Need help: Looking for best practices for CREATING online league

[silvam14]

Hey guys,

I'm a long time player of OOTP but I never used the online league functionality and would like to create a fictional league with some friends. I'm looking for assistance in all aspects of creating the league and maybe some dos and don'ts

I'd like any suggestions on where to get a website as well if anyone can help.

Appreciate any feedback.

Mike

[kq76]

I'd say start small. 24 teams might seem ideal as you'll probably have a fair amount of activity and it's not way too much work, 12 or something even smaller might be best. If I started another league I'd probably start with a 12 team league and then maybe add promotion/relegation with another 12 team league. That way the top league should easily be competitive while the lower league wouldn't be too boring for those in it. And if you ever have openings in both, try to fill the top league first.

When it comes to extra stuff, don't, or at least if you do, keep it manageable. Part of what ultimately burnt me out was I did extra stuff and, while it probably wasn't worth it, I didn't want to cut back. Focus on what you absolutely have to do and if you want to do extra stuff, try to make those extras only occasional one-offs and not every sim.

If you think you can get sufficient enjoyment from only being the commissioner, not running a team, do it. Again, it's less work, but maybe more importantly, you won't end up kind of regretting it if your team does really well. I'd say this would be even more important if you're the only member already very familiar with the game as would be the case if say your friends are from IRL. Or maybe part of the appeal for your friends would be competing against you in which case maybe you should run a team.

Above all, have fun!

[silvam14]

Originally Posted by kq76

I'd say start small. 24 teams might seem ideal as you'll probably have a fair amount of activity and it's not way too much work, 12 or something even smaller might be best. If I started another league I'd probably start with a 12 team league and then maybe add promotion/relegation with another 12 team league. That way the top league should easily be competitive while the lower league wouldn't be too boring for those in it. And if you ever have openings in both, try to fill the top league first.

When it comes to extra stuff, don't, or at least if you do, keep it manageable. Part of what ultimately burnt me out was I did extra stuff and, while it probably wasn't worth it, I didn't want to cut back. Focus on what you absolutely have to do and if you want to do extra stuff, try to make those extras only occasional one-offs and not every sim.

If you think you can get sufficient enjoyment from only being the commissioner, not running a team, do it. Again, it's less work, but maybe more importantly, you won't end up kind of regretting it if your team does really well. I'd say this would be even more important if you're the only member already very familiar with the game as would be the case if say your friends are from IRL. Or maybe part of the appeal for your friends would be competing against you in which case maybe you should run a team.

Above all, have fun!

Thanks Man. Any suggestions on where to host a website?

[kq76]

Sorry, no. I would have said our f.montoya's allsimbaseball.com, but it closed this year.

[USF]

https://join.slack.com/t/statsplus/s...rFYt1mWtNdF7dQ

I'd recommend you begin with STATS+, offered by Dave. Its a great utility for any OOTP online league. Dave is awesome to work with and there are tons of members of his slack site that are always willing to help. Cheers- Goldi

[jpeters1734]

Originally Posted by silvam14

Hey guys,

I'm a long time player of OOTP but I never used the online league functionality and would like to create a fictional league with some friends. I'm looking for assistance in all aspects of creating the league and maybe some dos and don'ts

I'd like any suggestions on where to get a website as well if anyone can help.

Appreciate any feedback.

Mike

Definitely use statsplus as was suggested earlier. It does cost money, but there is simply no better service for online leagues unless you know how to do it all yourself.

I’ve been running online leagues for over 10 years and have experience with small leagues, big leagues, fictional setups, and modern MLB formats. I’ve also been part of dozens of leagues, so I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. I’d be happy to help out however I can!

My number one piece of advice is to run the league in a way that makes you happy. As commissioner, you’ll always put the most time and effort into the league. If there’s something you feel strongly about (e.g., no DH, unique playoff formats, etc.), make that decision during the creation phase. A league with a clear vision led by someone who’s passionate about it will always work better than trying to please everyone, which is impossible.

Now some general dos and don'ts:

DO have structure. Consistency is king. Have a sim schedule and a rulebook. Even if the rule book is nothing more than screenshots of all the league settings. This is a game and people need to know what the rules are.

DO have transparency. Clearly communicate changes, updates, and deadlines. Transparency builds trust among league members. Use tools like Discord or Slack to keep everyone connected and informed.

DO prepare for attrition. People will inevitably leave over time. Have a plan to handle turnover and recruit new members.

DON'T ignore inactivity of lack of communication. If members aren’t exporting, responding or participating, address it quickly. Set activity standards and enforce them consistently.

DON'T be too democratic. While player input is valuable, don’t let every decision come down to a vote. Too much democracy can slow progress and lead to conflicts. Be decisive, especially during the setup phase.

Please let me know if I can help any further and check out my website, posted in my signature, if you'd like an example of a good fictional league.