Suggestions to keep the league moving...

[Eccentric]

As I indicated, love this league, was a participant in the first two seasons also. I just know that the first season died in the playoffs for similar issues after a promising start. The 2nd season made it through, but it got slow at times also.

First some background:

I run another league that started in Madden 10. Using this scheduling model, we got through 5 seasons and actually played our last Super Bowl days before Madden 11 came out. The last two seasons we played 3 games a week. I'm not here to recruit people for my league. I love this league and want to see it work.

We've done two games a week on a Wednesday Sunday advance schedule. We've also done three games a week on a M-W-Sat advance schedule. The glue that makes it work in my opinion is letting everyone know what the minimum requirements for scheduling games are and making it clear how you will decide who gets to play the CPU.

Let's say you guys wanna play 2 games a week and advance on Wednesdays and Sundays. Basically, each person would need to post their availability times 24 hours before the day you want to advance.

The other bonus about doing it this way is you don't have to wait online all night looking for your opponent. Both of you post availability, post the agreed upon time and then you only have to be on for that time.

Here is a cut and paste from the rules we use:
---
Definitions:

Boot deadline - The deadline to post your availability. If you do not post your availability by this time, I reserve the right to boot you without warning so your opponent can play the CPU before the sim deadline. (You will receive an immediate re-invite) The way to avoid getting booted is to post your availability every week, real simple.

Sim deadline - The deadline for all games to be played. All games not played by this deadline will be simmed.

Who gets booted?

Here are the three scenarios:

1. If one player posts availability and the other one doesn't, the player who doesn't post availability gets booted. Real simple. The only thing I go by in determining who was available is this website. Don't want to hear that you contacted someone on Xbox live or via text message. Post here first, then go the extra mile. (the reason for this is posting here is the only way to verify that a person tried to schedule a game. Otherwise you got two people telling you second hand what they did to contact the other person and all you have to go on is their word)

2. If neither player posts availability, neither gets booted and the players have until the Sim deadline to play their game or it gets simmed. No exceptions, one of you should have posted.

3. If both players post availability, neither player gets booted. I'm going to need to hear from both players as to why the game wasn't played and I will decide who gets to play the CPU based on posted availability. (e.g., the player who was more available is probably going to play the CPU)

Feel free to schedule your games after the boot deadline, but you HAVE to post before it to avoid the boot. The only way I won't boot you is if the other user tells me you have agreed to play. Its real simple, but people pretend not to know the rules every year. POST HERE FIRST, then go the extra mile and you will be straight.

[str8shakenem365]

Thats exactly how my league is we did about the same amount of seanson in madden 10 between 5-6. we started a week or so b4 this one and and we have had our superbowl & been on a week n half break due to drafting and free agency so no excuses. i dont even post on here anymore cuz i get no response & i did not join this league to play cpu.

BIG HELP
in my other league everyone # is listed for TEXT makes schedule games very easy and accurate down to the minute because not everyone sits on game or computer all day because alot of us be at home in the evening but just not on Xbox/computer.

just my .02 my team sucks and im ready for the draft

[Madden360Shark]

The key to draft leagues is trying to get everyone online to draft their own team. Usually the cpu screws you. No one wants to own a cpu drafted team and its impossible to get a substitute owner for them at 0-4.

Guys usually make themselves available when they have teams they like. But CPU teams also create stronger teams for the guys who were present for the draft. While the CPU stockpiles DT's and Olinemen for me, other guys are racking up on speed players.

I can't wait to redraft!!!

LOL!!!

-DGC

[Drxknockbootzx]

The key to draft leagues is trying to get everyone online to draft their own team. Usually the cpu screws you. No one wants to own a cpu drafted team and its impossible to get a substitute owner for them at 0-4.

Guys usually make themselves available when they have teams they like. But CPU teams also create stronger teams for the guys who were present for the draft. While the CPU stockpiles DT's and Olinemen for me, other guys are racking up on speed players.

I can't wait to redraft!!!

LOL!!!

-DGC

Yes, draft frans are difficult to keep going. People will not get their team they wanted due to CPU draft or due to filling in for someone.

I almost think that it might be a good IDEA to run a fran on the site using non draft teams. That way there will be no power houses and people can come in to a team knowing what they have and also having some kind of weapons. Just an idea.

[str8shakenem365]

I agree with you bootz on that.

[str8shakenem365]

damn eccentric is monk lol did not know that. well as yall can see we both in the same league and it moves smoothly

[Lokko73]

This league has fail off a whole lot... Something has to be done...

