Rules: FFL FAQ - Free Fantasy Football

RULES: FFL FAQ

Rules Index

BASIC FAQs

Is fantasy football free?
How much does it cost for live scoring?
Where can I learn more about how to play ESPN Fantasy Football?

ESPN.com ACCOUNT FAQs

I cannot remember my user name/password. What can I do?
How do I change e-mail addresses?
I am experiencing log-in problems (forgotten password/user name)!
How do I make ESPN aware of inappropriate behavior on the message boards?
Why can't my son/daughter play?

LEAGUE INVITATION & JOINING FAQs

How do I join a league? I'm having problems accepting an invitation.

I am receiving a "cannot decode parameters" error when accepting an invitation. What do I do?

How do I find my friend's league?

How do I find my friend's custom league?

How do I invite friends to my league?

How do I invite my friends to join my custom league?

Concerning free fantasy football, can I be placed in a league with random users?

I can't join a league because I'm having problems using the link sent via e-mail.

I joined a league, and the timer counted down to zero, and now all it says is "please wait, processing" -- now I can't leave, or join another league!

How do I leave a league that I have joined (i.e., remove my team)?

How do I delete an owner and add another?

LEAGUE CREATION FAQs

Is there a limit to how many free leagues I am able to create?

How can I activate my league from last year?

How can I activate my league from last year?

How do I delete a league that I created?

DRAFTING FAQs

Why can't I join my draft using the flex (Flash) live online draft application?

Is the draft lobby still available?

Where is the draft lobby?

How do I join my draft from the Live Draft Lobby?

When is the last day I can draft a fantasy football team?

How do I change my draft date?

I drafted a team, but now I can't find it anywhere.

How do I trade draft picks?

What happens to our draft list if our LM changes the universe in our league?

Is it possible to participate in an NFL-style draft rather than a snake draft in customizable leagues?

What happens if I add new teams to a keeper league? How will their draft work?

GENERAL FAQs

Will 2009 fantasy football leagues still use ESPN default league settings? Will there be ESPN trade reviews and the investigation of collusion?

Why can't I customize my helmet?

How do I propose a trade?

According to your Rules and Restrictions, I am not eligible to win prizes playing ESPN Premium or Prize-Eligible Fantasy Games based on the state I live in. Why is this?

Are prizes available for free leagues?

How do I change my schedule? How do I make it so there aren't any byes?

How do I set up my schedule to play my division opponents twice and everybody else once?

Why are defensive touchdowns affecting my defense/special team points? The points were not scored against my defense.

When do players unlock?

BASIC FAQs

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Q. Is fantasy football free?
A: Yes, you can play the entire season for free, if you wish. However, if you decide to play for free, you will not be eligible for prizes at the end of the season.

Q. How much does it cost for live scoring?
A: Live scoring for ESPN Fantasy Football 2009 is completely FREE! You do not have to pay a dime to experience this great offer.

Q. Where can I learn more about how to play ESPN Fantasy Football?
A: Our ESPN Fantasy Specialists are available to advise and assist you on all things Fantasy Football - every day of the week, from 8am - 1am EST. Learn everything from how to play to team management strategy all season long. There's no question we can't answer (though we won't tell you who to start or bench - we leave that to the pros like the TMR and others). Just call us at 888-549-ESPN (3776).

ESPN.com ACCOUNT FAQs

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Q. I cannot remember my user name/password. What can I do?
A: If you have any questions regarding billing or your account, or you need to remember a member name or password, please access our member services section here.

Q. How do I change e-mail addresses?
A: Click on the ESPN Member Services link: Member Services. Once there, click on the Member Information link to update your personal account information, including the e-mail address linked to your member name.

Q. I am experiencing log-in problems (forgotten password/user name)!
A: Click here for our Member Services page.
Once there, select the link for "Forgot your password?" or "Forgot your member name?" Enter your email address (the email address you used when you registered on ESPN.com) and we will immediately send you a message with your member name or password.

Q. How do I make ESPN aware of inappropriate behavior on the message boards?
A. If you are bothered by someone on the ESPN message boards, such as a "forum troll," a spammer or a person making personal attacks (i.e., "flaming"), click the Report Violation link on the offending post. All reported posts will be reviewed immediately.

Q. Why can't my son/daughter play?
A: Because of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998, there are limitations in place involving the release of personal information from children under 13. Because of the public nature of the FFL games (message boards, e-mail, etc.) we cannot guarantee such privacy and must exclude children under 13 from the game.

