What will you do to prevent FF burnout this year? (1 Viewer)

[Frank Black]

I was thinking about how at the end of last season, I was thinking of taking this year off, even though I won my first FBG league. Some of you came up with good suggestions in this thread

It seems like things such as not thinking excessively about your lineup once it is finally set is a good idea. Not watching the live scoring feature in your leagues may be good, and not paying attention to what your opponents' players are scoring may be good as well. Also, playing in less leagues is already seeming to pay off.

I'm looking forward to taking those suggestions to see if I feel less burnout. So far, I'm really stoked about this season, real and FF!

 

[Neil Beaufort Zod]

I was thinking about how at the end of last season, I was thinking of taking this year off, even though I won my first FBG league. Some of you came up with good suggestions in this thread

It seems like things such as not thinking excessively about your lineup once it is finally set is a good idea. Not watching the live scoring feature in your leagues may be good, and not paying attention to what your opponents' players are scoring may be good as well. Also, playing in less leagues is already seeming to pay off.

I'm looking forward to taking those suggestions to see if I feel less burnout. So far, I'm really stoked about this season, real and FF!

I would suggest that once you set your lineups, don't even look at who your opponent is starting. Just watch (and enjoy) football without rooting against anybody. Since you don't know who is going against you, you can't be disappointed when they do well. Just watch the games and enjoy, and only look at the fantasy results once all the games are over.It takesa lot of discipline to not even peek at your opponent's lineup, but you might enjoy football more as a result.

 

[barndog]

I'm in half as many leagues this year, and it definitely seems like a Good Thing.

I expect I'll be wacthing live scoring pretty avidly, however.

 

[wannabee]

I get a babysitter and take the wife out on Friday Nights. We do family stuff on Saturday morning and early afternoon. This keeps me well rested and energized for Sunday/Monday

 

[thayman]

I feel a burnout coming on this year. I over commited to way to many leagues, just trying to help friends out who had dropouts and couldn't find owners.......

 

[Restricted]

I'm in half as many leagues this year, and it definitely seems like a Good Thing.

Yea, I dropped mine in half as well with only two money leagues so as not to get too worked up over it.

 

[CrossEyed]

Just win, baby.

 

[flranger]

This is a good thread. I do the same thing I've done the last few years.....commit myself to only one very strong league. I think if you only have one team to focus on, it lessens the possibility of burnout. Nothing burned me out faster than rooting for a guy that was on my team in one league, and playing against the same guy in another.

Giving it up cold turkey? If I played in a bunch of leagues at the same time I'd be tempted to do that.

 

[aardball44]

As a participant in Fantasy Football for the past 12 years, let me say that I'm not even close to burning out on it. But...

...I do try to limit the number of leagues I'm in to only three. More than three and I find I'm both rooting for and against the same player simultaneously (owning him in one league and and facing him in another). That can wear down anyone's enthusiasm quickly.

...I only participate in leagues with people I know and like (and, occasionally, an owner I know and dislike so much it's part of the fun). While I might "practice draft" on ESPN or some other free service, I'm not interested in investing the time, energy and emotion playing this game with people I don't know, won't know and don't care to know.

...I invest only enough $$$ to make it worthwhile to remain actively involved on a weekly basis without obsessing about how much I've spent, or how much is at stake.

...I commission one (and only one) league each year, and I try to do it selflessly. This may be an act of vanity, but I feel it allows me to give something back to this strange recreational activity, develop the current batch of owners and (when applicable) invite new players to try the game. I also like to tinker with one or two of the rules each year (scoring changes, roster changes, modifications to the draft mechanisms) to keep it fresh for me and for my fellow owners.

...I take one weekend off during each season. I set my lineup on a Thursday and travel to the deep woods and camp with old friends. There's no TV to stare into, no email updates to open and pore through, no fretting over some wideout's tweaked hamstring or the cold front hovering over Buffalo. When I get back, I've either won my games or I've lost them...but my perspective on Life has been restored somewhat and I'm eager for the next week's matchups. (I'm always back in plenty of time for the Monday Night game, anyway, so it's not as if I'm completely insane.)



Try one or more of these suggestions yourself if you feel FFL Burnout descending on you.

 

[Mystery Achiever]

[i would suggest that once you set your lineups, don't even look at who your opponent is starting. Just watch (and enjoy) football without rooting against anybody. Since you don't know who is going against you, you can't be disappointed when they do well. Just watch the games and enjoy, and only look at the fantasy results once all the games are over.

This is great advice. I started doing this last year, as well as cut back to two leagues, and it cured my burnout. This will also keep you saner, because if you play in 2+ leagues you'll have some of the same players on both yours and your opponent(s) rosters.

