Online Drafts: Proposal To Make Picks 75 Seconds

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 3:43 am

In the NFFC this year, we reduced the time between picks from 90 seconds to 75 seconds and everything went fine. The drafts were quicker and folks were prepared for every pick. Heck, we even had NFFC '60s -- $60 drafts with 60 seconds per pick -- that went very well.

Right now we are tweaking our draft software to make these even more efficient. There are several things we can do to save you time in the draft room and we are working on those now. If we can get all of that done, Tom and I feel comfortable in moving all of our NFBC online drafts from 90 seconds per pick to 75 seconds per pick.

We really believe this move will make these online drafts more efficient and more enjoyable. Again, give us some time to work on the draft software before making this official, but this is our mindset at this time.

We are interested in your feedback. What are your thoughts of the NFBC online drafts going from 90 seconds per pick to 75 seconds per pick? Are we all capable of finding our next pick in 1 minute and 15 seconds? If we have a solid que and just one Draft tab to use, will that allow us to go down to 75 seconds per pick? We're interested in your feedback and hope to make this happen in 2012. Thanks all.

Hells Satans · Post by **Hells Satans** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 3:56 am

Honestly, if you made it 30 seconds I would be thrilled, so any reduction in the clock would make me happy.

Dawg · Post by **Dawg** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 4:11 am

In my opinion, baseball drafts are 10 times more thought consuming than football drafts. Football is 10+Reserve spots (total points). Baseball is 23+Reserve spots (10 categories) It clearly takes more time to navigate through the baseball software to get the player you want than it does the football software. Add the thought process on top of that then I think the drafts will becomes even more choppy. Like me, if anyone thinks the number of "I didn't want that pick because my computer froze" was bad this last year, imagine what it would be if we dropped it from 90 sec to 75 sec

Money · Post by **Money** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 4:28 am

98 % of all players are thoroughly prepared and could easily pick inside 60 seconds let alone 75. The move to 75 seconds is a Great move.

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 5:24 am

First, yes to the 75 seconds.

Second, eventually 60 seconds should be another adjustment as early as next year.

Third, I favor a system where everybody has their own minutes.

For instance, 60 seconds per pick would average out to 30 minutes for a 30 player draft.

A countdown clock would start from 30 minutes for each player once they're on the clock. When they make a pick, the clock stops with time left. For instance, Matt Kemp is the first pick of the draft. It takes the drafter two seconds in picking Kemp leaving him with 29:58 for his other 29 picks. Speed Chess Fantasy Baseball.

This would allow us to be more prompt to save ourselves time with the picks we're secure in, while giving us more than 60 seconds to ponder a tougher decision.

But, I know this isn't an option now, just a suggestion for a later time.

mbendar · Post by **mbendar** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 5:50 am

I think the speed of the pick once made is the key. If everyone sees each pick instantly after made, we will have the full 75 seconds to pick, which is no issue in my opinion. This wasn't the case last season, understandly so with the timing of the switch to STATS.

I'm sure this speed is one of the keys with updating the draft software for 2012.

In regards to computer lockups, etc. I'm assuming Geoff will be on board, who always does a great job with those issues and keeping the drafts moving.

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 10:18 am

Originally posted by DOUGHBOYS:

First, yes to the 75 seconds.

Second, eventually 60 seconds should be another adjustment as early as next year.

Third, I favor a system where everybody has their own minutes.

For instance, 60 seconds per pick would average out to 30 minutes for a 30 player draft.

A countdown clock would start from 30 minutes for each player once they're on the clock. When they make a pick, the clock stops with time left. For instance, Matt Kemp is the first pick of the draft. It takes the drafter two seconds in picking Kemp leaving him with 29:58 for his other 29 picks. Speed Chess Fantasy Baseball.

This would allow us to be more prompt to save ourselves time with the picks we're secure in, while giving us more than 60 seconds to ponder a tougher decision.

But, I know this isn't an option now, just a suggestion for a later time. I've been PM'ed and asked by phone about this....

We did this in a home league and had the fastest draft we've ever had. We save the minutes for the last few rounds and discovered we didn't need them.

There were 10 teams in our leagues and each player had a timer set at their allotted time. A click would be heard when it was their turn and a click after naming a name, then a click for the next guy, etc.

Fun and another level of strategy. I don't know if this is available at any online sites.

I'll check and follow up.

Winston's Empire · Post by **Winston's Empire** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 12:23 pm

[ October 14, 2011, 06:24 PM: Message edited by: WINSTON'S EMPIRE ]

Winston's Empire · Post by **Winston's Empire** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 12:23 pm

[ October 14, 2011, 06:24 PM: Message edited by: WINSTON'S EMPIRE ]

PittIsIt95 · Post by **PittIsIt95** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 12:36 pm

Originally posted by DOUGHBOYS:

First, yes to the 75 seconds.

Second, eventually 60 seconds should be another adjustment as early as next year.

Third, I favor a system where everybody has their own minutes.

For instance, 60 seconds per pick would average out to 30 minutes for a 30 player draft.

A countdown clock would start from 30 minutes for each player once they're on the clock. When they make a pick, the clock stops with time left. For instance, Matt Kemp is the first pick of the draft. It takes the drafter two seconds in picking Kemp leaving him with 29:58 for his other 29 picks. Speed Chess Fantasy Baseball.