LEAGUE INVITIATION & JOINING FAQs

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Q. How do I join a league? I'm having problems accepting an invitation.
A: To join a league, you can visit the ESPN Fantasy Football front page and create your own league, join an existing public league or join a league on the Live Draft Lobby. If you have already been invited to a league, you will need to join by accessing the link sent to you in the invite e-mail. Make sure the whole URL is copied into the browser if the link itself is not working.

Q. I am receiving a "cannot decode parameters" error when accepting an invitation. What do I do?
A: If you are encountering the "cannot decode parameters" error, then we suggest that you have the league creator send you a new invitation. Clear your cookies and cache through the Internet options menu. Then accept the new invite. If you send the invite and it never arrives, then make sure that you have entered the correct e-mail address entered, and then send it again.

Also, make sure the invitation is not breaking into a second line on the invitation e-mail. If it breaks on a second line, you need to copy and paste the entire link into your browser.

Q. How do I find my friend's league?
A: If the league is a public standard league, you could search for it in the league directory. Otherwise, the LM of that league would have to invite you.

Q. How do I find my friend's custom league?
A: All custom leagues are private participation leagues. This means you will be able to join only if the league manager e-mails you with an invitation to join. This means either the LM or your friend must send you the invitation.

Q. How do I invite friends to my league?
A: To invite a player to your league, the LM must click on members from the league home page and assign a team by inputting the name and e-mail address in the appropriate slots. The invite will go out when you hit the submit button.

Q. How do I invite my friends to join my custom league?
A: League managers can access the Invite Members page by clicking on the Members link from the League Office. Enter the e-mail address of each person you want to join your league in the "send invitations" text box and click the "send invites" submit button. Click here to view more details.

Q. Concerning free fantasy football, can I be placed in a league with random users?
A: Yes, you can play for free and be placed in a public league with other random users. You will have the option to either create your own league or join a public/private group. All standard leagues will utilize a 10-team alignment while using the performance scoring method.

Q. I can't join a league because I'm having problems using the link sent via e-mail.
A: Below are examples of problems owners might experience in joining your private league and how you can go about fixing them. If one of the examples does not help rectify your problem, please contact customer care at 1-888-549-ESPN.

NO INVITATION RECEIVED

Your e-mail address entered by the league manager is simply incorrect. In this case, we ask you to communicate with the league manager to ensure they are entering your correct e-mail address.

Your corporate (or ISP's) firewall blocks e-mail from our ESPN servers. In this case, we recommend that the league manager use the "Send me a copy of each invite" option. Once the LM receives the "cc'ed" e-mail (which contains your team's unique join URL), he can then forward that e-mail to you via his own e-mail service (thus bypassing any firewall).

INVITATION RECEIVED; UNABLE TO JOIN LEAGUE
The league manager invites you to play and you receive the invite, but upon clicking the unique URL, the page returns saying you cannot join the league. This will happen for one of two reasons:

The league manager invited another owner to join the team after he/she invited you. Once a different e-mail address is entered and submitted, the system will make the unique URL (on the previous e-mail) null and void.
The league manager changed your e-mail address. As in the previous example, once a different e-mail address is entered and submitted, the system will void the unique URL on the previous e-mail. In both cases, we recommend that you contact the league manager to work out the details.

Q. I joined a league, and the timer counted down to zero, and now all it says is "please wait, processing" -- now I can't leave, or join another league!
A: This is caused when the league does not fill in time (normally by 60 minutes prior to draft time). In this case, team owners are able to leave or join another league after the slotted draft time expires.

Q. How do I leave a league that I have joined (i.e., remove my team)?
A: BEFORE your draft has taken place, simply click on the Leave League link on your team page.

NOTE: Once your free standard or prize-eligible league has drafted, you will no longer be able to leave the league. In custom leagues, your league manager can reassign ownership of your team to another owner. Also, if there is a second owner existing for your team, you can delete yourself from ownership by clicking on the Members link located at the top of the league home page. Once there you will see a Delete Owner link next to your name; click it and confirm the action, and you will be removed from ownership for that team.

Q. How do I delete an owner and add another?
A: Custom Leagues Only -- The league manager in a custom league can delete an owner and/or add another. The LM can do this by clicking on the Members link via the league home page. The LM can then click on the Add Second Owner link for the respective team. This will allow a second owner to be added to a team, or for a second owner to take over management of a team if the original owner can no longer do so.

Team owners in custom leagues are also able to invite someone to become a second owner of their team. To do so, click on the Members link at the top of your league home page. Click on the Add Second Owner link, enter the second owner's e-mail address and click "submit." The second owner will receive an invitation and will be able to join using the same process as the original owner.

