If you want to play in a tried-and-true format and create your team right now, standard leagues (Classic and SSG) are open to the public 24/7. But if you want to try something different, Custom Leagues – created by customers – are there in abundance..

There are franchise leagues, progression leagues, captains leagues, high and low salary cap leagues, “rags to riches” leagues, alphabet leagues, place of birth leagues … the possibilities are limited only by your imagination.

Diamond Mind Online would not be the same if the Community did not include some of the most clever and prolific creators of Custom Leagues. We’ll be featuring one of these in this space each month.

This month we’re visiting with Jeff (rheinlander) Gerhardstein, the current commissioner of the Accelerated Rewind leagues.

Tell us something about yourself: age, occupation, marital status, where you live, and interests (apart from DMO, of course).

I’m 56 and live in West Richland, Washington. I teach English composition, literature, and creative writing at Yakima Valley College at a rural campus in Grandview, Washington, about thirty miles away in Yakima Valley. I am in my fifth year teaching here and have previously taught at several other colleges, including Spokane Community College.

I grew up in the area where I live now and never imagined that I would move back (I moved away in 1997), but am glad that I did because I enjoy my job and have a nice condo that I was able to buy. My parents are in their eighties and recently moved back to the area, too, from where they had retired in Montana sixteen years ago.

When did you start playing DMO and how did it first come to your attention?

My first league at Imagine Sports was in 2006, in a few of the beta leagues when the site was new. Before that, I had played at ESPN and Stats, starting in late 2001. I must have seen an ad online and thought I’d give it a try. My grandfather had died during the holidays in 2001 and assembling a team proved to be a welcome and fun outlet, one that I had no idea would continue until now. I usually play anywhere from two to four leagues at once and have probably not had a week without a team since I first started.

You’re the current commissioner of the Accelerated Rewind leagues, as well as being a regular participant in many other continuing leagues. Tell us something about Accelerated Rewind.

I have been running the Accelerated Rewind leagues for about seven or eight years, I think. At first I just wanted a regular standard league with a slightly higher salary cap, so I started Accelerated Standard and gave it a 120 million salary cap. When that league was done, I decided to do it again, but with an extra million added, so 121. This then turned into 122 the next time, then 123, and so on, until we hit 150. At that point, I thought okay let’s rewind to 120, so we did, but I changed the name to Accelerated Rewind. When we rewound after that we started again at 110. So, we are now in the second Accelerated Rewind, in the middle of our 142 million payroll season. We play about one league per month using the nine games per day schedule. I don’t like high cap all that much, so once we hit 150 I’m ready to reel it back to a lower cap. I like how the challenge of the salary cap changes from one league to the next, though. It’s mostly imperceptible from one league to the next. At first, you can afford a slightly better reliever, then the next league an even better one. In about ten leagues, you can start the season with a stud closer.

What do you find particularly enjoyable about the “continuing leagues” format?

Some things that have made me want to continue these leagues include the friendliness and quality of play from other owners. We have a core group of return players–some who play in every league and others who step in now and then and stay for three or four leagues and then come back a few months or a year later. We are usually able to fill leagues quickly, and when there is an open spot or two I often get messages from past players asking if they can enter a team. I also feel like these leagues give me good preparation for other leagues with strong competition, like the Grand Open Tournament.

Is there any advice you would give to people who haven’t created a Custom League before, but would like to give it a try?

I would recommend that if anyone has an idea they would like to try, to form a league. If they’re unsure about some of the settings or if there would be interest, post some questions on the Custom Leagues board or on the Advice board. Running your own league is a great way to meet other owners, gain experience, and try out new things.