[franchise2005]

I agree as you all make valid points. I understood Kobra's challenges last season and spent almost every day chasing guys last season to finish. That job isn't something I am able to do this year. I can't spend every day emailing, texting, notes, phone calls and also deal with the guys quitting every week for various reasons.

The moral of the story is for as many suggestions that are offered, the owners need to abide by them. You can set as many rules, days, communications, text's, notes.

If the owner doesn't respond to them it doesn't matter. It would be better if I could dedicate my life to this but that is unlikely.

First off:

Owners join the league and don't have a personal schedule that allows them to play their games in a timely manner

Personal issues always seem to arise with 3-4 guys a season so either they drop, disappear or become very difficult to contact as if I have to find them.

Losing coaches who either drafted poorly or play poorly end up quitting. Then I must replace them. The new owners then are at a disadvantage and sometimes quit themselves because the talent is sub-par

The other coaches become frustrated (obviously) because things aren't moving. Then they become difficult and despondent.

Many don't read the emails or read the boards. Some have issues logging into the boards. All guys don't want to give out their cell numbers so I have some but not all.

Coaches go on vacation with no word or warning

Others coaches don't like some playing styles and then complain that it isn't a sim league or some other nano issue. Then they quit

Other guys are bickering with each other over the console and name calling and accusing the other guy of cheating and thus the communication is ruined

And these are just a few of the issues. So yes the league has failed in many ways as I take responsibility in this because I want it to succeed. But it continues to be a collective effort.


So when all the excitement of the league drops it is great. Some people miss the draft don't get the players they want..etc and it goes down hill from there.

The moral of the story is...if the collective group would honor their responsibility to play their games and communicate this could work. The cell phone strategy is the best but owners here aren't willing to do that. At least not everyone.

I tried that last year and I was treated as if I was a bill collector or something.

So here we are....

What ever the group decides I am fine with but this isn't working. I agree. But this group in its current form and communication cannot continue.

Let me know what you all want to do..what ever that is.

[Lokko73]

Start a new season wit regular teams, no draft.. Im claiming my Skinz now, lol...

[Drxknockbootzx]

Start a new season wit regular teams, no draft.. Im claiming my Skinz now, lol...

If we start a new one that would be the only way I would do it, I dont want to spend another 3 hours doing another draft.

[mannmicj]

If we start over, do it sooner than later. As the NFL passes the half way point it doesn't give us a lot of time to complete another season. The reason I say this, is that the NFL keeps the energy up for Madden playing as well. Once the NFL season comes to an end the Madden activity drops like a rock.

So the longer we wait to start over, the higher the chance of not finishing a second season.

Just my two cents. I'm content playing with my CPU drafted team. It's good practice playing some of you.

I've been in the league for the last 3 games. The first had to be simmed due to not connecting with the other manager. The second and third game went weel, even though I lost They were played very well by both managers.

[Madden360Shark]

It's a lot of hard work, Franchise2005. Believe me I know. Believe me when I also tell you that you've done a great job as commissioner.

If I can make a few suggestions. Guys who do not provide a cell in 2010 should not be taken seriously. I have numbers for guys in CANADA so there's no excuse for anyone stateside not to be open to recieving a text message.

If you're going to do a draft league, everyone MUST be ONLINE. If I can't attend a draft then I have my son draft for me. Others can back out of the league long enough for a friend to draft for them. That friend can turn the team over to the original owner after the draft.

Orignal teams are only good if you're going to use a cluster system the way we do. Else the guys stuck with Cleveland or Buffalo will be crying the blues when they face the Saints, Titans and Cowboys. Will Lokko like it if the draft is done by random order and he doesn't get his Redskins?

I think drafting over and having 32 solid owners with cell numbers on file and ONLINE would be great. I'll put up a $100 Gift Visa Card for the winner.

Let me know if you need pwners. I have plenty who are ready to roll.

-DGC

[bearsfan217]

You need to make simple rules for communication, and if they cant provide the information, then find new owner......... MUST have:

1) provide cell #
2) AIM or Yahoo IM. Make league standard for IM service.

ive been in several leagues that required this, and it was never a problem contacting owners to get games in. The forums and xbox live communication doesnt cut it...

just my 2 cents

[franchise2005]

Sounds like a plan. I agree. Ok let me work on it.

[str8shakenem365]

thats not true about the brown bills thing. My other league both teams were playoff contenders there 1st year. And our leagues also does not die down after the nfl season either my league played up till a week b4 madden 11 came out with 31 players its all in the group of guys u use & everyone gives there cell # for text. I mean i dont think we have any stalkers in these leagues lol but if u dont want to give it means u dont want to commit to the league my and im sure we have a more than a few reliable guys from there also. just my .02

-cell #
- new league no draft
-or this league replaced new players with cell #