Also, if there is a second owner existing for your team, you can delete yourself from ownership by clicking on the Members link located at the top of the league home page. Once there you will see a Delete Owner link next to your name, click it; confirm the action, and you will be removed from ownership for that team.

LEAGUE CREATION FAQs

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Q. Is there a limit to how many free leagues I am able to create?
A: Yes, you will be able to create 10 free leagues to use for this season. Just please keep in mind, joining free leagues will not make you eligible to win prizes.

Q. How can I activate my league from last year?
A: In order to activate last year's customizable league, the league manager will need to access the ESPN Fantasy Football front page. From here, you'll be able to activate your league. There is a section called "Reactivate your league."

Q. How do I delete a league that I created?
A: If you are participating in a custom league, you (the LM) will be able to click on "delete league" from the LM Tools page. If you created a standard league, you will be able to leave the league from your clubhouse page. You are unable to leave a free standard or prize-eligible league once it has drafted.

DRAFTING FAQs

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Q. Why can't I join my draft using the flex (Flash) live online draft application?
A: In order to experience a successful live draft, we ask that you please test your computer to make sure your computer has the appropriate Flash applet loaded properly on your machine prior to the draft process. The link can be found from your league home page. We also ask that you please lower or disable your anti-virus and/or firewall security settings. Once you complete your draft, you will be able to return the settings back to normal. If you do not have the Flash applet loaded, you may still participate using our HTML lite draft.

Q. Is the draft lobby still available?
A: For teams that just want to join a league to be drafted as soon as possible, we will have a draft waiting room where you can jump into a league. Another option would be to join a league from the league directory with the settings and draft type that you would like.

Q. Where is the draft lobby?
A: There are two types of draft lobbies to choose from: the Live Draft Lobby, where you can draft for a live league, and the Mock Draft Lobby, where you can practice drafting for nonexistent leagues.
Simply click on one of the following links for our two draft lobbies:

Live Draft Lobby

Mock Draft Lobby

Q. How do I join my draft from the Live Draft Lobby?
A: After you successfully join a lobby league, your team name and info will appear on the page in bold. The league's draft start time is displayed in the middle of the page and on the countdown clock below it.
Once your league is full at the listed start time, the lobby room page will automatically reload itself with a link to Launch Draft. On this view, a Java area will appear. Click on the "load" button to launch the Java applet. You can also access the Lite Draft application on the Launch Draft page.

Q. When is the last day I can draft a fantasy football team?
A: September 26th, for the 2009 season.

Q. How do I change my draft date?
A: Standard leagues must use referenda to change their respective draft date and time. The Referenda link can be found on the league home page of free standard and prize-eligible leagues only. In custom leagues, your league manager may change the date and even the type of draft.

Q. I drafted a team, but now I can't find it anywhere.
A: If you are unable to find your drafted team, it was either drafted under another member name, or you may have participated in a mock draft. If you know your member name and participated in a live draft but still are unable to find your drafted team, you should call customer care at 888-549-ESPN (3776).

Q. How do I trade draft picks?
A: Custom Leagues Only -- In custom leagues, trades can be made involving draft picks. Trades can be made involving exchanges of draft picks only, or (if in a keeper league) by trading some combination of player(s) and draft picks. It is important to note that you are trading for an owner's pick in a given round, and there is no assurance that the overall slot will remain the same.

NOTE: In Keeper Leagues -- Team owners cannot trade picks after keepers have been locked. So if you wish to trade draft picks, make sure you do so prior to the keeper selection deadline.

Q. What happens to our draft list if our LM changes the universe in our league?
A: Once the player universe is changed in customizable leagues, all of the draft lists are reset to reflect the new universe. The team owners will need to go back and make the necessary changes.

Q. Is it possible to participate in an NFL-style draft rather than a snake draft in customizable leagues?
A: Yes, the league manager will need to turn on "draft pick trading" on the LM Tools page. Then teams will need to manually trade the necessary draft picks to the correct teams. Also, league managers will be able to manually make all trades themselves by utilizing the "edit rosters" feature in LM Tools.

Q. What happens if I add new teams to a keeper league? How will their draft work?
A: A keeper-league draft will vary based on how many keepers your league manager set to keep for the upcoming season. For example, if the league is set to keep three players, there will be three keeper rounds. These picks will take place in the first three rounds of the draft. The picks will be auto-selected automatically when the team is slated to pick.

For all new teams, the owner would receive a pick in each of these three rounds. They would be able to choose from the available player pool. These include all players not being used as keepers on other teams. Please keep in mind the keeper rounds do not use a snake-style draft format.

