A good fantasy league is a covenant relationship among its participants. The following lays out the major tenets of the league along with associatied responsibilities.
A. Stay Active
The biggest problem for all public and most private leagues is that by the end of the season between half and three quarters of the owners become inactive . Therefore, each owner shall make the following promises to his co-owners:
1. I will look at my team at least three times a week, whether I am in first place or last place, whether it is the first week of the season or the last.
2. Because of the nature of Rotisserie competition, I owe it to my fellow owners to always field a competitive team. No matter where I am in the standings, I promise to field the best team I can, finding suitable substitutes for injured or other unproductive players.
3. One of the most fun aspects of fantasy sports is trading. Again, due to the nature of fantasy scoring, with a little work it is possible to find a multitude of win-win trades. Therefore, I promise to be vigorous in persuing trades, setting a goal to make at least two trades a month, and to be in at least one trade negotiation at virtually all times.
B.Be Respuctful of Other Owners
All prospective owners were invited to this league because the commisioner knows from past experience or has the strong belief that the owner shares a high standard of values. The following promises follow from this standard:
1. I will refrain from foul and inappropriate language in posting on the league bulletin board.
2. I will not engage in assault on the charcter or intelligence of a fellow owner.
3. I will refrain from "trash talking" or "talking smack". In cases where the league is made up of owners who know each other, the commsioner has the discretion of relaxing this restriction, as long as owners strictly observe 1) and 2) above.
4. I will be fair in all my trade negotiations. There is no honor in advancing my standing by taking advantage of a fellow owner;s inexperience.
5. I will not engage in collustion, unfairly helping a buddy at the expense of others.
6. The owners in this league have varying fantasy league experience and sports knowledge. Although I am not my brother's keeper, if I notice a fellow owner make a drastic "beginner's mistake" (e.g. leaving his good starting players on the bench), I will gently point this out to him (I will also "butt out" if he tells me to)
C. Have Fun
This is a GAME, not life-or-death. It is expected that each owner be competitive and active. But winning is secondary to the experience of sharing our enjoyment of sports with other like-minded individuals. The bulletin board is available for posting league business, making trade proposals, and sharing general sport insight. In addition, if there are any joys and concerns in your life you wish to share with the group, feel free to do so. (Howeve, intensely personal matters or matters of faith may best be persued one-on-one outside the league's board. Use discretion)
1. Acknowledge that this is a game. It is recreation. It is secondary to God, family, work, school, and other priorities in my life.
2.I set as a goal to make at least one new friend from this experience.
Written by Bill L., head of the FAR organization, mastermind of the charter, czar of the fantasy dominions.
