 - which I don't think would kill anyone.

This is exactly what I was thinking. They do it in the NFL, and it seems to help. Why not here? The first 6-8 rounds see the most activity, and people paying closer attention, but also need the most time to make a decision, so give them 6-8 hours for each pick, and that after X number of rounds, cut it down to 4 hours.

 

[Fullback Fro]

One suggestion might be a shorter clock as the draft progresses for everyone - say 6 hours after Round 6, 4 hours after Round 12 - which I don't think would kill anyone.

This is exactly what I was thinking. They do it in the NFL, and it seems to help. Why not here? The first 6-8 rounds see the most activity, and people paying closer attention, but also need the most time to make a decision, so give them 6-8 hours for each pick, and that after X number of rounds, cut it down to 4 hours.

I kind of think the opposite. In the early rounds people are excited, check in often, and the draft tends to move very fast. In the later rounds when your drafting Kickers and Defenses it hard to be fired up about it and check in as much. I like the 8 hour clock at the end of the draft, esp being on the west coast. As my clock could start at 10pm and then I would time out at around noon the next day. If its a weekend I may miss it just being on the west coast.

 

[Pictus Cat]

8 hours. 8 hours at work. 8 hours to sleep. Hmmm.

I like 8.

I rarely take it it, and pm my pick from my cell usually within an hour.

If I'm busy or need more time to make a better pick, I like 8.

I think the main problem is not knowing how long someone is going to take.

Is your pick going to be up in a minute or 8 hours?

Will the three guys before you pick in the next three minutes as you head out the door for a party?

Communicating how much time until you will check back and pick would be more useful.

Maybe in your sig. Back in 8. Not available 8 - 4 CST. Whatever.

That would keep people from checking back so much and getting frustrated.

To me the survivors are all about taking the time you need to make the best pick.

A shorter draft is hard to keep track of for the draft tracker, which affects the draftees.

If only there was free online mock draft software year round...

 

[Road Warriors]

6 hours is more than enough

Sorry, but I have to disagree. I have days where I can't get online during the workday. I check in in the AM, and if I'm >5 picks out, I really don't want to send a list. I check in some 8 or so hours later, almost always within the 8 hour clock, and if I'm OTC, make a pick & move it along. 6 hours could easily have people without workday access timing out. I guess I struggle with people complaining about a slow draft being slow. As far as I can tell, nobody is intentionally taking 8 hours / pick. Life happens, PM when you can, send a list when you can, but if you take 7:59 to make a pick, well... so be it. Its what we all signed up for.

 

[BassNBrew]

6 hours is more than enough

Sorry, but I have to disagree. I have days where I can't get online during the workday. I check in in the AM, and if I'm >5 picks out, I really don't want to send a list. I check in some 8 or so hours later, almost always within the 8 hour clock, and if I'm OTC, make a pick & move it along. 6 hours could easily have people without workday access timing out. I guess I struggle with people complaining about a slow draft being slow. As far as I can tell, nobody is intentionally taking 8 hours / pick. Life happens, PM when you can, send a list when you can, but if you take 7:59 to make a pick, well... so be it. Its what we all signed up for.

8 hours is/should be for an emergency. If you don't have more frequent access you really shouldn't sign up for an online draft, especially if you are not willing to PM a list. People without work access shouldn't be involved in an online commentary based draft. I really don't think most of us sign up for 6 week snooze fests.

 

[bostonfred]

8 hours is/should be for an emergency. If you don't have more frequent access you really shouldn't sign up for an online draft, especially if you are not willing to PM a list. People without work access shouldn't be involved in an online commentary based draft. I really don't think most of us sign up for 6 week snooze fests.

An 8 hour clock says that you have 8 hours to pick with no repercussions. What you're describing is closer to a 2 or 4 hour clock with a rule where you can use 8 hours once before you get skipped. Kind of like a grace period. I would be fine with making that the rule, too - the first time you go over 4 hours, we don't skip you, but we drop your clock to 4 for the rest of the draft. If you go over 4 hours repeatedly, then we skip you and your clock goes to four for the rest of the draft. Clock is turned off for a full eight - or even ten to be fair to people on different coasts - hours overnight. But when you have an eight hour clock, you're basically saying, you can use seven hours for each pick with impunity.

 

[NorrisB]

6 hours is more than enough

Sorry, but I have to disagree. I have days where I can't get online during the workday. I check in in the AM, and if I'm >5 picks out, I really don't want to send a list. I check in some 8 or so hours later, almost always within the 8 hour clock, and if I'm OTC, make a pick & move it along. 6 hours could easily have people without workday access timing out. I guess I struggle with people complaining about a slow draft being slow. As far as I can tell, nobody is intentionally taking 8 hours / pick. Life happens, PM when you can, send a list when you can, but if you take 7:59 to make a pick, well... so be it. Its what we all signed up for.

