Tips for forming a competitive beer league

[Bucky25 0]

I am entertaining the idea of forming a "competitive" league (only pick up for adults in my area) and I'm wondering if any of you have any suggestions or things that work for you.

A bit of background: This is not a huge area but I'm hoping to get 6 teams to start (min 10 guys and a goalie), open to any age, games 1-2 times per week (ice time is usually full until 10 pm on weeknights so 2 times/week might not work), playoffs, etc. Would be no check, no slappers, reffed, stats, etc.

Also, I'd like some feedback on some good sites to use to manage the league.

Thanks,

Chris

[Bucky25 0]

Any players (non league managers) who have things you like/dislike about your league feel free to add them also.

Thanks...

[AnthonyJTa 0]

A handful of guys I know here just started a league... 30+, no check, full slappers w/ refs & scorekeepers. I guess they got sick of the younger kids showboating, and bringing 'tude to the games. I feel bad though because my brother gets excluded.

One thing that's gone over well in a local roller league here is you can't register an entire team.... they pool all the players and have scrimmages to see player levels, etc.... then they "draft" with balanced teams. Midway through the season, they'll "trade" players to adjust the rosters so everyone has a decent chance of winning, and has fun.

[theWB 2]

I like the idea of a pool of players and then having an evaluation to make the teams as even as possible. Since there won't be different levels in the league, this is a good way to keeps things fun and competitive for everyone. Maybe shoot for only four teams of 12-13 guys a piece to keep costs per player down. I would also recommend having games the same night every week. I think it makes it easier for people to commit to the team if they know when they'll be playing. Sunday and monday nights seem to work best because a good amount of people travel for work during the week.

[Bucky25 0]

We had a league similar to that until this year...4 teams, had an "evaluation scrimmage" before the season...teams usually ended up nearly the same each year though. We kept score but no standings or playoffs.

Through a series of events the league became "pay 10 bucks and divide up teams" each week...

We play Sundays so that is when I'd like to keep the new league...

Don't get me wrong I enjoy playing any way I can but I'd like to play some games that mean something...maybe then people will play "some" D, backcheck, and generally play harder...most of the time the game degenerates into a game of scrambles in front and clearing the puck to the guy circling the neutral zone...

League ranges in age from 20 or so to the mid forties...I'm sure the young guys would love it, the older players might not which sucks b/c I really enjoy playing w/ the older guys...always fun to see a "wiley vet" school a youngster (me most of the time) :)

Maybe the pool idea would be good again except have standings and playoffs.

[grossie 0]

I've been involved in a couple of these kind of leagues, my advice is as follows:

-Definitely don't allow teams to join as teams- guys sign up as individuals

-Rate your guys as "A", "B", or "C", and make sure each team has balance

-Not keeping season stats or having playoffs encourages fun play without roster-stacking

-reserve the right to throw people out of the league- there's no room for jackasses in a friendly league

-keep the level of goalies pretty similar. One super-dominant former div 1 goalie will tilt your league in an unfair way

-make sure there are rules about subs/roster stacking- if an "A" is out, you can bring an "A", but if a "C" is out you can't bring an "A".

Good luck!

[dsjunior1388 81]

I've been involved in a couple of these kind of leagues, my advice is as follows:

-Definitely don't allow teams to join as teams- guys sign up as individuals

-Rate your guys as "A", "B", or "C", and make sure each team has balance

-Not keeping season stats or having playoffs encourages fun play without roster-stacking

-reserve the right to throw people out of the league- there's no room for jackasses in a friendly league

-keep the level of goalies pretty similar. One super-dominant former div 1 goalie will tilt your league in an unfair way

-make sure there are rules about subs/roster stacking- if an "A" is out, you can bring an "A", but if a "C" is out you can't bring an "A".

Good luck!

I agree with not keeping stats but not with skipping playoffs. Playoffs are more fun as long as you have a roster lock so you don't get "so and so is sick, Luc Robitaille is going to fill in today"

[Bucky25 0]

Good points on the stats, perhaps we'll forget that. Who really cares how many beer league goals you have anyway :P

Playoffs would be a lot of fun I think...kind of sucked when the winter season was done and we went right into spring/summer pickup

As for ringers, there are not that many players here to stack rosters so they would stick out like tits on a bull (anyone from around here who is A level is already known and likely plays on a local "semi pro" team anyway).

[RecLeagueHero 0]

A few suggestions:

1.With a smaller league definately pool the players and divide them to make balanced rosters. Otherwise you'll get groups of guys that want to make the uber team and crush everyone else, which will piss off a good number of your clients.

2.Run the league like a business. Even in big leagues like the one I play it when you have an unprofessional attitude it trickles down into everyone that does anything for the league and these tend to devolve into "good ol' boy" networks. Get the league set up legally, whether that's as a licensed business, a not for profit, or whatever you're doing. I would also strongly recommend third party accounting and an open system that allows the players to know where their money is going. People are paying good money to play hockey in a rec league, they should get service to match that.

3.I'd avoid excessive frills and opt for lower prices. You can get basic stats like GP, G, A, and PIM on a spread sheet on a league website for a small league just as easy as using pointstreak and you'll save cash.

4.Make rules reasonable and then enforce them as close to 100% as possible. For example, the league I play in has required matching sweaters and no taped on numbers for years and it's never been enforced. Then recently all the refs were told to start enforcing it and it's been nothing but a pain in the ass. Understandably, people tend to feel if its never been enforced in the past why start trying to enforce a rule all of the sudden.