GENERAL FAQs

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Q. Will 2009 fantasy football leagues still use ESPN default league settings? Will there be ESPN trade reviews and the investigation of collusion?
A: Yes, all of these features and more will be included when joining a standard league. League settings such as league setup, scoring and playoffs are predetermined. All you will have to do is set up your team, draft and play. If you were looking for more user options, please try our customizable leagues. Here, you will be able to determine which scoring options you would like to use and how many roster spots your team is to use. There are numerous features that can be customized to your liking.

TRADE REVIEW PROCESS In Free Standard leagues, there is a trade review period. This 48-hour review period allows your leagues team owners to review the trade to prevent collusion. The process is described below:

Your entire league can view a trade for 48 hours before it is processed. This is the only opportunity for team owners to veto a trade. The league message board and send email feature should be used to encourage other owners to participate in the vote.

Occasionally, some team owners intentionally or unknowingly cross the line (as is the case with collusion). We encourage everyone to observe the rules of fair play/conduct on the site, but please keep in mind that these rules will be enforced in premium (prize-eligible) standard leagues. In custom leagues, it is the job of the League Manager to review all trades if there is any question of collusion.

Q. Why can't I customize my helmet?
A: Currently, team owners can edit team logos and team names. All team owners can create their team logo using the ESPN logo builder tool. To use this option, click on Edit Team Logo link located at the top of the My Team page.

Owners in custom leagues have the additional option of linking to a graphic directly from the Web (allowing for more creativity). To do so, enter the URL of the desired image in the Web address field and click on "set logo."

NOTE: When the graphic is applied to your custom league team, the linked image will be forced to a size of 151 pixels wide and 129 pixels tall. For the best possible results, adjust the size of the image to this dimension to improve the quality/clarity of the image.

Q. How do I propose a trade?
A: To propose a trade, go to another person's main team page, click "propose trade" and select the player(s) you wish to receive. You will then be asked which of your player(s) you want to trade and be asked how long you wish the trade offer to be active for. You will be given the option of sending the owner an email explaining your interest in conjunction with the deal, or you can offer the trade without sending a corresponding email.

After the trade offer is submitted, the system will display a pending move on your team page, as well as on the other owner's page. In addition, the owner may receive an email informing them of the proposal had you selected that option during the trade offer process. That team owner can then go to his/her team page to review the deal, and either accept or decline it. If no action is taken within the specified number of days, the system will automatically cancel the trade offer. The pending move will then disappear on both team pages.

If the trade is rejected, you will receive an email notifying you of that result. If the offer is accepted, your entire league will be notified via email and the other team owners can review it based on your league settings.

Custom league note: If a team has multiple owners either of them can individually accept (or decline) the trade offer.

Q. According to your Rules and Restrictions, I am not eligible to win prizes playing ESPN Premium or Prize-Eligible Fantasy Games based on the state I live in. Why is this?
A. ESPN's Fantasy Games are subject to the laws of each of the fifty states. Any state excluded from prize eligibility in ESPN Fantasy Games is based on our review and interpretation of the applicable law in that state at that time. While these laws prevent us from permitting residents of excluded states from winning a prize in our Premium or Prize-Eligible Fantasy Games, they do not prevent such residents from paying an entry fee and playing for fun if they so choose. Currently, the following states are excluded from our Premium and Prize-Eligible Fantasy Games, which means participants residing in these states may pay an entry fee and play, but are ineligible to win a prize: Washington, Arizona, Maryland, Tennessee, Iowa, Louisiana, Vermont, Montana and North Dakota.

Q. Are prizes available for free leagues?
A: No, prizes are not available at the free league level. In order to be eligible for prizes, you must join a "prize-eligible" paid league and play according to ESPN's standard scoring format. Only then will your team be ready to climb the leaderboard and aim to be an ESPN Fantasy Football champion.

Q. How do I change my schedule? How do I make it so there aren't any byes?
A: Custom Leagues Only -- Available from the LM Tools page; this page allows your league manager to manually edit any matchup (and results) during the regular season and playoffs to change schedules and eliminate byes (where possible).

Q. How do I set up my schedule to play my division opponents twice and everybody else once?
A: In order to implement a schedule where you would play divisional foes twice and all other teams in the league once, you would need to fall under one of the following categories:

Note: If you have an unequal division size in your league, the schedule will not have a preference toward in-divisional play.

Q. Why are defensive touchdowns affecting my defense/special team points? The points were not scored against my defense.
A: The rule is team points and any points against will be deducted from the team. This is standard practice. At this time, we are not able to change the way the system awards points.

Q. When do players unlock?
A: All players will unlock early Tuesday morning . The players will then be available through free agency or waivers depending on your specific league settings.