NFFC Survey Results Give Us Good Direction

Glenneration X · Post by **Glenneration X** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 3:21 am

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:
If FFPC does a survey among their veteran players, will most people agree with all of their formats? I'm not so sure Greg. There was a groundswell of support for doing away with H2H for the FFPC playoffs and going to total points for the 2 weeks. I happen to be a fan of that proposal.

I'm also pretty sure a 13-week regular season would get some serious support over there as well.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 3:29 am

So again, what did we learn from this survey and what can be improved? I'll ask that second question in a separate thread that you'll see this morning. I'll start a Rules Proposal 2012 thread that will ask for input on questions we'll ask in the next survey about rules and formats so that we're all on the same page. Let's get all of the rules proposals on the table and get a really good survey together so that we can improve the game even more in 2012.

But before we do that, what did we learn from this survey when it comes to our game?

From my standpoint, I learned that:

1. KDS is accepted by new players and veteran players alike and should remain in the NFFC. Even though we need to do a better job of explaining how KDS works, once players use it they like it. Plus it works as we saw in 2011. Everyone had a different viewpoint on where they wanted to start their draft and for the most part the vast majority of NFFC players got draft picks that they really liked.

2. Third Round Reversal: 86% surveyed like KDS, yet only 70% like 3RR. That's still an overwhelming majority, but not a slam dunk case. I think most people will probably say that the dominant back that we had in 2002-06 is no longer there and thus 3RR isn't as necessary as it was back then, but our draft status data also says that for the last 3-4 years our contests have produced winners from almost every draft spot. Is that a product of KDS/3RR? I don't know, maybe not. But if most folks like 3RR and it's working, I'm not sure I'm ready to just go back to serpentine drafts. What we need to do better is explain 3RR and how it helps our contests.

I believe the survey tells me to keep 3RR, but it's something we need to watch. For new players, can we fully explain it to them without turning them off to these niche ideas? That's the question we need to ask ourselves if we're going to grow the NFFC in future years.

3. 13-Week Regular Season: Since we are the only high-stakes contest to use a 13-week regular season, this was an important response. The question was:

Do you like the NFFC's 13-week regular season better than an 11-week regular season?
Yes: 92.9%
No: 7.1%

While WCOFF players may have been familiar with an 11-week regular season, that doesn't mean everyone liked it. I understand the calls for us to move to an 11-week season and then have h2h playoffs in Weeks 12 and 13, but that's not what our customers are asking for and in fact there's already another contest out there with that format. And maybe Emil will reintroduce that format again when he returns with Ian. For us, it's clear that 13 weeks is the way to go, giving value to each registrant and making sure the best regular season teams reach the playoffs.

4. Head-2-Head Playoffs: Again, 80% said they don't want that in Weeks 12 and 13 and almost 86% said they like the format we have rather than changing to the WCOFF h2h playoff. We didn't ask about league playoffs in Weeks 14-16, but at least for us changing to the WCOFF format it's not being requested from our current players.

5. NFFC Classic: I was very excited to learn that 63 owners said they'd play in our 14-team Main Event if we moved it to the second weekend. Those are 63 players who didn't play in the Classic this year. Since next year the majority of our offerings will be on the first weekend of the NFL season, this is good news. It gives me hope to have both of our Main Event formats grow.

6. People will be back: In the NFFC, we usually have a 75-80% retention rate for the Classic and 80+% for our online events. The fact that 89.2% said they plan on returning to the NFFC in 2012 is very good news. Again, if we had done the survey a year ago the results might not have been as good, so this is very good news. Welcome back all.

I'll list some of the comments of what we need to do to improve later. There were 140+ of those and it will take some time to categorize them, but I'll do that. Thanks again all.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 3:35 am

Originally posted by Glenneration X:
quote:Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:
If FFPC does a survey among their veteran players, will most people agree with all of their formats? I'm not so sure Greg. There was a groundswell of support for doing away with H2H for the FFPC playoffs and going to total points for the 2 weeks. I happen to be a fan of that proposal.

I'm also pretty sure a 13-week regular season would get some serious support over there as well. [/QUOTE]I did see that, but it's a tough call to switch formats when the participation numbers are going up. That and the fact that it sounds like one of the WCOFF original owners is thinking about returning with a similar format nd it could be a tough switch to a new format.

It should be an interesting off-season in HSFF once again. I would think the established games would continue to tweak and improve their formats while any new contest operator will have to.....well, you fill in that blank.

