Spotlight On: Online League Management

Homegrown Sports specializes in running private leagues for those that want complete control over how they play the game, but don't want to pay a fortune for their league.

In our 6th season managing leagues, Homegrown Sports has all the features you would expect from a premier league management service. Live scoring, custom rules, individual defensive players… it's all there. Even more important, leagues on Homegrown Sports are meant to be used year round. There is no better way to prepare for your draft than by using historical data with your own scoring system. Our leagues track player rankings, head to head match-ups, league standings, even draft history, all available 24/7, season after season. There's even a section that keeps your league's all time records.

Even with all the features, we place our largest effort on making sure our commissioners and players are happy. 100% of the features we add each season come from suggestions from our current leagues. We make special effort to deal with our commissioners on a personal basis. I've spent far too many days waiting for a response from some company's tech support group to answer my questions or concerns. We want to make sure that everyone gets the type of response and information that we would want as a customer.

By keeping our prices low and our commissioners happy, we hope that leagues will continue to use our service season after season. League management services don't have to be expensive, they just have to be good. That's what we're trying to accomplish.

Summary of your league hosting service:

Homegrown Sports offers custom, private leagues at a fraction of the cost of the average online service. We offer all the features you would expect from your fantasy service: live scoring, custom scoring systems, and IDP players all included in the price. Add in top quality customer support that actually listens to your comments, and you've got Fantasy League Manager 2004.

New Features for 2004:

For 2004, we've added the following new features:

Faster Live Scoring
Injured Reserve
Transaction Fee Tracking
Commissioner Approved Transactions

Unique Features in your package:

Season After Season reporting,
Player Trend Graphs
Flex Positions

Website: www.homegrownsports.com

Link to FAQ?
www.homegrownsports.com/nfl_football/leaguemanagerfaq.html

Is there a desktop version of your hosting software available? If yes, please describe.

II. DRAFTING

How is drafting handled at your site? Are Auction Leagues an option?:

We offer an offline and online draft service. Offline drafts are those done in person and the results of the draft are entered into the site. Online drafts allow team owners to rank their players and then, at the designated draft time, the computer divvies out the results.

Is pre-drafting an option? If so, please describe how pre-drafting works.

N/A

Draft trading capability - can picks in current drafts be traded before or during the draft? Can picks in future years be traded (and tracked)?

Ability to keep teams from year-year (keeper leagues, dynasty leagues)?

Yes, leagues are meant to stay season after season. Keeper leagues are also supported.

III. LINEUPS, SCORING, REPORTS

Owners set lineups how?

Owners login to their team and adjust their lineups at will.

When is the deadline for submitting lineups each week?

It's customizable for each league.

Live Scoring Updates? If Yes, How often does Live Scoring update?

Live Scoring updates every 2 to 3 minutes.

Can leagues create and alter their own scoring system?

Yes, they can choose from a Scoring Template, or create their own scoring system.

Is there a way to award point bonuses based on game milestones? (Qb rating > xx, RB yards > 100, Receiving yards > 100, etc)

Yes, there are two different scoring methods to award this type of score. Ranged (X points from Y to Z yards) or Base+Increment (X pts at Y yards plus A pts for each B after)

Individual Defensive Players scoring?

Yes, leagues can run either IDP or team defenses.

What is the source for NFL scoring data?

Stats Inc

How are scoring discrepancies handled?

Commissioners have the ability to edit any team's score or record as they see fit. We use the Stats Inc data as the standard and then let the commissioner decide if they want to score differently.

Head Coach position available?

Yes

Customizable reports?

There are 20 different reports available to leagues.

Reports available when?

Some, as the games are played. The rest are available the morning after any game.

Can you have divisional play in leagues if desired?

Yes, you can have up to 4 divisions.

Dynasty functions (ie. salary tracking, contract tracking, archival ability?)

Draft history (including price) are recorded and presented in report form. Players may be kept from the previous season.

IV. FREE AGENCY AND TRADES IN-SEASON

Describe how your site handles FA Transactions (ie. Blind Bidding, Waiver, Worst to First)?

FA transaction can be done in two types: Waiver Wire or Deadline Style. Waiver wire works as real time transactions that team owners make themselves. Deadline style allows the teams to build a list of the FA's they want and at a custom deadline either the commissioner, or the site, divvies out the players.

Can leagues customize FA Transactions to fit their league rules?

Yes.

Email alerts for transactions, trades, etc?

Yes.

Can players make 2 for 1 or 3 for 1 trades?

Yes.

V. WEBSITE DESIGN, PERFORMANCE, TECH SUPPORT

Describe your Tech Support Process (links, email addys, etc.).

Players can submit questions via form once logged in, or via email.

Average response time to queries?

Same day

Describe your Hardware configuration (# and type of servers, etc.)

Dell P4 multi-processor

VI. CUSTOMIZATION OPTIONS

Can users create a League Website/Newsletter?

Each league has a private bulletin board.

Message Board or Chat Room capability?

Team owners can send private messages to other teams via the Messaging functionality.

Photographs allowed on Message Board (or other space)? If yes, maximum size in KB?

Off-Season Accessibility?

Yes

How are League and Team Graphics handled, if available?

By request, logos can be uploaded to the league.

VII. COSTS

Prior Year Cost per League?

$44.99

Upcoming Year Cost per League?

$44.99

Payment Methods accepted?

Mastercard, Visa, Discover, AMEX, Money Order

Fees for FA transactions?

Other Fees your site charges?

None

Money back guarantee if not satisfied?

Three week free trial.

Discounts for multiple leagues?

10% off for multiple leagues.

Demo or Free Trial Available? If So, Link:

Create and run your league for the first 3 weeks of the season.

FINAL THOUGHTS

We want to provide fantasy players with a quality service that is fun, complete, and easily affordable. If you are looking for highly customizable leagues with a company that listens (and answers!) your questions and comments, we're the place to be.