8 hours is/should be for an emergency. If you don't have more frequent access you really shouldn't sign up for an online draft, especially if you are not willing to PM a list. People without work access shouldn't be involved in an online commentary based draft. I really don't think most of us sign up for 6 week snooze fests.

 

[Pictus Cat]

6 hours is more than enough

Sorry, but I have to disagree. I have days where I can't get online during the workday. I check in in the AM, and if I'm >5 picks out, I really don't want to send a list. I check in some 8 or so hours later, almost always within the 8 hour clock, and if I'm OTC, make a pick & move it along. 6 hours could easily have people without workday access timing out. I guess I struggle with people complaining about a slow draft being slow. As far as I can tell, nobody is intentionally taking 8 hours / pick. Life happens, PM when you can, send a list when you can, but if you take 7:59 to make a pick, well... so be it. Its what we all signed up for.

8 hours is/should be for an emergency. If you don't have more frequent access you really shouldn't sign up for an online draft, especially if you are not willing to PM a list. People without work access shouldn't be involved in an online commentary based draft. I really don't think most of us sign up for 6 week snooze fests.

That's not in the manual,hence my tolerance of slow drafters that make their clockand no stress if I need 8.Once you time out though, lists are the only way you are probably going to make your clocks.

 

[Toads]

He's (Captain) Got a Point There....that same draft deal.

That's a great idea. Just start a Lolly Gagers Thread from this year's memory banks for each League......before the unpleasant circumstance just slips into the memory banks as acceptable behavior.

Once this begins to pick up the best that 30,000 + members have to offer, the "more qualified and interested" will begin to just roll in and we'll have a better crew.

Much more appealing is just setting up some "Standard Operating Procedures" so that there's some guidelines for being involved and some directions once you get there.

Was up now is dependent on four guys who laid in teams last year. How they did it is not important. What is important is the guidelines that four random guys have to operate with next year....at least I think that's how it works?

What special set of directions for operating this deal is given to each SSL Leader?

I mean, in four, we had guys posting "I'll take (some random deposit)"....a name with no team, no bye week, no position....just a name....of an NFL Player.....no team affiliation, no position....nothing but a player name.

The guys monitoring, and recording, the proceedings have to have to be nuts to not supply directions, or guidelines, for those deposits.

We had probably six times where guys that were off the board were taken... just because the FBG'd reply function (I think mistakenly?) lays down a

that has to be opened (by handheld device?) to read who was drafted. Red Truck.

 

[renesauz]

Not sure I see a significant problem. Slow drafts are slow drafts, and even if I don't like them to drag, I don't see a fair and reasonable alternative.

Crap can (and does) happen, so a shorter clock doesn't make sense to me...some guys can't even check while at work, and a list when more then 3-4 out should never be required.

I think most guys are pretty reasonable in here, and most drafts proceed at a fair pace.

No reason to fix what aint broke. (That said...I also dont appreciate guys unwilling to leave lists when only a couple picks away and expecting to be off-line a long while, but we're generally good at noticing and calling out such stuff)

 

[renesauz]

6 hours is more than enough

Sorry, but I have to disagree. I have days where I can't get online during the workday. I check in in the AM, and if I'm >5 picks out, I really don't want to send a list. I check in some 8 or so hours later, almost always within the 8 hour clock, and if I'm OTC, make a pick & move it along. 6 hours could easily have people without workday access timing out. I guess I struggle with people complaining about a slow draft being slow. As far as I can tell, nobody is intentionally taking 8 hours / pick. Life happens, PM when you can, send a list when you can, but if you take 7:59 to make a pick, well... so be it. Its what we all signed up for.

8 hours is/should be for an emergency. If you don't have more frequent access you really shouldn't sign up for an online draft, especially if you are not willing to PM a list. People without work access shouldn't be involved in an online commentary based draft. I really don't think most of us sign up for 6 week snooze fests.

Sorry Bass...this makes no sense. Might as well restrict yourself to live drafts. BUT...I do think guys who can't chekc in should be more careful to check in before heading to work, and send long lists most rounds.

 

[BassNBrew]

6 hours is more than enough

Sorry, but I have to disagree. I have days where I can't get online during the workday. I check in in the AM, and if I'm >5 picks out, I really don't want to send a list. I check in some 8 or so hours later, almost always within the 8 hour clock, and if I'm OTC, make a pick & move it along. 6 hours could easily have people without workday access timing out. I guess I struggle with people complaining about a slow draft being slow. As far as I can tell, nobody is intentionally taking 8 hours / pick. Life happens, PM when you can, send a list when you can, but if you take 7:59 to make a pick, well... so be it. Its what we all signed up for.