This would allow us to be more prompt to save ourselves time with the picks we're secure in, while giving us more than 60 seconds to ponder a tougher decision.

But, I know this isn't an option now, just a suggestion for a later time. Dough, I actually love this idea. It is frustrating (even in live drafts) when you are prepared for all your picks and make them in less than 30 seconds, but there is always one or two picks you wish you had another 15-30 seconds to decide.

I guarantee this would speed drafts up because when people knew their picks, they would pick them faster to conserve time for later in the draft. And as you stated, you would never end up using the time. But it gives you a cushion on a pick or 2 where the players you had pegged for your pick were taken right before you were selecting.

[ October 14, 2011, 06:39 PM: Message edited by: PittIsIt95 ]

meanguy · Post by **meanguy** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 3:40 pm

Lowering the time limit is fine, but more importantly the software from last year needs to be much improved. Last year after you clicked to draft a player it took 30 seconds for it to register. Fixing this would take off AT LEAST and hour from the times it was taking last year.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 4:02 pm

Originally posted by meanguy:

Lowering the time limit is fine, but more importantly the software from last year needs to be much improved. Last year after you clicked to draft a player it took 30 seconds for it to register. Fixing this would take off AT LEAST and hour from the times it was taking last year. At no point did any software take 30 seconds to make a pick last year. It didn't happen. There was up to a 5 second delay in some instances and that will be addressed this year. The software was solid last year and will be even better this year.

meanguy · Post by **meanguy** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 4:47 pm

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

quote:Originally posted by meanguy:

Lowering the time limit is fine, but more importantly the software from last year needs to be much improved. Last year after you clicked to draft a player it took 30 seconds for it to register. Fixing this would take off AT LEAST and hour from the times it was taking last year. At no point did any software take 30 seconds to make a pick last year. It didn't happen. There was up to a 5 second delay in some instances and that will be addressed this year. The software was solid last year and will be even better this year. [/QUOTE]Greg, there was absolutely a delay of over 30 seconds on many many picks, some only took 5 seconds. It happened in every draft that I entered last year and was brought up in the chat logs of each league (meaning it wasn't just my computer, my imagination, etc). There were numerous times when people chose a player only to have the entile clock count down to zero before the pick was registered. I know 2 people who did satellites last year who said they would not do it again only because of this exact issue (seom of us east coasters were up very late). Anyway, I love the game itself, I was just making a suggestion.

Baseball Furies · Post by **Baseball Furies** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 5:04 pm

Originally posted by meanguy:

quote:Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

quote:Originally posted by meanguy:

Lowering the time limit is fine, but more importantly the software from last year needs to be much improved. Last year after you clicked to draft a player it took 30 seconds for it to register. Fixing this would take off AT LEAST and hour from the times it was taking last year. At no point did any software take 30 seconds to make a pick last year. It didn't happen. There was up to a 5 second delay in some instances and that will be addressed this year. The software was solid last year and will be even better this year. [/QUOTE]Greg, there was absolutely a delay of over 30 seconds on many many picks, some only took 5 seconds. It happened in every draft that I entered last year and was brought up in the chat logs of each league (meaning it wasn't just my computer, my imagination, etc). There were numerous times when people chose a player only to have the entile clock count down to zero before the pick was registered. I know 2 people who did satellites last year who said they would not do it again only because of this exact issue (seom of us east coasters were up very late). Anyway, I love the game itself, I was just making a suggestion. [/QUOTE]This was in fact an ongoing problem. I would only be in favor of 75 second picks if all the bugs have been worked out of the draft software as it sounds like it will be.

rockitsauce · Post by **rockitsauce** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 5:10 pm

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

quote:Originally posted by meanguy:

Lowering the time limit is fine, but more importantly the software from last year needs to be much improved. Last year after you clicked to draft a player it took 30 seconds for it to register. Fixing this would take off AT LEAST and hour from the times it was taking last year. At no point did any software take 30 seconds to make a pick last year. It didn't happen. There was up to a 5 second delay in some instances and that will be addressed this year. The software was solid last year and will be even better this year. [/QUOTE]Perhaps 30 sec's is exaggerating, but as a person who competed in 5 satellite lge's I definitely recall there being issues w/ the software. I thought Mock Draft Central was WAY better. One thing that just HAS to be added is SOUND. It's nice to know when it's your pick w/o having to stare at the screen.

I also love Dough's idea about the time to make picks. I probably make 90% of my picks in 10 sec's, but there's always 3 or 4 that I'd like abit more time....maybe phone a friend, ask the audience (my dogs may help, the cat, probably not). I'm not sure how doable it is to implement the Doughboy style of timekeeping, (at least online), but it's still worthy of discussion, perhaps someday for live events.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 1:39 am

Sound was already added to the draft software for football and will be there for baseball. The draft board with the colored stickers updates every 45 seconds, so it's possible that folks were watching the draft board for the next pick and then were surprised when they were left with a little time to make their picks. But the actual picks definitely were shown within 5 seconds of being selected on the home page of the draft room.

Either way, we'll fix all of this and test it thoroughly before finalizing the 75 seconds. We'll do all we can to tighten up any lags between picks and showcasing those picks.