 

[DR MD]

I've played in two leagues - one for 10 years and another for 13 years. What I like most is that they have different scoring systems. One is pretty much TD only with very minor bonuses for performance and the other is a standard performance scoring league. So when I have that problem of playing a guy and playing against a guy, it makes it easier. So I would suggest that if you want to play in multiple leagues, try to find ones that have different scoring systems.

 

[Steeler]

I'm taking this year off after having played FF for about 15 years, and multiple leagues for about 10 years. Last year I just wasn't into it at all, and I haven't missed it one bit.

 

[Frank Black]

I've played in two leagues - one for 10 years and another for 13 years. What I like most is that they have different scoring systems. One is pretty much TD only with very minor bonuses for performance and the other is a standard performance scoring league. So when I have that problem of playing a guy and playing against a guy, it makes it easier. So I would suggest that if you want to play in multiple leagues, try to find ones that have different scoring systems.

That is a brilliant suggestion!

 

[painkiller]

I'm in 4 leagues this year (2 $$$ Leagues and 2 Yahoo Leagues with friends).

I basically ignore the guys playing in the Yahoo leagues and only check scores on Monday/Tuesday, then tweak my lineups on Saturday/Sunday. I am a lot less conservative in those leagues with trades and such.

The two $$$ leagues are a different story. I follow live scoring and anyone watching the games with me will occasionally hear, "Hurray... Boo!" exclamation from me when a player I have and am playing against scores.

Basically, I feel that I don't have any control over who scores or catches passes, so I just watch and track player performances througout the day.

 

[Mighty Mice]

A bunch of us joined a flag football league that plays every Sunday from 12:30-2:30 but usually last a little longer, hanging out at the field and socializing. I follow the news all week, set my lineups Sunday morning, and then get in my car and drive to the field.

When I get home that late afternoon, I usually shower, eat, etc...and catch the wrap-up show at 7 and veg out to the Sunday nighter.

 

[Klecko HOF]

I'm actually taking this year off, after having played for six straight years.

I feel good, so far. I did attend the league draft, which was interesting, but it feels good, not having to follow the injury report and fret over a player possibly having to sit.

I'll be able to sit back and enjoy the games without having a rooting interest in a player.

I'll see. So far, so good, but the games have not started yet. Maybe I'll return next year. My friends still can't believe I'm sitting this one out.

 

[Colin Dowling]

I am in fewer leagues too. Last year, playing FF became too much about the money so I spread myself too thin and didn't enjoy the season hardly at all. (The Vols losing on most Saturdays didn't help much either). I'm looking forward to a solid 2006.

 

[msommer]

I've reduced my number of leagues to two and a half (one co ownership). Three different leagues, three different web sites.

I'm geographically challenged so I don' t get to spend my whole Sunday watching football - my wife would kill me anyway if I did...

 

[Angry Beavers]

i can already tell I am playing in too many leagues - 5, including one I commish - I will have to pretty much ignore individual stats until late sunday night just to keep my sanity

 

[madviking10]

Two years ago I was in six different leagues and Commished two.

This year I've managed to hand over the duties of my Dynasy league to a new commish.

I now participate in that Dynasty league and my big $$$ league.

 

[tommyGunZ]

Key to preventing burnout: talk more trash.

I just sent out this email to my league 5 minutes ago:

Note to League: I'm not paying league dues this year

It's too much of a hassle, it's inefficient, and it costs me too much

in unnecessary transaction costs.

I'm forced to take the time to find an envelope, search for a

checkbook I haven't used since last season, look up Domin's address,

go to the post office to buy a stamp and mail the check off. And for

what? So that Domin can hold MY MONEY for 6 months?

We all know that at the VERY LEAST I'm going to pocket several hungy

every year, so I'm not going to waste time and effort transferring

money that's going to be transferred right back to me in February.

Just a heads up,

Tommy Titles

 

[stevegamer]

Key to preventing burnout: talk more trash.

I just sent out this email to my league 5 minutes ago:

Note to League: I'm not paying league dues this year

It's too much of a hassle, it's inefficient, and it costs me too much

in unnecessary transaction costs.

I'm forced to take the time to find an envelope, search for a

checkbook I haven't used since last season, look up Domin's address,

go to the post office to buy a stamp and mail the check off. And for

what? So that Domin can hold MY MONEY for 6 months?

We all know that at the VERY LEAST I'm going to pocket several hungy

every year, so I'm not going to waste time and effort transferring

money that's going to be transferred right back to me in February.

Just a heads up,

Tommy Titles

 

[Frank Black]

Checking to see if anyone has taken any of the anti-burnout strategies suggested in this thread. If so, how are things working out?

