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Greenbears Common Rules PreambleThe Greenbears Common Rules build upon the foundation set by the Greenbears Constitution. They give members guidance on the sportsmanship and fair play expected of them, and explain general concepts that apply to all our fantasy league contests. All Greenbears are expected to observe these rules when competing in any members contest. There are no formal penalties established for violating these rules; any infractions of this code will be handled on a case-by-case basis by the Sports Commissioner, as necessary. SportsmanshipGreenbears engage in contests of sporting skill for pride and for the enjoyment of competition. It is with that in mind that we do not wager on the outcome of our contests. All fees are to go for statkeeping and the Commissioner's services. Members must always play to win, and never deliberately try to lose or assist another member at their team's expense. Any effort to create a "superteam" through cooperative efforts between owners will bring about suspensions. Anyone who cannot honor the integrity of the league should resign from the league. Anyone who loses interest in a competition should voluntarily withdraw from it, and not attempt to assist other members in their efforts to win, or attempt to disrupt the competition in any way. In either event, that member should inform the Commissioner immediately of his decision. Members must respect the others enough that they will not adversely affect a contest, even if they are unable to compete at the level that they had hoped to. Anyone who cannot take these contests reasonably seriously, whether playing for fun or for glory, should consider another type of recreational activity. If everyone plays gentlemanly and honestly, and within the spirit of the rules, then the contest will be more enjoyable for all. Fair play is essential in all cases. StyleEach member has his own unique style of team management. This is encouraged. Whether a member plays all-out to win, or just enters for the benefits of fraternity, each Greenbear is an individual. Style also applies to conduct. It is not a question of conformance, but of personal respect. In the Greenbears League, owners should demonstrate decency and courtesy. Humor is appreciated, within the bounds of good taste; mixed with a burst of exuberant overconfidence, that too is tolerated. Naming a team is one of the best parts of fantasy sports. It's a chance to show your creativity, or recognize your interests or heritage. Unfortunately, many leagues and owners don't realize this, resulting in team names that are dull, unprofessional, or undignified. Names that sound like they belong to a bowling league or factory softball team are not acceptable. This is the Greenbears League. Vulgarity and disrespect sometimes find a place in the forum of conversation or on the printed page, but not in our league scorebooks. No offensive nicknames will be accepted. Teams must be tied to a city, state, or geographic area, as all professional teams are. You don't have to choose a big city; but many members do, so consider the possibility. Think about cities (and usually states) that don't have a team in that particular sport. You are welcome to use the lengthy list of team nicknames which the Commissioner has available, if necessary. Try not to choose a team name which sounds like something from pro soccer or lacrosse. (Haven't we all heard enough bad team names?) Pick a nickname for which you could readily identify the mascot if you saw it. The Sports CommissionerThe Commissioner is in charge of the league contests. He must find a way to get fast, accurate stats to other owners, collect fees on time, and be impartial in settling disputes (which sometimes involve his team). The Commissioner may act as advisor for new owners, and he may help other owners arrange trades. He is not required to comment on the advisability of any transaction, although it is certainly legal for him to do so. He should provide reasonably accurate information as possible. It is an owner's responsibility to inquire about a player's health prior to making a transaction. The Commissioner may help you find information about injuries but is not required to do so. Please do not call and ask who is available as a free agent. The Commissioner can only point you to the newspapers and the transaction lists. Finding scores for non-roster players is not his job - you are responsible for your own scouting. The Commissioner may also set limits on call-ins. The Commissioner will consult with other owners concerning rules questions not covered here, but ultimately the Commissioner has the power to create and enforce rules whether here or implied. The Commissioner will be the final arbiter in disputes, and all decisions will be final. Protests may be issued concerning such issues as rules interpretations, scoring, player position eligibility, and trades. All protests must be filed with the Commissioner at least 48 hours before the transaction deadline for the next scoring period, so that the Commissioner has time to examine the question and make a ruling before the next game; otherwise the results will stand as announced. (One exception would be in baseball, which plays games continuously. Baseball protests must be filed within 48 hours of the sending of weekly stats. Another exception: any protests at the end of any sports season must be filed within 48 hours of the sending of final season stats.) The main purpose of having a commissioner is to handle transactions, keep score, and distribute those scores. Enforcing rules is one of those things that just has to get done sometimes, unfortunately. There is no procedure for changing the Commissioner or choosing a new one. The Commissioner binds the Greenbears together. It is up to him to leave the job, and to find a new Commissioner; or to the members to jointly leave the group, start their own, and elect their own Commissioner there. Unexpected EventsLimits might exist on what the Commissioner can do in case of unexpected events. Owners who resign, regardless of circumstances, are not due any refunds for fees. Calamities may cause suspension of league contests. In case of another players' strike or owners' lockout, fantasy league owners are basically out the money they spent - no refunds unless this comes from the stat service. In the event of a player being banned, or suffering injury or illness, no relief will be awarded to that fantasy team. The only exception would be a team disaster, which would affect all league teams to some extent. A free agent draft might be arranged in this event, based on current standings (in reverse), to fill these open positions. Protected lists might be necessary. Further instructions will be given should they ever be needed. DraftsEach season a player draft will be held. This may be an open draft or by proxy list only, depending on circumstances. This will be determined by the Commissioner. The draft will be held on the date best determined by the commissioner to allow all available team owners to enter (or attend). Unless they will attend an open draft, owners should then submit a proxy draft list to be administered by the commissioner. This list may be made up in any coherent manner but should include all possible draft selections desired by that owner. Anytime that the list is exhausted, players may be selected based on previous season's scores or other rankings. An eligible player list (EPL) will usually be made available to the owners prior to the draft. If the draft is open, a time limit considered practical will be administered by the commissioner, and the deputy commissioner will assist if necessary. Owners who exceed this limit may still select players but other owners may go ahead and draft in their own turns. The teams will draft in order of a random drawing conducted by the Commissioner, or in reverse order of the previous season's finish for perpetual leagues, unless otherwise specified in that sport's rules. TradingGreenbears can make trades only where the rules of that particular sport allow it. Because there have been so many problems in the past due to player trades, they are banned in most Greenbears sports. Where allowed, many restrictions are necessary to insure fair play. Trades are allowed in baseball because it is our only perpetual league, meaning players are kept for more than one season. Please consult the rules of baseball for more information on trading players. Trades can be used to abuse the intent of the game. This will not be tolerated. All trades are subject to review, and any trade can be vetoed by the Commissioner if it is deemed by him to be unfair (or would be bad for the league in general.) The Commissioner will use fair judgement in these matters, and will attempt to give other owners the benefit of the doubt. He will consult with the Deputy Commissioner and other owners in case of a possible serious breach of sportsmanship. However, questionable trades must be checked for the best interest of all owners. All information here is Copyright 1999, by The Greenbears! |