Tips for Being a Great Fantasy Football Commissioner

Believe it or not, football season is closer than you think. Mini-camps are already being held and training camps open in July. So, now is the perfect time to start talking about fantasy football since leagues will begin forming in July, as well.

If you've always wanted to run your own fantasy football league or need a refresher on being a great commissioner, here are some tips to guide you.

Don't create a league and then disappear. The managers who sign up for your league are counting on you to make the league fun, fair and competitive. They are looking to you to make sure no one is cheating, that the host site's software is calculating points accurately and that other team managers are not abusive.

Whether you create your league through sites like ESPN, Yahoo or CBS Sportsline or devise a system on your own, it's important to let others know about your league, its settings and rules and what you expect from your managers. Doing this better assures getting the right team managers for your league.

After team managers have been recruited and your league is full, it's very important to let them know when your league will draft. After all, it's only fair that everyone gets an equally fair shot at players.

Once the season begins, be sure to stay in touch with team managers when necessary, answer their questions and concerns promptly, and always thank them when the season concludes.

Stay active with your league because it's a direct reflection on you. And that doesn't mean you have to spend hours-and-hours babysitting your team managers. Some of the best run leagues are those with very little hands-on time as long as the league commissioner (you) monitors the league correctly. Remember, what you do or don't do will determine the success of your league for the coming season and beyond.