S25 Expansion

[woelkers]

I don't normally like to write posts that put a bit of a damper on things... but let me get this straight.  You picked someone who is already currently the GM of an ISFL team and someone who was very recently the GM of another ISFL team to GM new expansion teams instead of giving it to literally anyone else who puts time into the league who hasnt had that opportunity yet? Nothing personal to the selections (I'm sure they'll be awesome and I really do look forward to seeing the branding) but I kind of expected better from a league that talks about player/community growth.

If you don't mind, I'm going to take this just a bit personally. I've found it doesn't hurt to have a chip on one's shoulder when facing a task of this magnitude.

Thank you for the kind words tucked into the parentheses as well. I appreciate that (alongside all the other kind words in this thread).

[shadyshoelace]

I don't normally like to write posts that put a bit of a damper on things... but let me get this straight.  You picked someone who is already currently the GM of an ISFL team and someone who was very recently the GM of another ISFL team to GM new expansion teams instead of giving it to literally anyone else who puts time into the league who hasnt had that opportunity yet? Nothing personal to the selections (I'm sure they'll be awesome and I really do look forward to seeing the branding) but I kind of expected better from a league that talks about player/community growth.

If you don't mind, I'm going to take this just a bit personally. I've found it doesn't hurt to have a chip on one's shoulder when facing a task of this magnitude.

Thank you for the kind words tucked into the parentheses as well. I appreciate that (alongside all the other kind words in this thread).

Uh oh, y'all just unleashed the beast

[woelkers]

I don't normally like to write posts that put a bit of a damper on things... but let me get this straight.  You picked someone who is already currently the GM of an ISFL team and someone who was very recently the GM of another ISFL team to GM new expansion teams instead of giving it to literally anyone else who puts time into the league who hasnt had that opportunity yet? Nothing personal to the selections (I'm sure they'll be awesome and I really do look forward to seeing the branding) but I kind of expected better from a league that talks about player/community growth.

If you don't mind, I'm going to take this just a bit personally. I've found it doesn't hurt to have a chip on one's shoulder when facing a task of this magnitude.

Thank you for the kind words tucked into the parentheses as well. I appreciate that (alongside all the other kind words in this thread).

Uh oh, y'all just unleashed the beast

Oh shoot who let you off your leash?

[Ben]

applied

[NicholasTheGreat]

I feel you there, and there certainly seem to be pros to picking either experienced or new GMs (I can't claim to know how HO makes these decisions). The fact is that this is typically how expansions seem to go. Between adamS and oles in S16 and dwyer/raven and raindelay/frost in S22, the expansion GMs tend to be long-time league vets with GM and/or HO experience. I think Sarasota is the only team of the four with no prior ISFL GM experience, and both of them had been DSFL GMs.

anyway, congrats all!

Yup, basically this. We want to make sure the expansion teams have as strong a base to start on as possible - they’re brand new teams and don’t have the foundation that currently existing teams already have. I fully encourage users with less experience with management to join their teams war rooms or apply to be their GMs, because there is more support in already existing teams to ensure success.

The pool this time around was pretty good and if we had to go to 4 I think we’d have 4 really good pairings. We had to narrow down to 2 and trust me, that was a difficult decision for HO.

If this is the case, why bother actually having applicants when 90% of them will never be considered? You may produce the best bid ever but because you don't have the experience, you go straight in the trash pile.

[Tylus]

Just make it a prerequisite that you have to have GM or HO experience for one of the members, waste a lot less of peoples time if you know you're going to only hire people with those credentials anyway. Just a thought. Congrats again to the people who got selected, they were definitely deserving!

[IsaStarcrossed]

Just make it a prerequisite that you have to have GM or HO experience for one of the members, waste a lot less of peoples time if you know you're going to only hire people with those credentials anyway. Just a thought. Congrats again to the people who got selected, they were definitely deserving!

I actually have to agree with this wholeheartedly. Imagine putting in all the time, effort, and creativity into making an awesome expansion bid. You're putting yourself out there, you're working extra time to make it happen. Then you come here and find out you never even had a chance because you don't have experience despite it not being mentioned anywhere that there are prerequisites. It makes it feel like it doesn't matter what your bid is. They pick the GMs first, the actual bid second. Not saying this is what happened, but it is hard to not see it that way.

Don't get me wrong, I love both picks. I honestly do think these are two of the strongest applications there could have possibly been. Great GMs, great people. That doesn't make it more fair to the people who never really had a chance but weren't told that.

[bex]

I feel you there, and there certainly seem to be pros to picking either experienced or new GMs (I can't claim to know how HO makes these decisions). The fact is that this is typically how expansions seem to go. Between adamS and oles in S16 and dwyer/raven and raindelay/frost in S22, the expansion GMs tend to be long-time league vets with GM and/or HO experience. I think Sarasota is the only team of the four with no prior ISFL GM experience, and both of them had been DSFL GMs.

anyway, congrats all!

