1) Registration booth: In each city, you will still need to check in with Krause Publications staffers even though you've already registered online. At that station you will need to:
a) Sign the contract with the new prize structure.
b) Pick up your name badge to get into the draft room.
c) Take all your goodie bags, magazines, drink tickets and everything else you're getting from us.
We will have this staffed well in each city and it should go smoothly, but leave yourself a little time and come early if you can.
2) Starting on time: We start EXACTLY at the top of the hour in each city and I will be on a cell phone with Tom in New York and Rocky in Chicago to start the countdown to the draft. We don't wait for anyone in any city, so if you're not there the draft goes on without you. That's just the way it is and everyone knows that ahead of time. It's better to be there early than late.
3) No-shows at the draft: If someone fails to show up on time, a KP staffer will go off the latest Fantasy Sports Magazine online Cheat Sheet and pick directly off our Top 200 at each turn of his/her draft spot. The owner will pick up whenever he/she arrives.
4) One minute time limit: We will instruct every draft facilitator to start the one minute time limit when the sticker is fully placed on the draft board. In baseball, we tried to be very efficient and keep things moving and may have pushed it along too fast. We realize it takes time for everyone to cross off the names on their lists or find those players on the spreadsheets, so we will be diligent about this rule. One minute starts once the sticker is placed on the board.
5) Past the one minute: If someone fails to make a pick in one minute, we pass his/her turn to the next person and then come back to him/her for the next pick, giving that owner another full minute to decide. If someone picks a player who has already been picked previously, we allow 15 additional seconds and a mulligan. In baseball, a few owners needed two mulligans and we allowed it, since golf rules are applied freely here in Iola as well.
Three mulligans might be stretching it, though.6) Full rosters. Remember that we are picking 18 players in the NFFC and you have 10 starters each week. There is no FAAB pickups between the draft and Week 1 because of the Thursday game, so make sure you have at least one player at every starting position when you leave the draft. We will watch for this carefully in each league and we ask that everyone pick at least one defense/special teams and kicker. You will not have an illegal lineup if you leave without a certain position, but it's a guaranteed zero from that spot in Week 1, that's for sure.
7) Cell phones: You can be on a cell phone during the draft, but I ask that you be courteous of the people around you. In baseball, some guys were a little loud with their partners on the phone and we asked them to tone it down. It makes it tough for those sitting next to you to concentrate. So please understand that we are allowing you to use cell phones, but we trust you will do that wisely.
8) Laptops: You may use a laptop, but we will not allow your own extension cords for plug-ins. Bring a strong battery and you will make it through the draft that way.
9) No smoking: We do not allow smoking in the draft room, but we will take a 15-minute break after Round 9. We hope to have concessions available as well and there will be a bar in each city for soft drinks, water and even alcoholic beverages. We have enough confidence in our NFFC owners that they will drink responsibly during the draft to allow alcohol. Don't let us down.
10) After the draft: MVP Sportsbook.com is providing a couple of drink tickets to each owner as a way to introduce themselves to NFFC members and you are welcome to stick around afterwards to check out the other draft boards and talk with other NFFC owners. It's an informal party brought to you by one of our partners, so stay if you'd like or rush out if you need to go.
11) Autographs: Someone asked if they could get an autograph from O.J. Anderson or Napoleon McCallum or Dan Jiggetts after our Welcome Receptions. As a collector myself, I'd say go for it. I doubt these guys would mind, but you never know. In this informal setting with a small group, I'm sure all of them would be willing to do it and probably would be honored to do it.
12) Open doors: I know some other events close the draft room floor until an hour before the start of the draft or something like that. I believe our doors will be open 2-3 hours beforehand, so don't be afraid to come early and have some coffee and donuts with us. There is no countdown to opening the draft rooms in each city and we'd rather have you there early and comfortable in your spot than have everyone rush in at once. So we'll see you there early and let you in.
13) Lineups entered: All of us will convene on Tuesday morning and finalize everyone's lineup with STATS, Inc. If you can offer an Excel document of your league's draft to us, that will expedite the process. But either way, all league and team rosters should be input and available to each of you by Tuesday night, Sept. 7th. Since there is no FAAB bidding that week, you have 5 minutes before game time to finalize your Week 1 starting lineup.
At that point, let the games begin and may the best team win. This should be a GREAT contest with so many serious players in this event. I'm pumped and I'm not even competing. Thanks again for all your support and I look forward to staying in touch with all of you through the year. Be safe in your travels and we'll see you in the draft room in six more days!
