I've just been waiting for S50 with silent anticipation. This is the half century mark of the league, and it's a monumental accomplishment. It makes me think back to all the incredible users who have helped the league survive and thrive into what it is today. Most of those have worked behind the scenes and don't get any recognition, or have had their work recognized but only a small amount of it. Some have received adequate recognition but have since been forgotten by the annals of time. Many users who have served in major capacities of the league have kind of just had their work forgotten, but it truly can never be forgotten. Everyone who has worked to make this league run is someone whose legacy will be forever remembered through the fact that the league still exists today. Every contribution, whether it be from league employment, media contributions, activity in Discord, or some other thing, know that your legacy is recognized and appreciated no matter how small it may seem. The league exists today in part because of what you have contributed.
Matt Turk was in awe of it all. Growing up in a rougher part of Columbus, he had never thought he would have access to state-of-the-art facilities like these for an entire season. Everything was bigger, grander, better than he thought possible. However, now was not the time to get caught up in luxury. He had just joined a league much tougher than anything he had faced yet, and it was time to put in some work, to prove to the world he was worth the number three overall pick. Turk didn’t know what to practice. He didn’t want there to be a reason for him to be moved down the depth chart, so he did a bit of everything. He tried to be well-rounded, improving his strength and hands. It definitely wasn’t a perfect first offseason, with many bumps along this strange new path. Yet Turk felt proud of what he had accomplished. He was ready to play some football. With fingers crossed, it was time to step on the field and shock the world.
My player took a balanced approach to the offseason. First, they dedicated a significant amount of time to studying the team’s playbook. Understanding the strategies and plays inside out was crucial to ensure they could hit the ground running once the season started. This involved countless hours of reviewing game footage, analyzing opponents’ tactics, and participating in virtual team meetings to discuss new plays and adjustments.
In addition to the mental preparation, my player was a gym rat, hitting the weights seven days a week. Strength and conditioning were top priorities, with a focus on building muscle, increasing endurance, and improving overall fitness. Early morning runs, intense weightlifting sessions, and agility drills became part of the daily routine.
However, it wasn’t all work and no play. My player also took some time off to recharge and relax. They went on an extravagant vacation to a tropical paradise, enjoying the sun, sand, and sea. This break was essential to return to the field with a refreshed mind and body, ready to tackle the challenges of the new season.
Overall, the offseason was a perfect blend of hard work, strategic preparation, and well-deserved relaxation, setting the stage for a successful S50 in the ISFL.
In the offseason Andre Benn has been putting in a lot of work. He has changed his play style completely to more closely match some of the other top receivers in the ISFL. Although his possession style coupled with some of the highest speed in the DSFL worked to win awards and set records at that level of football, the speed of players in the majors is on a different level. In order to keep up with and try to beat ISFL defenders, Benn has increased his speed by 11.11% this offseason. However this has meant he has lost some of his vertical reach making his catch radius smaller than what it was. Although his New Orleans career has started very successfully on a team level, winning two championships, Benn's individual stats have been lacking compared to his performance in the DSFL. Some may remember it took a couple of seasons for him to get to that point though, being outshined by teammate Pitter Patter in his first two DSFL seasons.
Donatello McTurtle || CB/OL #72 || Tijuana || New York || S33-S44
Ben Alexander-Arnold || CB/FB #66 || TIJ || AUS/NO || S24-S33
Ben Tu'inukuafe || OL/DE #61 || Tijuana || New Orleans || S15-S24
This season’s off-season was pretty usual for Grzegorz Winnick. Despite it being the first off-season of him playing in the ISFL, he simply continues doing things he was doing in Tijuana. Wake up at 6 AM, go run 5k, return home ear a toast with a beer and get going to the gym. At the gym he does his usual light routine to keep in shape, consisting of Squat 5x5 of 5 max reps, Bench Press 5x5 of 5 max reps, OHP 5x5 of 5 max reps, Deadlift 5 max reps, glute-ham raises 5x10, Back Extensions, 5x10, Power Cleans 5x3. After getting back from gym it’s time for some relaxation so Winnicki goes at to do at least an hour of cross county running through the forests and the hills and eating whatever he finds there for dinner. After returning home it’s time for a long bubble bath and a supper usually in form of a quark with radish and leek.
Holden Affart was not happy with the regular season finale and the spanking the Tijuana Luchadores received at the hands of the Dallas Birddogs. Not to mention the 6-8 record and the fall from DSFL Champions to not even making the playoffs. That was just unacceptable. Holden Affart needed to make sure that did not happen again. And that started in the offseason. The offseason was about preparation. The offseason was about improving. The offseason was about the Revenge Tour. He did what any self-respecting member of the Affart Family would do. He went to work on his diet. And ate more Mexican food. And built up his calories. And perfected his Bush's Baked Beans Peanut Butter and Banana Protein Shake. Holden Affart also sat at home on the couch and watched the ISFL Draft happen. Selected by the Colorado Yeti, Holden Affart began to study recipes on the proper ways to cook Rocky Mountain Oysters. It's all about the cuisine that powers Holden Affart to reach great heights in the ISFL.