The League Experience
First and foremost, you’re a commissioner! Thank you. Thank you for making the world a better place. You took it upon yourself to step in and try to organize and inspire groups of sad, malnourished and statistically obsessed maniacs. You are their Roger Goodell. Good for you!
Fantasy Football is supposed to be fun, and for the most part it is. Anyone can play. All you need is a mild interest in the game, and a smartphone and you’re pretty much gold. No one can say they have a statistical advantage because we all have the same internet. We all have the same access to expert opinions and news bulletins on Twitter. We all have the ability to spend hard earned dollars that should be going into our children’s college funds on subscriptions to websites full of articles and “inside information” written by folks who really aren’t any different than us.
So, in that respect it’s an even playing field.
But what the game really is about for those who are into it for more than the gambling or bragging rights is “The League experience”. Most people have at least heard of the show “The League” and while “The League experience” has existed for decades, that show made it popular.
“The League Experience” is the experience of bonding with your friends, trash talking, mutual humiliation, and proving to yourself and to them that you are the best of the bunch. And if the league experience is lackluster, your experience with Fantasy Football will be no different. It is up to the commissioner to create and curate the league experience and I’d like to try and lay down some tips on how to improve the work you’re doing and it is work. Don’t let your boss or family try to tell you any different.
Think Locally, Screw Globally.
I am not saying to make a league with the people that live on your street. You hate them. They hate you. You feel uncomfortable if your neighbor and you go the the mailbox at the same time. What I mean, is try to craft your league with folks in your city. That way, you can watch the games together, or who the hell knows, maybe hang out and it not be about fantasy football. This will increase the camaraderie and give the players more opportunity to talk trade. Plus, if everyone is in the same area, it leads to my next and possibly biggest tip.
IN PERSON DRAFT
There is nothing lamer than having your draft on an app, tucked away in your office or hiding in your bathroom dropping a deuce by your lonesome. As a commissioner, you should step up, and organize an in person draft. My favorite league has a destination draft in the Smokies every year. A full weekend of booze, trade talk, video games, a Jacuzzi, BBQ, and eating large amounts of acid. Just kidding about the acid. Maybe. Why not make an experience out of your draft? It happens once a year, and encourages players to stick around.
Decent prize structure
After week 6, most players know where they stand in the season and if you have a 12 team league, sometimes the bottom 6 will start to lose steam. They trade less, lose focus of the waiver wire and the top 6 start thriving even more in their wake. If you have a weekly high score prize, even if it’s only $10, it gives the players who might not make the playoffs a reason to stay engaged and snag good matchups off of the waiver for the remainder of the season, thus making the whole league more competitive. Also, instead of last place getting first pick in the draft the next year, make sure the higher you finish, the higher your pick.
Oh, and pay out the top 3 finishers of your league. I think its fair to at least pay out 3rd place enough to cover their buy in for the next season.
Get a trophy.
Add a small chunk of change to the buy-in one season, and just get it done. You’ll play to win if you have something to win. And make last place pay for the engraving of the champs name every year. Nothing like a small fee on top of humiliation to motivate a winner. Maybe even get a special trophy for last place.
Remove inactive players and trouble makers
I personally am guilty of being both of these guys. I lose all interest in leagues that are run in Yahoo after week 4, and more often than not I talk a little too much trash and cross lines. If you have players that don’t respond to trade offers, don’t interact on the message boards or group chats, don’t shoot the shit or at the very worst don’t set their line ups, replace them. Its not hard to find someone that actually wants to play. I don’t care if they’re your best friend from the 2nd grade. If they’re inactive, boot them.
And if you got a guy that rubs everyone the wrong way, lose him quick or you will lose more people trying to keep him. No one wants to be around a jackass. There’s a fine line between talking trash and being an ass. I’m still learning to walk it, but as a commissioner, remember that it is your league to run and your league to screw up.
Respect the Bylaws!
When you made your league, hopefully you created bylaws laying out not only scoring, but trade and draft protocol. As well as player conduct and what is expected of them season after season. As a commissioner you need to be fair and regular. Pretend you are raising a puppy because in many ways, your average player is not far off from a slobbering puppy dog.
Now lets recap:
Build your league with local people.
Have a live draft (preferably destination draft).
Have a solid payout structure.
Get a trophy.
Remove inactive players and asses!
Maintain and respect your league bylaws.
Follow these steps, and you’re on your way to running a stable, fun and exciting league that will thrive. If you’re doing it right, your players will die on the bench like members of the supreme court. And in that, you will know victory as a commissioner even if you suck at fantasy football.
You can find more of Chris’ work by following him on the Fantasy Life App @Darthsquidius or on Twitter @mikedextersagod.
The Fantasy Life app is the best sports community app to talk fantasy football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, WWE, MMA, Nascar, golf, eSports, or anything else you would hear about at a sports bar. Find or post funny memes, polls, GIFs, or join chats about your teams. Matthew Berry (ESPN, The Talented Mr. Roto), the face of fantasy football co-founded the app as a place for fans to chat about sports, get fantasy advice, or find sleepers for your team. Find Matthew on the app @matthewberry
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