Thinking of starting a new league

[Passacaglia]

Hey all, I'm thinking of starting a new league. The basic premise of the league is that coaches can be fired for poor performance. I guess that really won't come into effect until we have a waiting list, so perhaps the league will just be a normal one until then. I'd like to make it so that "fired" coaches still have something to do -- maybe they can hang around as an offensive or defensive coordinator for some team? I'd like to try to encourage teamwork as much as possible, so situations where two or more people are responsible for different aspects of a team would be great.

I'm thinking of something like this: At the end of each season, I'll roll a 6-sided die, that will determine the number of coaches to be fired that year. Coaches will be fired according to their record over the last season, as well as their record over the past two seasons. I don't mind simply being a commissioner and not a coach to make this more fair.

Sound interesting? Anyone have any thoughts?

[Northwood_DK]

I think it will be very difficult to get GMs to a league like that if you actually risked sitting on the sideline for 3-months. Another option would be more like the real life coaching-carousel where most of the GMs just go to another team. We talked about this in the NAFL a few weeks back (without ever seriously considering it)

That could actually be an interesting way to avoid the ”run for the #1 pick”. Say that the four teams with the worst record at the end of the season all sack their GMs. The GMs of those 4 teams will then enter a lottery about witch of the open teams they will take over the next season. If GMs decided to retire (leave the league) that team and the new GM will enter the lottery together with the four sacked GMs. That could actually give the teams in the bottom half of the standing something to play for in the last half of the season. If you want to keep your team you have spend so much time to build you better play hard all the way and stay out of the bottom-4.

[Passacaglia]

I think it will be very difficult to get GMs to a league like that if you actually risked sitting on the sideline for 3-months. Another option would be more like the real life coaching-carousel where most of the GMs just go to another team. We talked about this in the NAFL a few weeks back (without ever seriously considering it)

I agree -- I'm not interested in making people sit out. If we don't have more than 32 coaches, I like the retread idea -- it also helps prevent teams from being put on AI for too long. If there are more than 32 people interested in the league, I don't want anyone sitting on the sideline -- they can at least help out as offensive or defensive coordinators, and get a head coaching job at some point.

[beargrowlz]

What a cool idea.

[PiemasterUK]

I like the OPs idea, but I think Northwood's is more realistic. It would also add an element of unpredictability. After 20 or so seasons, there wouldn't be many people left with their original teams and so it would be an achievement. It would also ean that the AI teams had a chance of getting 'saved'

[Passacaglia]

I guess what I'm thinking about is more of a combination of the two. Anyway, this was unfortunate timing, as I'll be out of the country for a couple weeks, but I'll be waiting to see if any discussion has ensued while I was gone!

[Sgran]

The problem is that rebuilding is a bone fide part of long-term management. Knowing when and how to blow up a team is part of the fun, and it adds realism. If I know I'm going to lose my team then I won't stock-pile draft picks. In real life most GMs are given a window of opportunity, so maybe you could do it where every GM that finishes below .500 gets fired if he has already been with his team for 3 years. Those GMs get shuffled and get to start anew (probably with a mess on their hands).

[tarcone]

How about having a GM and a HC? GM does all the offseason stuff and gets input from the coach. Coach does all the in season stuff. I think this would be really cool.
Could you see the GM meddling with the coaches gameplan? or the coach crabbing at the GM about not getting that FA RB that the coach is dying to get?

This would be fun.

[JMO]

GM and head coach is a great idea. most people would want to be GMs probably though, like me. It would be great as a GM to have a coach who talk over gameplans etc with.

[Hammer]

In the GEFL I share a team with Marc, the RDFL commish, and I'd recommend it. If you have a few teams, its worth trying. Its quite good fun to have someone to share the lows and highs of a season with. Also to openly discuss the merits of players in the off season.

Initially the plan was I would be the coach he would be the GM. But actually we are more or less taking it in turns to coach, and do the GMing by commitee usually by email but also over the phone.

[14ers]

GM and head coach is a great idea. most people would want to be GMs probably though, like me. It would be great as a GM to have a coach who talk over gameplans etc with.
A GM only league would be an interesting idea. All offseason and only 1 sim to complete the actual game season. Your teamed would be completely turned over to the AI to set depth charts, design gameplans and even sign free agents to replace injured players.

Hmmm... Probably the only league where Scouts would be making more money than Coordinators and even some head coaches. Assuming it is your Scout that sets your depth charts.

[Passacaglia]

Heh, I think it's funny that a whole bunch of WAFL people start replying to this thread, right after I took over there -- like I have time to start a new league now! :P