Lsfl official website up

[chuckyman]

LSFL WEBSITE FULLY UP AND RUNNING. CHECK IT OUT AND TELL YOUR OPINIONS OF IT.

http://www.texaslsfl.com/

[treyingeorgia]

It's not very good honestly... kinda a square peg in a round hole...

[chuckyman]

I would tend to agree that it could be better, but it is alot better than the initial site. hopefully they will continue to make changes to it to get it on par with the PIFL site.

[treyingeorgia]

Chuck the company that did the SIFL site is the same one doing the PIFL and there site's are about as generic as you can get. I know firsthand who is designing the LSFL and it too will be about as basic as you can get.

Generic and Basic go hand in hand here... if your looking for a site that will make your jaw drop this isn't the case unfortunately...

What is sad is that I know what could have been done and I just don't see it happening here.

[chuckyman]

Trey I completely understand, I design websites, so I see improvements that can be made on both sites. For the time being I think it will suit them till the first season is under their respective belts.

[treyingeorgia]

I design them as well - one of my site's is a team in the LSFL and I have first-hand knowledge of the individual designing the site...

Oh well we shall see...

Trey

[coachingubigr]

And you have to remember the PIFL ans LSFL aren't working with nfl.com size budgets.

[chuckyman]

Trey did you design Amarillo's? if so great job, I think that flows a bit better than some of other around the country I have seen.

@Coach, you don't need NFL size budgets and pockets to design a great, creative website. Which is the misconception most don't know, a simply website can have a high professional gloss it just depends on the amount of content and design you want to use.


I think their site will need some definite changes in the long run, but it works for right now because most laymen don't recognize these design flaws.

[treyingeorgia]

Yes I did Chuck and I was supposed to be involved with the development of this site; but, unfortunately that fell through due to philosophical difference's.

[Minor League Man]

I notice it lists one more team to be announced...wonder who that last team is gonna be?

[chuckyman]

Doubtful they add any more teams at this point. They are going to play 12 game season and in order to keep pace with the PIFL to set up the possible Chmpionship bowl. So for right now I can foresee them being done with expansion since right now any other additions would seem haphazard.

@trey I can definitely see the difference with your design versus the other developer. I think your design brought clean look with a great deal of "pop" its a shame they did not let you continue on the league site. I also take it that the rest of the teams will have websites designed by the Beyond Sports Crew?

[treyingeorgia]

Thanks Chuck.. alot of trial and error went into that design and yes they are supposed to be designing the other site's...

[jerry101jlh]

@Coach, you don't need NFL size budgets and pockets to design a great, creative website. Which is the misconception most don't know, a simply website can have a high professional gloss it just depends on the amount of content and design you want to use.

Bingo! I realize much goes into a website design and more importantly the "right" content, but even so, not rocket science, nor a NASA sized budget needed either. The NFL and other pro websites have always been a good guide that has been ignored for the most part.

[chuckyman]

@trey no problem I can always admire a colleagues work. I definitely look forward to seeing what the others will look like as well. the partnership between the BSN and LSFL can be lucrative if they play their cards right especially when it comes to scouting and recruitment of players

[chuckyman]

@Jerry yea trust me people tout these large budgets on web design. But any designer knows it can be done nicely and cheaply for the right price, but its the bloating of the website with content, images, video, media, that makes it expensive.

[jerry101jlh]

@Jerry yea trust me people tout these large budgets on web design. But any designer knows it can be done nicely and cheaply for the right price, but its the bloating of the website with content, images, video, media, that makes it expensive.

That bloating you speak of comes over time and still doesn't have to add substantially to a budget. Hosting these days very inexpensive and not like it used to be with minimal storage. Software has also evolved making it easier for anybody to include video or other media and some good software out there for those purposes free and user friendly. I think one of the problems are teams and/or leagues get very confused over how to maintain the newer types of sites and opt for less bells and whistles to make the learning curve simpler. The content management sites which are the rule now were designed to be owner updated without the muss and fuss of traditional sites, yet I still see teams and leagues going back to the designer to update and of course there is a cost for that.

I like to see individuality in sites, especially for teams so they can express their own individual personality. I realize for example that the Phoenix designed sites are ok content wise and maybe easier for fans to find info going from one site to the next since all are clones, but to me they are just boring.

