CommishRx Advice: “My Fantasy League Wants to Play for Money This Season!”
CommishRx Advice: “My Fantasy League Wants to Play for Money This Season!”
"We’re thinking about having a cash prize this season. I know most leagues do it and maybe it’s time. Some of the guys don’t want to spend a lot of money, and there are a couple who want to spend like a hundred bucks. I started the conversation and now I kind of regret it. Everyone doesn’t agree. I just want to find a balance. Help?"
Be careful for what you ask for, eh? Okay, so you started this thing, so let’s help you finish it. Before we discuss your fantasy league options, you have to decide how much control you’re willing to take on during the process.
Meaning, you have to decide if you’re going to offer up the final proposal to a vote, or are you going to make the final decision? You said you want balance. In other words, you want everyone to be happy? That’s not always possible, but no one says you can’t or shouldn’t try.
If you are in a newer fantasy football league, you might want to let your league members vote. Most folks will defer to majority rule, and no one can accuse you of playing dictator. It doesn’t seem you feel too strongly about what happens as long as everyone is happy. Everyone will feel they at least have a say, even though the final vote may not work out the way they want.
Just know that I’m suggesting voting specifically for this situation, solely based on what you said. I’m not a believer that everything has to be voted on. In this case, I think it’s a good idea.
How Long Has This Been Going On?
Decide on a deadline for members to give their input. Stick to it. The process won’t get drawn out and members know they need to go ahead and say what they want to say. If they ignore the deadline you set up, too bad. You gave everyone the same amount of time.
Also, give everyone the option to “reply to all” (via email or text) if they want, but also let them know they can contact you privately too.
Once you set a deadline, you’ll feel less regretful because you know the back-and-forth and “creative differences” won’t go on forever. There is an end in sight.
For That Lean, Mean, Mean Green
While it does seem like everyone is playing for money these days, that doesn’t necessarily mean that your league should. Your first move should be to see if everyone in the league wants to make the move in the first place. Majority rules, right?
Obviously, you have a better sense of the sentiment of your league than I do. However, if you’re not entirely sure, vote. You can toss that question to your league immediately.
The results might surprise you. Maybe only a few have been the most vocal. If the league votes not to make the change, then you’re done. There’s no balance to worry about.
Still, we’re going to pretend that you’re moving forward. Before you decide how much everyone is going to put in, you have to decide what kind of payout you’re going to have.
We Are The Champion My Friends
Are you going to have pay tiers or have a winner-takes-all format?
If you have one money winner, the payout can be pretty good, depending on how much everyone puts in. Humans are pretty consistent in their high interest and delight in winning chunks of money.
However, the downside of having one cash winner, reveals itself as soon as some folks see they’re not in contention to win. They may lose interest and might not play as hard, devoting less attention to their team management. Low morale, due to pouting like a two-year old, tends to negatively affect the overall competitiveness of a fantasy league.
Most leagues will have what I call “money slots” of first, second and third place. If other league members still have a chance to win money – even though they might not have a shot at being “The Champ,” they will stay interested and compete the duration of the season. They’re less likely to take their toys and go home.
This is Your Posse Bonus
Some leagues will also have bonus payouts. For example, they might have a payout to the team that has the most points overall. The team who had the longest winning streak during the season might get a bonus. Meanwhile, some leagues will offer a bonus for having the highest single-game score of the season.
The bonus possibilities are limited only by your imagination. I strongly urge commissioners of young leagues who are converting to a money league for the first time to wait a couple of years before adding bonuses.
Why? Money changes people. People get stupid over money in general, and super-sized stupid when it comes to winning it.
Additionally, some people don’t like asking other people for money. If your league chooses to follow the yellow brick road, you’re going to have to deal with that. This may or may not be an issue for you.
Then, there’s those folks who will elevate the decision to pay their dues to the status of choosing either the red pill or blue pill.
Sit back and witness how your league handles competing for money first. See if they enjoy it. See if folks actually pay the pool money like they’re supposed to. See if all of a sudden that dude in your league who’s always buying new kicks, all of a sudden is asking you to let him pay you after the entry deadline. Pssst, he probably won’t. [See Rule #2]
Reward yourself and your league with bonuses once there’s hard evidence that you deserve it.
How Much For Your Wings?
I don’t know the economic status of your crew. So yes, some dudes want to throw in big bucks while others aren’t so inclined. Ask what’s the maximum they’d be willing to put in. See what kind of range you get. You might find that the high rollers are outnumbered. There may be a consensus for $50 instead of $100.
Keep in mind, you’re going to have to have enough money to spread around if you choose to pay out three places. Payouts vary from league to league. What you ultimately decide of course, is up to you.
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I will offer that without a doubt, the winner should always get the most money. The third-place finisher should, at the very least, play “for free” by getting their money back.