Hello season 28 recruits. It is without a doubt that most of the newest users in your class were brought in through the reddit recruitment efforts. First I just want to say welcome to the league. The purpose of writing this article is to give you some advice, from one reddit recruit to another, and to share my experiences in the league so far. I hope you find this piece somewhat useful.
The goal is to have fun
You probably joined this league because you thought it sounded like a good way to enjoy yourself or an interesting opportunity to explore another side of football. Well what I will tell you is that you have signed up for one of the most open ended ways to have fun. This league really lets you become the player that you want to be. If you want to be a hall of famer who dedicates a ton of time to the league and finds a league job, this league is for you. If you want to be laid back and slowly earn TPE and take your time developing, this league is for you. If you are here to make friends and hang out on discord with likeminded people, this league is for you. If you think it is fun creating a guy who says the same two words over and over, then this league is for you (just find GOAT TANK on twitter).
Basically what I am getting at is this league has something for anyone regardless of what you want out of it. If there is something you find fun, there should be someway within the league to get that done. I came in to the league wanting to be just a part of a successful team and to meet some new people in the locker rooms. The league has smashed my expectations with the quality of people, and even though 3 seasons in I don't have a playoff win, I still find myself hungry for the team success and ready to kick off another season with my teammates. Even though it's just simple dots on the field, the sims are a great time for the community to come together and watch some "football" together.
Stick to your guns
As I just said, I came into the league with certain goals. I think that each and every one of you probably has something they want to accomplish, or at least a position you want to play. It's important to be firm in that goal or position. Teams are going to ask you if you're willing to change positions and it is ok to say no if you really want to hold that spot. This league is very good at helping users to achieve what they want to achieve, but I can't lie that sometimes I felt that being a bit stubborn on my position could have cost me draft spots or made a GM not like me. Like I said in point one, the goal is to have fun, and if playing a certain position, or wanting to not be on a certain team is important to your fun, let people know.
In my own experience, I was stubborn and really wanted to be a wide receiver. I had every GM ask me if I would be willing to switch positions and I told each I would really prefer not to. I further complicated matters by making my player only 5'8 and 170ish pounds. In our old sim, that was 100% hurting my player performance week in and week out. But hey I wanted a small slot receiver and that was important to me so I stuck by my decision. Did it rub some GMs the wrong way? possibly but I can't please everyone. In the end I ended up being drafted higher than I would have ever imagined and am extremely happy with where I ended up.
Don't worry about your draft position
What round you go in during the upcoming DSFL draft will not matter at all to your future career in the ISFL. The best part of this league is that everyone starts off at fifty TPE and everyone has the same exact chances to earn TPE during the season. You also will have the exact same contract amount as every other player that is drafted, no bonus for going earlier. So if when the DSFL draft comes around and you are picked lower than you want, don't fret. You will have a whole season worth of time to show what you are made of and to show that you are a good TPE earner. Also TPE is not the be all end of of draft position. People that are friendly, dedicated to the league, or just very good with the sim can really help increase their draft stock. Being a positive locker room presence during your first season can really help overcome any TPE deficiencies you may think you have. I was originally disappointed by my DSFL draft round, but at the end of the day I ended up in an amazing situation and probably was drafted where I should have been, and I was probably picked too high in the ISFL draft.
Avoid Burnout
Burnout is a serious thing in this league that has brought down many users. Some people feel they need to keep up with everyone and earn all that money and cash in for tier 6 equipment every season. Well sometimes, trying to be a max earner can have it's downfalls. Checking this league everyday or multiple times a day can make you quickly grow sick of it. It is sometimes best just to step away for a day or two and recollect your thoughts on what made this fun and why you wanted to join.
For a personal piece, I started off at a feverish pace. I was posting articles multiple times a week, making twitter posts, liking and retweeting, consuming media and in the locker rooms. For an introvert like me, it was a lot. I quickly burned out and stopped making media pieces. I am a PhD student and thus have a lot of writing and reading to do on a daily basis. The last thing I wanted to do was come to this league and write more, so I started avoiding this page. And now that I am in a better headspace after exams and what not, I'm sad I did. I missed some easy TPE that really could have helped my player, but alas mental health is more important. It is easy to get addicted to the TPE grind, or how to make your player have an optimal build. Really, just make sure you have a sustainable idea on how you are going to use this league.
