Happy New Year to everyone!
I’m not big on New Year’s resolutions. I’m of the mindset that if something needs to change or be fixed, do it now. It seems that the most neglected part of resolutions is the execution. Right now, is the best time for gym owners and the worst time for the gym rats, but only for a few weeks after which most of the new faces will disappear. Kudos to those who continue.
With the Fantasy Football season wrapping up, I took a few minutes to reflect on this past year. I played in two leagues this year. I am the commissioner of one league which is comprised of friends and family. The other is a work league. Lately the work league, however, has been more annoying than fun.
Unfortunately, the season didn’t begin well since the commissioner used his authority to change my team’s name. The Commish thought it’d be funny. I didn’t think so. But, apologies said, so bygones. But, the league has a winner’s trophy and a toilet bowl trophy. Also, throughout the season the player with the least points for the week has to buy everyone donuts, which seems like a good concept to make the league fun.
For two years, George earned the privilege of buying donuts quite often. In fact, he and another player bought so many old fashioned glazed, chocolates, and crullers that out of pity we all agreed that during the playoffs, only those in the winner’s brackets would be making Krispy Kreme runs. This year, George actually had a good team (good for him). However, having a winning team just wasn’t satisfying enough, and for some reason George could not handle that I never had to buy the little cakes. So, as playoffs came near, he emailed to the league that the donut rule should change to include the loser’s bracket so that I could still have a chance to buy the little round critters.
Fortunately, another player voiced the concern with changing rules once the season had started, so the right outcome prevailed. This all seems trivial. So why am I so mad? I don’t like that George wanted to jeopardize the integrity of the league for any reason, let alone a childish one. Once the donuts were out of play, I pledged to finish out the playoffs without the waiver wire and leave it for those competing for the championship.
In the end, Karma prevailed. Although George had wished the toilet bowl for me, I avoided it even not using the waiver wire. Furthermore, I never had to buy donut, while confident George LOST. Though, while I planned on being the “better man” and not say anything. I’ve changed my mind.
A few years ago, I played in a money keeper league. It was fun until the commissioner changed the way we draft so that he had an advantage. So, I stopped having fun and would have quit had the league not disbanded. I began thinking of why these two leagues lost their fun. I think involving money in some aspect changes our mindset.
The tone the Commissioner sets is that for the league, and a bad commish helps people lose their minds. I believe. Rules, guidelines and expectations need to be clearly thought out and communicated before the draft every year, although it seems commonplace that rules shouldn’t change during the season, I guess it needed to be stated.
I would like to transfer my friends and family league into a money keeper league this coming season. So far, the league has been going for four years with mostly the same owners, and we have not had any issues:Within the league everyone is respectful and plays with integrity.
So, I really want to keep it that way,with everyone having fun. I am hoping that moving to money doesn’t make league crazy. Ido intend to research different sites, ways to keep players, and rules, keeping in mind how the changes may change behavior.
In the end, I just don’t want the league to turn into The Lord of the Flies. I see my job as commissioner is to create the medium for everyone to have fun. I am definitely open to any suggestions and lessons learned.
Catch Elaine @ElaineC_Speaks.