8 hours is/should be for an emergency. If you don't have more frequent access you really shouldn't sign up for an online draft, especially if you are not willing to PM a list. People without work access shouldn't be involved in an online commentary based draft. I really don't think most of us sign up for 6 week snooze fests.

Sorry Bass...this makes no sense. Might as well restrict yourself to live drafts. BUT...I do think guys who can't chekc in should be more careful to check in before heading to work, and send long lists most rounds.

Let's get 15 with no work access together and drop you into that league and see if it makes no sense.These really need to flow at a round a day or 3 week pace.

 

[Toads]

I'm dissappointed in the FBG'S boards.....

.....as I don't think that the boards functioning is doing justice to the arguments presented herein.

By hiding everthing behind a

there is no cognizant place to make a point, the point being:1) No organization, no guidelines, no Standard Operating Procedure for posting format,

2) the Reply function yields a

displayed in front of virtually every post (make that "all posts" unless you erase the quote) , hence3) everybody has to open each post to figure out the content (i.e., who was drafted] by the poster, and

4) some guys have to do all this by hand helds and have download restrictions....the

deal really screws the pooch there, as in big Time.Buried in this morass of

in this thread are some relevant ideas for making this process work. Good Luck digging them out.None of those ideas have to do with clock times. The basic problem is no SSOP's and a mal-functioning board system. If I want a quote displayed in front of my post, I'll hit "Quote". If I want to reply, I'l hit reply. Why does a

appear in front of a post when Reply is choosen?Hello? Is there anybody representing this outfit (the functioning of the "New Boards") that is on to this malfunction....is there anybody home??

Evidently not. I'll send a communication to Brother Dodds and see if he can figure it out.

 

[LHUCKS]

6 hours is more than enough

Sorry, but I have to disagree. I have days where I can't get online during the workday. I check in in the AM, and if I'm >5 picks out, I really don't want to send a list.

I don't understand this, why are people so averse to lists? I understand maybe you miss a mini-run but it beats holding up the draft for 8 hours.

 

[LHUCKS]

My original opinion remains...make it a six hour clock...not very confusing and will keep the draft going at a reasonable pace.

If you don't want to make lists, that's your perogative...but I'm guessing only about 10% of the SSL drafters favor keeping an 8 hour clock.

It will also speed up the pace if you adjust the hours, East Coasters wont miss picks at night and West Coasters wont be waited on in the mornings(at least as much)

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

My original opinion remains...make it a six hour clock...not very confusing and will keep the draft going at a reasonable pace. If you don't want to make lists, that's your perogative...but I'm guessing only about 10% of the SSL drafters favor keeping an 8 hour clock.It will also speed up the pace if you adjust the hours, East Coasters wont miss picks at night and West Coasters wont be waited on in the mornings(at least as much)

I do see a problem with it though.... what if you're 8-10 picks from your next selection and you want to see what goes next?Suppose you pick at the 10 hole and then have to go to work. Gone for 8 hours. If that happens AND a run around a turn (a quick group) happens in say the space of an hour, you're OTC 1 hour after you checked in as you should have and now you're OTC and the draft is stopped because of it.I'm not saying this is the norm, but it COULD happen.The best policy is having at least one person on either side of your draft slot know how to get a hold of you if you're up to at least talk about your pick.

 

[renesauz]

IN the end, I'm all for faster drafting, and therers a ton of ways to help facilitate a smooth draft, from PM's, to phone numbers (for those who can't check at work), to lists. But real life can, and will get in the way, and there's no way to forsee and avoid every single delay.

To that end, I think the rules are adequate as they stand. While a 6 hour clock might make some feel better, it would have limited impact on most of our drafts. I don't see a one hour clock off shift being very effective, but I also see no reason not to make this change if the west coasters beleive it'll help them.

In the end, the "problem" is more about being respectful and mindful of the other drafters then it is about the rules.

 

[tex]

While real life does and will continue to happen, I think the majority of holdups occur simply because a lot of drafters just refuse to send lists or just say the heck with it, this draft is so slow, I'm going out for awhile--I'll never come up tonight anyway. At least that's the way it seems to me. I would be in favor of a 6 hour clock to start and keep the clock off for a certain period at night. This SSL3 draft was one of the slowest drafts I have ever seen, if not THE slowest. And then we get to a holiday weekend and it's the end of the draft and people just didn't care anymore. Anyway it's over, and we'll all do it again next year--hopefully faster.