A large portion of your class will not be active
You are starting with a massive rookie class and that is no doubt an exciting time not just for you, but for the whole league. However, in a few weeks it is likely that a large portion of your class will have gone inactive on these forums. They will no longer be earning TPE and their player will just be another dot on the field. This is fact of life in the ISFL and is not likely to change very often. I think it is key to make relationships not only with those new users to keep both of you active, but also reach out and get to know some of the veterans of this forum. I think it is very commonplace for people to join this league for a love of football but to stay in the league because of the people. Reach out and make connections and this league will reward you with friendships with so many great people.
Another story about my experience on this point had to do with my made up "rivalry" with another wide receiver in my class. I identified another user whose profile I really liked and tried to make a connection by forming a bit of a rivalry with the player through media articles. It turns out, that user went inactive quite early into his DSFL career and that put an end to my media ideas. If you can find that right person, it can be great fun to have a little bit of a fun time poking them in media articles, plus it makes you some money.
Sim is going to Sim
This is my last point I am going to make and one that I think is very important. This is a simulation league, and we have very little control over what actually happens once the game starts. There are going to be games where you lose to the worst team in the league and your player did not do a single thing. There are going to be other weeks where you scored multiple touchdowns and your player seems like a god. Seriously, my final game of my first season I had 3 touchdowns and thought I was ready to dominate the whole of next year. My advice is to not worry about how the sim plays out and just celebrate any of the wins you do get with your teammates. At the end of the day, the people are the most important to this league.
We are also getting a new sim this year so maybe that luck will change. If you have the aptitude (I don't) consider helping out your future team with their sim testing. I know down in Myrtle Beach (ok Bondi Beach now) our GM was always looking for help and it is a great way to get yourself familiar with the sim and make a name for yourself in the league.
I have prattled on for far to long so let me conclude with a few things. This league gives you back what you put into it. There is not a real typical user and everyone has their own experience. Do you best to enjoy it in the way that is best for you and you will probably turn into a long time member. I probably should have made this it's own section as well but don't ever be afraid to ask for help. The people in this league love it and always want to help others succeed and join them in their passion.
So with that said, feel free to reach out if you have any questions and I look forward to getting to know some of you in the future and look forward to lining up with or across from you on the field in a few short seasons.
Ajtigger
The goal is to have fun
You probably joined this league because you thought it sounded like a good way to enjoy yourself or an interesting opportunity to explore another side of football. Well what I will tell you is that you have signed up for one of the most open ended ways to have fun. This league really lets you become the player that you want to be. If you want to be a hall of famer who dedicates a ton of time to the league and finds a league job, this league is for you. If you want to be laid back and slowly earn TPE and take your time developing, this league is for you. If you are here to make friends and hang out on discord with likeminded people, this league is for you. If you think it is fun creating a guy who says the same two words over and over, then this league is for you (just find GOAT TANK on twitter).
Basically what I am getting at is this league has something for anyone regardless of what you want out of it. If there is something you find fun, there should be someway within the league to get that done. I came in to the league wanting to be just a part of a successful team and to meet some new people in the locker rooms. The league has smashed my expectations with the quality of people, and even though 3 seasons in I don't have a playoff win, I still find myself hungry for the team success and ready to kick off another season with my teammates. Even though it's just simple dots on the field, the sims are a great time for the community to come together and watch some "football" together.
Stick to your guns
As I just said, I came into the league with certain goals. I think that each and every one of you probably has something they want to accomplish, or at least a position you want to play. It's important to be firm in that goal or position. Teams are going to ask you if you're willing to change positions and it is ok to say no if you really want to hold that spot. This league is very good at helping users to achieve what they want to achieve, but I can't lie that sometimes I felt that being a bit stubborn on my position could have cost me draft spots or made a GM not like me. Like I said in point one, the goal is to have fun, and if playing a certain position, or wanting to not be on a certain team is important to your fun, let people know.
In my own experience, I was stubborn and really wanted to be a wide receiver. I had every GM ask me if I would be willing to switch positions and I told each I would really prefer not to. I further complicated matters by making my player only 5'8 and 170ish pounds. In our old sim, that was 100% hurting my player performance week in and week out. But hey I wanted a small slot receiver and that was important to me so I stuck by my decision. Did it rub some GMs the wrong way? possibly but I can't please everyone. In the end I ended up being drafted higher than I would have ever imagined and am extremely happy with where I ended up.
