Im in a .Dynasty league that started in 1996.

we are 10 teams. PTS only. Goalies get bonus pts for %. (if they suck they can loose some pts)

at some point during the years, some have tanked.

We have added the following rules:

We made 2 divisions: a championship division et a lottery division (they actually have other names then that but its simpler to explain this way)

the bottum 4 get into a lottery for the 1st pick.

the 5th overall, gets relegated in the lottery division

the 6th overall, gets promoted in the championship division.

The 7th overall gets the MOST chances in the lottery

the 8th overall gets the 2nd MOST chances in the lottery

the 9th overall gets the 3rd MOST chances in the lottery

the 10th overall get the 4th MOST chances in the lottery.


Only someone in the championship division can win the title.

No one has tanked since... although you can see some GMs using trading and TRY to hit 7th overall which get the MOST chances in the lottery.

while a lottery really helps, I like to think the owners would be more loyal.

Saying that for years the leagues Ive run I havent really had too many problems in this regard. Funny its only been generally in Dynasty Basketball.

Yet strict rules that are implemented right from the start have really helped

1) As we get to the 2nd half of season - Message Board Reminder titled - Tanking Warning!
2) Email Warning to owner(s)
3) Loss of 2 or 3 spots from final position
4) Last pick of 1st RD
5) Loss of draft pick

Its only happened twice in these leagues & one resulted in a team losing 2 or 3 positions in the draft. They werent happy but rules are rules and incidentally they are still around.

Hey Sparrowtrini, how do you guys define "tanking?"

I like the clear rules as to what happens if someone tanks (I assume those are written into the rules), but how do you measure if someone is tanking? That, to me, seems to be the biggest challenge here.

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This is the problem in a nutshell, I think. If there was a clear definition that was easily enforceable in all cases...I've yet to hear it.

I think for the most part it would be not setting your lineups and in many cases sitting better players when u have a choice.

The first indicator would be not setting lineups though.

Thou in most cases its pretty obvious, we have to be careful though as sometimes a team will sit ie; a Goalie due to the team hes playing or if he has enough cats on the final day.

I think that's a really dangerous line to be walking (sitting "better" players is tanking) - it borders on the idea that bad trades should be vetoed... both imply heavily that a GM isn't qualified to run their team.

In general, I like result-based dissuasions to tanking because it removes the impetus/reward of tanking.

I guess I'm pretty rigorous in how I interpret rules though, so something like saying "you just know" when someone is tanking doesn't wash with me. Of course, power to you if your league is down with it!

Good discussion, folks.

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This is why I set my rules in order. Sure perhaps something happens(an emergency) and owner is a way for a few days. But having seen the tanking warning(and also I ask my owners to post if possible when they go away) and having a reminder email wise(Pls note this reminder is not threat like and I often give them more then one. I usually ask them if they are ok. If theres any problems? Could I help them by setting their lineup etc...) they usually respond. And are more careful.

Believe me its usually other owners that alert me and I have to abide by the rules.

As Ive said Ive never had a problem with these rules. Why successful is that the owners know that there commish wont allow this to go on their leagues.

I dont understgand how u can compare these situations though. Because why would a Good GM start a fringe player over a Good one? And especially if he had a chance to win a certain cat?

All in all that is just one sign. The main one is not setting your lineup.

The key is to have rules aforetime so if a situation comes up u dont have the prob are poster ran into.

Whatever works for each league is great.