Become Your Husband's (Football) Fantasy!

Ladies, does "clipping" make you think of trimming your hair? Does "facemask" make you think of slathering green mud on your face? Well huddle up! It's time to change your thinking!

September brings school buses, cooler temperatures, changing leaves, and the beginning of pro football. It's easy for us to feel pushed aside and ignored during football season, but I have some tips on how to learn the game, get involved, and actually enjoy yourself while doing it. My secret? FANTASY FOOTBALL!

I personally hated football and had no desire to watch the game, much less learn how it's played. Then I found out about the fantasy leagues. They're incredibly easy to join and the skill level ranges from novice to expert. What do you need to learn before joining? Here are some essentials:

1. Learn the basics of the game of football.
Take some time to learn the player positions, penalties and yardage, and how the game is scored. Football for Wives is a fabulous resource. Check them out at http://www.stsent.com/_football/dummies.htm.

2. Choose a fantasy league.
There are plenty of websites that offer fantasy football. Check out www.sports.yahoo.com, www.nfl.com, and www.espn.go.com, to begin. I have played in the Yahoo! leagues since I began 3 years ago and find them very user friendly. (Please note that some sites charge a fee for joining, while others are free.)

3. Choose the type of overall scoring you like.
Generally you'll find the scoring as either "head-to-head" or "points". In a head-to-head league you will compete against one other person, or team, each week and your ranking will depend upon your win/loss record. In a points league, you will be ranked based solely on points achieved.

4. Consider the type of draft in which you'd like to participate.
I've found that there are generally 3 options for drafts: live, auto, and offline. There are pros and cons to each type. There is nothing like the thrill of a live draft, however, it is perfectly acceptable (and maybe advisable) to choose an auto draft or an offline draft for your first attempt.

5. The number one rule of fantasy football: KNOW HOW YOUR LEAGUE IS SCORED!!!
It is absolutely imperative to know how the points are awarded in your league. If running backs get a point for every 10 yards gained and wide receivers get a point for every 30 yards gained, you will want to set your draft to stock up on top-notch running backs. While that is an extreme example, you do need to check the scoring rules before you join. There are league commissioners out there who will tweak the rules and hope you don't catch on.

6. Last, but not least, purchase a fantasy football magazine.
It may seem a little pricey at around $8, but they are chock full of draft tips, sleeper picks, as well as individual and team stats. I keep mine beside me during every draft!

I joined my first league in 2004 and am currently managing 4 teams, enjoying two e-trophies, and hearing my husband say "Honey, my league is drafting. Who do YOU think I should take?"

Sundays are different around my house now. There's plenty of trash talking between us as we pull for our respective players or share an occasional curse word when the wrong guy gets the touchdown, but it's time spent together. What greater reward is there?