Don't worry about your draft position
What round you go in during the upcoming DSFL draft will not matter at all to your future career in the ISFL. The best part of this league is that everyone starts off at fifty TPE and everyone has the same exact chances to earn TPE during the season. You also will have the exact same contract amount as every other player that is drafted, no bonus for going earlier. So if when the DSFL draft comes around and you are picked lower than you want, don't fret. You will have a whole season worth of time to show what you are made of and to show that you are a good TPE earner. Also TPE is not the be all end of of draft position. People that are friendly, dedicated to the league, or just very good with the sim can really help increase their draft stock. Being a positive locker room presence during your first season can really help overcome any TPE deficiencies you may think you have. I was originally disappointed by my DSFL draft round, but at the end of the day I ended up in an amazing situation and probably was drafted where I should have been, and I was probably picked too high in the ISFL draft.
Avoid Burnout
Burnout is a serious thing in this league that has brought down many users. Some people feel they need to keep up with everyone and earn all that money and cash in for tier 6 equipment every season. Well sometimes, trying to be a max earner can have it's downfalls. Checking this league everyday or multiple times a day can make you quickly grow sick of it. It is sometimes best just to step away for a day or two and recollect your thoughts on what made this fun and why you wanted to join.
For a personal piece, I started off at a feverish pace. I was posting articles multiple times a week, making twitter posts, liking and retweeting, consuming media and in the locker rooms. For an introvert like me, it was a lot. I quickly burned out and stopped making media pieces. I am a PhD student and thus have a lot of writing and reading to do on a daily basis. The last thing I wanted to do was come to this league and write more, so I started avoiding this page. And now that I am in a better headspace after exams and what not, I'm sad I did. I missed some easy TPE that really could have helped my player, but alas mental health is more important. It is easy to get addicted to the TPE grind, or how to make your player have an optimal build. Really, just make sure you have a sustainable idea on how you are going to use this league.
A large portion of your class will not be active
You are starting with a massive rookie class and that is no doubt an exciting time not just for you, but for the whole league. However, in a few weeks it is likely that a large portion of your class will have gone inactive on these forums. They will no longer be earning TPE and their player will just be another dot on the field. This is fact of life in the ISFL and is not likely to change very often. I think it is key to make relationships not only with those new users to keep both of you active, but also reach out and get to know some of the veterans of this forum. I think it is very commonplace for people to join this league for a love of football but to stay in the league because of the people. Reach out and make connections and this league will reward you with friendships with so many great people.
Another story about my experience on this point had to do with my made up "rivalry" with another wide receiver in my class. I identified another user whose profile I really liked and tried to make a connection by forming a bit of a rivalry with the player through media articles. It turns out, that user went inactive quite early into his DSFL career and that put an end to my media ideas. If you can find that right person, it can be great fun to have a little bit of a fun time poking them in media articles, plus it makes you some money.
Sim is going to Sim
This is my last point I am going to make and one that I think is very important. This is a simulation league, and we have very little control over what actually happens once the game starts. There are going to be games where you lose to the worst team in the league and your player did not do a single thing. There are going to be other weeks where you scored multiple touchdowns and your player seems like a god. Seriously, my final game of my first season I had 3 touchdowns and thought I was ready to dominate the whole of next year. My advice is to not worry about how the sim plays out and just celebrate any of the wins you do get with your teammates. At the end of the day, the people are the most important to this league.
We are also getting a new sim this year so maybe that luck will change. If you have the aptitude (I don't) consider helping out your future team with their sim testing. I know down in Myrtle Beach (ok Bondi Beach now) our GM was always looking for help and it is a great way to get yourself familiar with the sim and make a name for yourself in the league.
I have prattled on for far to long so let me conclude with a few things. This league gives you back what you put into it. There is not a real typical user and everyone has their own experience. Do you best to enjoy it in the way that is best for you and you will probably turn into a long time member. I probably should have made this it's own section as well but don't ever be afraid to ask for help. The people in this league love it and always want to help others succeed and join them in their passion.
So with that said, feel free to reach out if you have any questions and I look forward to getting to know some of you in the future and look forward to lining up with or across from you on the field in a few short seasons.
Ajtigger