I cut back to 3 leagues this year. I check the live scoring updates only after the 4:00 games and after the Sunday night game. When I check the live scoring update, I look at the scores without looking at my opponent's lineup. I don't look at my opponents' line up until the games are all over, so I am not aware of any conflicts between the leagues until after the games are over.

Doing this has helped tremendously, and so far I don't feel even a hint of burnout. Have some of you changed what you did in previous seasons?

 

[Restricted]

I've been pretty good about not spending 24-7 on it. The only thing getting to me is the people in my two money leagues calling me and consistantly talking about it. Especially with the direct connect two-ways.

 

[WhoDat]

I have quit checking scores and lamenting over line-up moves. Stuff happens. I check in on the scores just before kick-off of the late games and again on Monday morning.

Also, if at any point I am watching a game and feel like I could end up throwing a remote control or wrapping a 3 wood around the trunk of a tree...not that I have done those things in anger of FF at any point in my life...I immediately turn off the TV and go do something work related. In about 5 minutes I realize I need to relax; calm down and enjoy the game(s).

Lastly, I have begun to let my wife and or son, 7, decide all my tough line-up decisions. I just give them player names and weekly opponent. The wife is dead on...it is bizarre and spooky. She has picked the better play and or player...about 2 a week...all year. The son is not too bad either.

 

[Mystery Achiever]

i did not take my own advice -- ended up joining a third league. i know many of you enjoy juggling multiple leagues, but i have confirmed that two is my limit. :(

 

[H.K.]

Checking to see if anyone has taken any of the anti-burnout strategies suggested in this thread. If so, how are things working out?I cut back to 3 leagues this year. I check the live scoring updates only after the 4:00 games and after the Sunday night game. When I check the live scoring update, I look at the scores without looking at my opponent's lineup. I don't look at my opponents' line up until the games are all over, so I am not aware of any conflicts between the leagues until after the games are over. Doing this has helped tremendously, and so far I don't feel even a hint of burnout. Have some of you changed what you did in previous seasons?

You can start by scouring the web to determine the identity of the honey who is your logo in CHUG. This should keep you busy and your mind off of inconsequential matters like FF.YWIAPS - PM as soon as you find out. Thanks!

 

[TheDirtyWord]

I actually had FF burnout last year and up until August was thinking that I was not going to play. For me though, it had more to do with the coming to the realization that IMO, FF is almost as much about luck than knowledge, if not more. I came to that realization because even though I had perhaps my worst team in years, I lost in our leagues SuperBowl. Quite frankly, I gained no satisfaction from it and given how much time I had previously spent crunching numbers and conducting analysis, my success in 2005 really was disheartening. I won quite a few low scoring games last year.

So this year, couple with a new job, my preparation for FF pretty much revoled around checking this site every once in awhile and picking up some FF mags. Even though I was on the fence as far as playing was concerned, I still think this is the best place to get 'lowdown' information and I was still an avid NFL follower.

Anyways, I'm 6-1 this year, I like my team better than last year, but really at the end of the day I came to the realization that FF is alot funner if you don't take it so seriously. I too don't check the live scoring during the day. I might keep tabs in my head on my players. I used to though have the computer out and watching the scoreboard as much as the TV. What I realized is that I was compromising my football watching experience and making that less enjoyable (when I was at home, I'm a season ticket holder).

But I get your point. You can get burned out. There are times too when I miss the hours/days where I poured over my own analysis and participated in Mock Drafts in May/June, but time is tight and my dedication to doing that waned as my view of FF changed to one of my fate being more in the hands of luck than skill.

 

[nomarriage.com]

I was about at wits end with FFL about 2 years ago, and last year didn't really care at all.

Something rejuvenated football for me this year... i'm pretty sure quitting poker had a lot to do with it.

small number of leagues is the way to go, but the downside is that it is much harder to get into the "long run" and the your "skill" if you can call reading more information that other people and applying it "skill" will possibly not shine through as well.

 

[Todem]

I am a lot of leagues. All dynasty leagues too. Let's just say I love that format because I have the same rosters almost every year save for 3 cut's and a 3 round rookie/freeagent draft. I don't take it too seriously as win's and losses go. I love to win but if I don't it's no biggie.

The key for me is I only spend a half hour a day checking the News bloggers here ( best feature here IMO) and I set my lineup Thursday night. I only look at the scores after the 4PM games to see where I stand. I spend Saturdays with my wife and son ( he is only 1 1/2 years old) and then I get Sunday to watch football. I watch my games and enjoy them to the fullest not worring about who does what. I just enjoy football.

If you want to really make sure you have no burnout don't obsess over it. It is only a game and you can be in many leagues and still manage ( trades roster moves etc) it in under 4 hours a week if your orgainized.

Don't over analyze matchups and all that. Play your gut and you can't beat yourself up if it does not work out.