Cocktails and Dreams · Post by **Cocktails and Dreams** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 4:23 am

KDS works well, but it needs to be ran as close to the draft as possible or it completely defeats the purpose of it, so the question should be do people like KDS more or getting draft slot earlier more. It is frustrating to have to set it so early, only to have new information or injuries come out and make how you need it set change.

[ December 21, 2011, 10:25 AM: Message edited by: Cocktails and Dreams ]

renman · Post by **renman** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 4:26 am

Originally posted by Cocktails and Dreams:
KDS works well, but it needs to be ran as close to the draft as possible or it completely defeats the purpose of it, so the question should be do people like KDS more or getting draft slot earlier more. It is frustrating to have to set it so early, only to have new information or injuries come out and make how you need it set change. I completely agree with this. Too many things change on a day to day basis leading into the NFL season and ultimately draft day. There is no point in trying to predict where on a draft board you want to be unless it is very close to draft day.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 5:03 am

Originally posted by Cocktails and Dreams:
KDS works well, but it needs to be ran as close to the draft as possible or it completely defeats the purpose of it, so the question should be do people like KDS more or getting draft slot earlier more. It is frustrating to have to set it so early, only to have new information or injuries come out and make how you need it set change. This is a good point Chad. Actually, I went the other way and just added another question to the Rules Proposal 2012 thread. Some owners are used to getting their draft picks WAY EARLIER than the NFFC gives and we can do that if folks want it and we have enough full leagues in those cities. Some folks aren't thinking the same way you are and would rather have their draft spots in early or mid August. I will make that option available if demand warrants it in 2012.

I understand what you are saying, but right now we give draft spots 7-8 days before Draft Day for the Main Events. I don't think we can go much after that and I don't think our participants want those any later than that. For the private leagues like the Diamond and Ultimate, hey, we can go as late as you want. If all of the members want them live in Las Vegas, I think we can do that!!! But EVERYONE would have to be in agreement with that.

Sit Down, Shut Up and Draft!! I like it. Would be fun for some of these high-dollar private leagues.

Coltsfan · Post by **Coltsfan** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 2:00 pm

I agree Chad.

I actually set my kds around tier's at either RB or WR. When the draft rolls around there have been injuries and the next thing you know I'm drafting from the top of a tier verses the bottom of a tier. It would be nice if we got drafts spots later verses earlier.

Wayne

The Franchise · Post by **The Franchise** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 6:24 pm

Originally posted by Money:
quote:Originally posted by Cocktails and Dreams:
KDS works well, but it needs to be ran as close to the draft as possible or it completely defeats the purpose of it, so the question should be do people like KDS more or getting draft slot earlier more. It is frustrating to have to set it so early, only to have new information or injuries come out and make how you need it set change. I understand 100%, BUT, the competition is not geared toward the professionals, it's geared toward the average guy drafting a big time team in a high stakes event and only owning a team or two. These folks want their draft spot as early as possible.

Those drafting multi multiple teams in multiple events can probably live with not being able to set KDS at the last possible second. This simply gives them one more edge against the common folk who have no idea what their going up against and the incredible amount of time that they spend preparing for their multiple drafts.

Not to be labor a point but this would be a "Chum Chum" club decision if it were to go that way.

I continue to get better each year and would be fine with getting my spot in the order at draft time.

I hope this makes sense, not knocking the sentiment, simply sticking up for the less informed players. [/QUOTE]Sorry, but you make no sense. What does being a so-called "professional" or "common folk" have to do with setting your KDS at the latest time possible? Less informed players? Your putting down $1400+ you better be informed.

I'm not a "professional" as you like to put it so I will put myself under the "common folk" category. lol

In my opinion if I want to utilize KDS to it's fullest, I will want to set it with the most information I can get. Otherwise your defeating the point of KDS and you might as well do away with it.

In FFPC I don't mind getting my draft spot early. There is no KDS, so I don't care if I get it in July or 1 week before the draft.In the NFFC Greg and Tom give us the option of KDS and if I'm going to take advantage of it then I want to set as close to the draft date as possible.
Otherwise I might as well leave at 1-12 or 14.

BTW, Greg Getting draft spots right before the draft for the higher paid events sounds like a great idea if everyone signs off on it.

Money · Post by **Money** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 12:17 am

No problem franchise, we simply disagree. Most players in my opinion are chomping at the bit to get their draft position as the draft draws closer. The boards are loaded with people looking for their spot. An injury here or there does not matter to them, myself included. You've twisted my words here, but I won't go into that, we just disagree.

TR · Post by TR » Thu Dec 22, 2011 12:19 am

I'm not a professional either, but definitely put my time in and would want draft spot as close to draft as possible...I think within 5 days or so is good.