Fantasy Football
Fall is once again on the horizon which means football season is upon us. Football is one of the most popular sports in the country and fantasy football leagues have become part of American pop culture. People of all demographics, ages, and sexes play and leagues exist among co-workers, friends, and even online competitive league. Below you will see how to get involved and how to enjoy playing fantasy football in a number of different ways.
Connecting Friends
Do you currently have a fantasy football league with your current friends or older friends? If not, why not start one? Fantasy football is a great tool in bringing people together. It gives people something to talk about and something to brag about. It is also a great way to connect multiple groups of friends or even reconnect with old groups. If you are looking to get involved in a league, start asking your friends if they play and see if their league has an open spot. This might not always be possible so when it is not, try starting your own league. I have had a league with my high school friends for many years. I do not speak with them often but playing in a fall league with them is a great way to force a connection and to catch up on what is happening. If you are looking to create a league, start thinking of people you know who are into sports, especially people you might want to reconnect with. Fantasy games is a great way to reconnect and have some fun together once again.
Work League
A great way to relax while at work is to talk about sports and having a fantasy football league can take this even further. A league gives coworkers a great way to take a break from the struggles of work and have some fun together. It is also a great way to create a relationship with supervisors or employees. Being able to discuss trades with coworkers or even talk trash before a game or after a victory is another way to bond at work. You can even take the league a bit further by having an in person draft. This can be held at the office, at someone’s home, or at a sports bar. A live draft is a great way to bring the office together in a casual relaxed way and to have some social time outside of work. Finally being involved in a work fantasy league might teach you something about a coworker or boss that can be helpful in the future; at the least it will help you understand their passion for sports better.
Online League
If you want to play fantasy football but do not want to do it with friends or coworkers there is another great option. Many websites like Yahoo or ESPN host random fantasy leagues. This gives you the opportunity to play anonymously and still have some fun. These leagues differ in commitment levels and rules so make sure you do your research to find the league that best fits you. It is unfair to play in a competitive league and not take it seriously. You do not want to ruin the fun for others. Furthermore, it is not really a good idea to play in a casual league and take it too seriously. When in doubt do your research and read about the online leagues. You will have more fun by picking the league with the commitment level that fits what you are looking for best.
Daily Leagues
One of the biggest trends in fantasy sports over the last year has been daily or weekly leagues. These leagues allow you to pick any player you want for your team. However each player is assigned a salary and you must stay within the salary cap. This type of league is great for people who do not want to commit for a full season and might want to take some weeks off. It allows you to play when you want and stop when you want. In addition, most of these leagues offer pay for play where you can win cash rewards for beating the others in the league. Remember to be careful though, league like this can sometimes lead into gambling and over playing. So do not hesitate to have fun playing in a weekly or daily league but do not become too involved where you start betting too much money too quickly.
Watch Parties
One of the best parts of being in any type of fantasy league is you gain extra interest in many sporting events. Why not make the most of it. Hosting watch parties at home or at a local sports bar is a great way to enjoy watching the games with others. If you are a serious player and what to monitor fantasy scores in live time use technology. Almost every fantasy league has a corresponding smart phone application to keep you up to date on live scores and match ups. So, do not hesitate to throw a party or arrange a get together. Having fun watching the games can be the most exciting part of being in a fantasy league, do not miss out.
End of Season Parties or Events
One of the main reasons people love to play fantasy sports, more specifically fantasy football, is the right to brag about their accomplishments. A great way to do this and have some fun is to have an end of year party. This is a great way to talk about the past season, make promises to do better next year, and recognize the winner and the losers in the league. You can even take this to the next level by having league trophies, one for the winner and even a joke trophy for whoever comes in last. There are prizes that can be displayed at the home or the office and can create conversations about the league throughout the year. Bragging about a trophy or a promise to improve can be a topic of conversation for a long time.
Fantasy sports continue to grow and there is a reason why. It is a great way to have fun with your friends, coworkers, or even complete strangers. It is a way to make football more enjoyable to watch and adds another dimension to the game. So if you have never played give it a try you might fall in love with it.