This study applies structuration theory to online communities in three fantasy sports leagues. The results were consistent with past structuration research in that offline structures played important roles in forming online communities. When an offline power structure did not exist, a group of individuals established themselves as dominant in the online communities.

Rules of conduct and communication in the online communities were also largely based on offline counterparts. The transfer of rules from offline to online appeared to be positively related to the transfer of power structure to online communities. When no offline power structure existed, online communication was largely ungoverned and frequently broke social norms and etiquette.