Yup, basically this. We want to make sure the expansion teams have as strong a base to start on as possible - they’re brand new teams and don’t have the foundation that currently existing teams already have. I fully encourage users with less experience with management to join their teams war rooms or apply to be their GMs, because there is more support in already existing teams to ensure success.

The pool this time around was pretty good and if we had to go to 4 I think we’d have 4 really good pairings. We had to narrow down to 2 and trust me, that was a difficult decision for HO.

If this is the case, why bother actually having applicants when 90% of them will never be considered? You may produce the best bid ever but because you don't have the experience, you go straight in the trash pile.

Experience can be a differentiating factor and often is, but it's not the end all be all. Of our top six teams 2 of those featured individuals without GM or HO experience. All applications are looked at, even those without traditional experience. I also think that expansion applications are a great way to get on HO's radar for future opportunities, even if they do not result in getting a team.

[NicholasTheGreat]

I feel you there, and there certainly seem to be pros to picking either experienced or new GMs (I can't claim to know how HO makes these decisions). The fact is that this is typically how expansions seem to go. Between adamS and oles in S16 and dwyer/raven and raindelay/frost in S22, the expansion GMs tend to be long-time league vets with GM and/or HO experience. I think Sarasota is the only team of the four with no prior ISFL GM experience, and both of them had been DSFL GMs.

anyway, congrats all!

Yup, basically this. We want to make sure the expansion teams have as strong a base to start on as possible - they’re brand new teams and don’t have the foundation that currently existing teams already have. I fully encourage users with less experience with management to join their teams war rooms or apply to be their GMs, because there is more support in already existing teams to ensure success.

The pool this time around was pretty good and if we had to go to 4 I think we’d have 4 really good pairings. We had to narrow down to 2 and trust me, that was a difficult decision for HO.

If this is the case, why bother actually having applicants when 90% of them will never be considered? You may produce the best bid ever but because you don't have the experience, you go straight in the trash pile.

Experience can be a differentiating factor and often is, but it's not the end all be all. Of our top six teams 2 of those featured individuals without GM or HO experience. All applications are looked at, even those without traditional experience. I also think that expansion applications are a great way to get on HO's radar for future opportunities, even if they do not result in getting a team.

On the radar for what? Head Office? Oh wait, there was no public job posting. 

4 seasons time when there is another expansion? Oh wait, they still might not have the GM experience. 

If what you say is the case, maybe tell it to other members of HO who say the opposite.

[bex]

I feel you there, and there certainly seem to be pros to picking either experienced or new GMs (I can't claim to know how HO makes these decisions). The fact is that this is typically how expansions seem to go. Between adamS and oles in S16 and dwyer/raven and raindelay/frost in S22, the expansion GMs tend to be long-time league vets with GM and/or HO experience. I think Sarasota is the only team of the four with no prior ISFL GM experience, and both of them had been DSFL GMs.

anyway, congrats all!

Yup, basically this. We want to make sure the expansion teams have as strong a base to start on as possible - they’re brand new teams and don’t have the foundation that currently existing teams already have. I fully encourage users with less experience with management to join their teams war rooms or apply to be their GMs, because there is more support in already existing teams to ensure success.

The pool this time around was pretty good and if we had to go to 4 I think we’d have 4 really good pairings. We had to narrow down to 2 and trust me, that was a difficult decision for HO.

If this is the case, why bother actually having applicants when 90% of them will never be considered? You may produce the best bid ever but because you don't have the experience, you go straight in the trash pile.

Experience can be a differentiating factor and often is, but it's not the end all be all. Of our top six teams 2 of those featured individuals without GM or HO experience. All applications are looked at, even those without traditional experience. I also think that expansion applications are a great way to get on HO's radar for future opportunities, even if they do not result in getting a team.

On the radar for what? Head Office? Oh wait, there was no public job posting. 

4 seasons time when there is another expansion? Oh wait, they still might not have the GM experience. 

If what you say is the case, maybe tell it to other members of HO who say the opposite.

Head Office is made of individuals who weigh things differently. For some, experience is more heavily weighted. I'm simply saying that not having experience isn't an automatic rule out generally, at least as far as I am concerned. 

HO advertised for intern applications before the season began. The listing was posted publicly on the forums. As always, if someone is interested in Head Office, I'd encourage them to reach out to us. We're always looking to put people on our consideration list, regardless if we're actively taking applications or not. 

On the radar for a great many things. HO or GM openings sure, other work that comes up, etc. We talk to a lot of people in a lot of areas in the league and can make recommendations as we get to know people and the skills and talents they bring to the league.