 

[Frank Black]

So far, we have some real practical suggestions. To take things a step further, are we interested in devising some way, involving the SSL leaders FBGs who participate in these drafts, to vote or otherwise make a determination one way or the other on these suggestions?

Here are a couple of questions on this point. Would a rule change occur under a democratic process entirely via votes (accomplished perhaps by a poll) or would the SSL leaders have veto power?

Would a rule change occur only via SSL leader consensus?

There are variations of the above but these questions first come to mind.

I'm not a believer in saying that if something isn't broken, don't fix it if there is not a true assessment of whether people believe is or isn't broken. Things evolve and times change.

I think that if whatever we do or don't do involves input via a poll or otherwise, we stand a good chance of gauging how people feel and what we can live with. If a well-worded poll with a lot of responses yields close results, that says one thing, but if the results are not close, that may reveal what direction we should go in.

I think that such a poll should seek to obtain the input of people who regularly draft even if some of these drafters are not outspoken one way or the other.

What do you think?

 

[BassNBrew]

One other point, these leagues orignated with commentary being a key component. In some of the leagues, especially the slow draft leagues the solid commentary has disappeared.

 

[bostonfred]

One other point, these leagues orignated with commentary being a key component. In some of the leagues, especially the slow draft leagues the solid commentary has disappeared.

That's a good point. It seems like all anyone wants is a rate my team thread. The leagues are supposed to be a nice tuneup leading in to the season, with a chance for people to talk about who they like and why. I know I've gotten into it with Pasquino, but he's usually good for commentary on each team and on various picks. I try to do the same when time permits. I know a few others who do, too. But it's really gone down over the years and that's a shame. Let's compete against each other, sure, but let's also help each other win our respective money leagues.

 

[Captain Hook]

One other point, these leagues orignated with commentary being a key component. In some of the leagues, especially the slow draft leagues the solid commentary has disappeared.

That's a good point. It seems like all anyone wants is a rate my team thread. The leagues are supposed to be a nice tuneup leading in to the season, with a chance for people to talk about who they like and why. I know I've gotten into it with Pasquino, but he's usually good for commentary on each team and on various picks. I try to do the same when time permits. I know a few others who do, too. But it's really gone down over the years and that's a shame. Let's compete against each other, sure, but let's also help each other win our respective money leagues.

Good points here by both BnB and BFred.............there may have been different drafters or a different mindset when this started - by the time I got here (now several years ago), they weren't labeled as "commentary drafts", which when I have done them elsewhere, the comment was MANDATED. The problem is that is you were really choosing between two players, one who most would have in the current grouping and one who was a reach......would you.......AND would the other drafters really want you to say who both players were? You might well be bringing the second player to the attention of a drafter after you who would never have thought of him. Coupled with the fact that most people would rather do well in these leagues than share information with others (and many of us compete in several other leagues, ranging from $ to $$$$)Perhaps one solution since the MBSLs are often grouped far differently and with other draft twists, would be for one of them to BE a strict, commentary draft made up of those who CAN and WOULD make comments WITH their picks.

 

[Frank Black]

Bass, Boston, Hook, I appreciate your last comments and generally I agree. However, I would also appreciate your opinions on whether we should move forward on quantifiably gauging interest in changing the rules to facilitate quicker drafts.

I will create a poll by adding it to this topic or creating an entirely different topic to ask in very general terms whether the rules should be amended. This poll will not describe the different solutions that have been discussed so far. In other words, I believe there is value in first asking the simple question of whether things should change or stay the same. If the common view is that the rules should be amended, we can go from there.

 

[Captain Hook]

Okay FB - I voted and probably surprising to some who consider me a "draft nazi" or "impatient", voted to leave the rules as they are....BUT the eight hour rule is for unforseen circumstances - NOT to be okay when you could easily make a pick earlier or send a short list via PM or whatever, or even ask someone to call you for a pick.

PLEASE NOTE - while I have great empathy for those who cannot make a pick at work - YOU should not be in normal SSLs - you belong in SLOW drafts ONLY.

peace/out

 

[Frank Black]

I pmd the members of SSLs 1 and 2 to ask them to respond to this poll. After I get free from things at work this afternoon, I will pm the members of SSLs 3 and 4.

After 5 or less people voted, I added a 3rd option that I mistakenly forgot originally: I don't care one way or the other. If you voted before I added this 3rd option, please indicate whether you change your vote to I don't care.

Thanks for the input so far in this thread.

 

[glumpy]

Thanks for the pm Frank. Saw this thread starting to gain steam a few days ago; I'll catch up and vote directly.

Actually didn't realize a thread could be edited into a poll--that's interesting!