Preference List Use

[Guest]

What is the the difference between this year's draft and last year's draft? We are using the same utility, 3/4th of the owners are the same and the new owners are the ones who are constantly checking in and drafting on time. The only difference I see is that we started a day late and thats because this was our first year hosting the draft utility and it took more time to set up. If the draft started on Saturday we would be further because we would have had two days with no one having work or school responsibilities. If there is something different that Andrew or I did this year, let me know because as much as I can see there is no differnce.

That wasn't intended in any way, shape, or form as a shot at you. The difference is that there are a handful of people willing to spend several hours on the clock. And when that happens, it snowballs. If owner X spends 5 or 6 hours on the clock, owner Y feels no sense of "I don't want to be 'that guy' who holds up the draft," so owner Y doesn't bother to set the utility and maybe doesn't even bother to look over the class to know who he's going to pick whenever owner X picks, and doesn't bother to talk trade until he comes on the clock. He feels like he can take his sweet time once he's on the clock. Similarly, owners Z, AA, BB, CC, drafting next in line, aren't ready, either.

On the other hand, when the draft is flowing quickly, people in the next 5-10 picks are working the trade phones, checking to see who they'll pick, etc. They don't want to be "that guy" that causes a delay in that environment. It makes a huge difference. As I've said elsewhere, it's courtesy in knowing that we don't want a 2-week draft that will get this fixed, not time limits. Even if we went to 2-hour time limits (which would be awful for those whose picks come up in the middle of the night), if everyone used them the draft would take over 18 days.

I disagree 100%, by the way, about the weekend thing. Tons of data suggests that weekdays are better than weekends. People are more active M-F during working hours than at any other time. MP drafts I've been in also back that up. For example, IHOF had it's first-ever no-weekend-days draft this year, and finished in the fastest time in the league's 12-season history (72 hours). Further, you should see the large difference in activity at FOFC between weekdays and weekends. People are much more active during the workday than any other time, and weekends are the lowest-activity period.

[Andrew]

The good news is there's a lot more green/yellow on the preference sheet than there was yesterday. I'm still red because like SkyDog said, I'm at work where I have the ability to check every 5 minutes. :wink5:

[aholbert]

That wasn't intended in any way, shape, or form as a shot at you. The difference is that there are a handful of people willing to spend several hours on the clock. And when that happens, it snowballs. If owner X spends 5 or 6 hours on the clock, owner Y feels no sense of "I don't want to be 'that guy' who holds up the draft," so owner Y doesn't bother to set the utility and maybe doesn't even bother to look over the class to know who he's going to pick whenever owner X picks, and doesn't bother to talk trade until he comes on the clock. He feels like he can take his sweet time once he's on the clock. Similarly, owners Z, AA, BB, CC, drafting next in line, aren't ready, either.

On the other hand, when the draft is flowing quickly, people in the next 5-10 picks are working the trade phones, checking to see who they'll pick, etc. They don't want to be "that guy" that causes a delay in that environment. It makes a huge difference. As I've said elsewhere, it's courtesy in knowing that we don't want a 2-week draft that will get this fixed, not time limits. Even if we went to 2-hour time limits (which would be awful for those whose picks come up in the middle of the night), if everyone used them the draft would take over 18 days.

I disagree 100%, by the way, about the weekend thing. Tons of data suggests that weekdays are better than weekends. People are more active M-F during working hours than at any other time. MP drafts I've been in also back that up. For example, IHOF had it's first-ever no-weekend-days draft this year, and finished in the fastest time in the league's 12-season history (72 hours). Further, you should see the large difference in activity at FOFC between weekdays and weekends. People are much more active during the workday than any other time, and weekends are the lowest-activity period.

I see your point Skydog but what can be done about that? We encourage people to use the preference list. I've been sending out emails notifying an owner when their pick is up. We've suggest shortening the draft pick time to take away the feeling that an owner has all day to pick. Short of mandating that everyone put the preference list on auto after round 2 or penalizing people who take a long time to pick w/o updating us of their status (which I wouldnt want to do) I dont know what else to do.

Regarding the weekend, I was just basing that off of last years draft. Last year we finished the first round in one day. I wish I could blame this year on the new guys adjusting to the draft but I can't. Its been OSFL vets that held up the first round and thats what makes me the most upset. Still, we have the draft scheduled for 5 days and we are at day 4. Hopefully we will breeze through the last 5 rounds.

[Guest]

The average pick time in last year's draft was roughly 22 1/2 minutes. That's including the middle of the night, too. The only way we did that was to use the utility, and use it a lot. I understand people not wanting to put 10 picks in there, but why not at least put 2 or 3 guys in there and turn it on, just in case they fall to you?

[Andrew]

The average pick time in last year's draft was roughly 22 1/2 minutes. That's including the middle of the night, too. The only way we did that was to use the utility, and use it a lot. I understand people not wanting to put 10 picks in there, but why not at least put 2 or 3 guys in there and turn it on, just in case they fall to you?

Or if you have guys in your list and you're going to be away, turn the damn thing on! It seems like every time we get stuck the person has people in their list ready to go.

[Delandis]

I see your point Skydog but what can be done about that? We encourage people to use the preference list. I've been sending out emails notifying an owner when their pick is up. We've suggest shortening the draft pick time to take away the feeling that an owner has all day to pick. Short of mandating that everyone put the preference list on auto after round 2 or penalizing people who take a long time to pick w/o updating us of their status (which I wouldnt want to do) I dont know what else to do.