I could easily say you get what you pay for, but unfortunately that is not the case. A good site with tons of fan friendly content can easily be designed and not break the bank. But what do I know, only been playing around with web design since 1999.

[chuckyman]

@jerry I don't know whether we are saying the same thing or disagreeing a little on things lol, but I think we are agreeing with each other just stating different points.

Content management is key as you said you can go with a CMS or you can build one. But as you know design is a large role, as well as available content. When it comes to price you could give a team something lean and mean that looks as professional as possible but they want more and more to be added into it which racks up dollars. Good for our pockets ,lol, bad for a team who is trying to keep price down.

[jerry101jlh]

@jerry I don't know whether we are saying the same thing or disagreeing a little on things lol, but I think we are agreeing with each other just stating different points.

Content management is key as you said you can go with a CMS or you can build one. But as you know design is a large role, as well as available content. When it comes to price you could give a team something lean and mean that looks as professional as possible but they want more and more to be added into it which racks up dollars. Good for our pockets ,lol, bad for a team who is trying to keep price down.

We just disagreed on content as in I misunderstood what you were saying. You do a regular site, design wise, much like a content management one, home page and a template for all others. The biggest difference as you know is that with a regular site there is more time involved because its a true custom job.

The biggest problem I had with content as per your definition was teams would say they want this or that and then you end up with bunches of empty pages because they won't supply the content asked for. Used to be for me I'd have to go back and redo menus for each and every page to delete a no content provided page, but since have learned how to do menus that are more global, so just one place to add or delete.

I have no idea what people charge for websites these days, but I question whether I couldn't put together a league site and team sites for pretty close to what say Phoenix charges. Now Infinity, which has seemed to disappear some, I could beat hands down and design and operate a site for several years on what they were charging.

Now for example, the IFL site. They prefer to keep that old out of date, not great looking site because they understand how to manage it and don't want to spend the money to upgrade it. The UIFL sites may all be clones of each other, but at least have some good styling. The PIFL if I remember correctly, the age old, worn out Phoenix design. I was glad the LSFL went a different direction although can't say I'm impressed.

[chuckyman]

@ jerry those are my thoughts on all the sites as well. if you look at the Venom's site at govenom.com Same company as for the LSFL but you can see the styling differences but they have a more unique feel. I am sure they will continue to update and upgrade just to bring everything more in line, but did anyone notice an 8th emblem on their site like they are adding another team?

[jerry101jlh]

Good chance this LSFL site will be updated in good order since BSN has a vested interest in things. Yes, noticed question mark and wondering if they are manufacturing an 8th team. If an 8th pops up I'm going to be very interested in who owns it.

[daytonadan]

It's pretty.

[Trish_lvs_Baltimore]

LSFL's new website setup looks pretty cool!!!! Looks professional. ;)

[treyingeorgia]

Jerry I am the Venom's Web Designer and I was a partner ( or I thought I was- the BSN Principle thought otherwise after telling me for a couple of years that we were in this together only to tell me I will call you when I need you ), I can tell you that the odds of the LSFL Website being updated or customized are pretty remote. Unless the light bulb goes off with him he has the artistic feel of a hammer and not much customization is going to happen.

To give you an idea: that site and the Venom site are the same template which I customized to the hilt after much trial and error. Got any question's let me know.

Trey

[Devil Dawg]

I actually complimented you on your venom website to Darlene but my understanding was that BSN was not only doing the league site but redesigning all the team sites so that they would all have the same layout. They are doing the web maintenance of each team for $100 a month per team. Guess they were the lowest bidder.

[treyingeorgia]

Devil Dawg thanks for the props- really appreciate it!!! That probably hit a nerve with the BSN Principal since our divorce was quite messy. If he is going to duplicate my layout I will be pleasantly surprised... I just don't see it due to his lack of creativity...etc...

Trey

...for s&^ts and giggle's I might throw up an unofficial site for the league, I've got some idea's I'd like to work on...

[Devil Dawg]

...for s&^ts and giggle's I might throw up an unofficial site for the league, I've got some idea's I'd like to work on... [/QUOTE]

I for one would like to see that if you think it would be worth your time and effort.

[treyingeorgia]

We'll see Devil Dawg... I've got some idea's of what it could and should look like...

Trey