Regarding the weekend, I was just basing that off of last years draft. Last year we finished the first round in one day. I wish I could blame this year on the new guys adjusting to the draft but I can't. Its been OSFL vets that held up the first round and thats what makes me the most upset. Still, we have the draft scheduled for 5 days and we are at day 4. Hopefully we will breeze through the last 5 rounds.

No way you should feel in the wrong for penalizing those who don't take the time out to use the preference list. Now another thing we can do is have the draft take place at a certain short period of time, say 9pm-12am(EST) on a couple days of the week. That way people can allot a specific time period. Give people 3 minutes to picks or trade. Make it like a real draft, and if you can't make it, use the preference list. Anything but this because this does remove the momentum we picked up with the new members and move to the new website, which look mighty fine, I might add.

[aholbert]

No way you should feel in the wrong for penalizing those who don't take the time out to use the preference list. Now another thing we can do is have the draft take place at a certain short period of time, say 9pm-12am(EST) on a couple days of the week. That way people can allot a specific time period. Give people 3 minutes to picks or trade. Make it like a real draft, and if you can't make it, use the preference list. Anything but this because this does remove the momentum we picked up with the new members and move to the new website, which look mighty fine, I might add.

Good ideas, elprez. Anybody else have any ideas on how to make the draft run faster? I'm considering putting up for a vote that every preference list goes on automatic after the second round. After the second round, most trades are done and pretty much every player a team has interviewed and has a positive impression on has been taken. I dont think much thought is put into who people are taking after the second round other than the player's numbers, do they fill a need and are they the best player available.

[Andrew]

One change I'm thinking about make to the utility next year is making the email notification mandatory. Users would have to enter their email address when first logging in and I would remove the option to shut it off. Thoughts?

[Andrew]

I'm considering putting up for a vote that every preference list goes on automatic after the second round. After the second round, most trades are done and pretty much every player a team has interviewed and has a positive impression on has been taken. I dont think much thought is put into who people are taking after the second round other than the player's numbers, do they fill a need and are they the best player available.

I don't think anything that drastic is necessary. I, for one can't think more than 1 round ahead.

I think a better solution would be to reduce the time we have to pick. 6/3, maybe even 4/2 (first round/remaining rounds). This would drastically reduce the amount of time we get caught waiting for people. I see what SkyDog is saying that the draft *could* still take a long time if we all used the maximum amount of time, but the chance of that happening is very slim.

Having a time limit of 4/2 would motivate people to use their lists a lot more. If you know you're going to be at work for 8 hours and don't have access to the game, you'd be much more likely to set your list to at least "Pick once".

It would also give the guys like me who are available on a regular basis the ability to check in and make our picks manually if we want to.

[Guest]

Have everyone get a yahoo messenger and yahoo email account. The messenger program notifies you when you get new mail, with (optional) sound and everything, and its really really easy to know when its your pick or when a pick has been made, because you look on there and all of a sudden you have x new email messages. Thats usually why I am always around when my pick comes up, no matter what time it is.

[Delandis]

Have everyone get a yahoo messenger and yahoo email account. The messenger program notifies you when you get new mail, with (optional) sound and everything, and its really really easy to know when its your pick or when a pick has been made, because you look on there and all of a sudden you have x new email messages. Thats usually why I am always around when my pick comes up, no matter what time it is.

Again, people have to choose to be accessible by some form of communication, without it no matter what we do will not do well.

[Delandis]

Like now. We are essentially 1 pick away from the 3rd round, this is what's frustrating.

[Guest]

I see your point Skydog but what can be done about that?

It's annoying and creates bad blood, and I hate to say it, but I honestly think that the only thing that can be done is to badger people until you convince them that using the utility when you know you can't check in is best for the league. ;)

Regarding the weekend, I was just basing that off of last years draft. Last year we finished the first round in one day. I wish I could blame this year on the new guys adjusting to the draft but I can't. Its been OSFL vets that held up the first round and thats what makes me the most upset. Still, we have the draft scheduled for 5 days and we are at day 4. Hopefully we will breeze through the last 5 rounds.

I agree there. Now, what I don't know about this league's demographics is age. The other leagues I'm in are tilted towards guys 30-45 who have wives, and many have children as well. That demographic doesn't spend nearly as much time online at night and on weekends as during the day. It *could* be that the OSFL is a bit younger and may not be as able to check in during the workday.

[Dave]

Speaking from experience, you can't force people to be interested in the draft. I was fortunate last year in that everyone was very interested in the draft and the process basically ran itself because people were enjoying it so much. This year, whether it's because of the lack of novelty or because the talent pool is thinner, people aren't as enamored with the draft. It's just the way it is.

One thing I would advocate is lowering the time limit, which would force people to fill (and use) their autolists or risk getting screwed. Last year the draft was a self-policing process because everyone wanted to finish it. Some people don't want to finish it this year for some reason, so we need to take steps to work around those people and one of the only practical steps is lowering the time limit.

[SoMiss2000]

I don't mean this to sound condecending so don't take it that way but there is a notification system w/in the utility. On the lower LH side you can enter your email address and it will send you a notice when you're up. Not sure if that meets your needs (i.e. I don't know what xbl and OS are...:blush2:)

Note also to others if you do monitor an email account moreso than these boards...

Also, I'm done bitching in here, it is obviously not appreciated or helping move things along so I give up. I'll just worry about my team and my own shit.

And to Skydog's point, yes this is me disengaging.

wouldn't I still need to be near my pc to have it sent to my email? that's my point. I wasn't near my pc. XBL is xbox live. OS is Operation Sports. I had the utility set up to take the text me but forgot to check the box on the utility.