Okay, so I heard about these XFL tryouts for 2024, and I was like, “Why not give it a shot?” I mean, I’ve always been a decent athlete, played some ball in high school, and figured this could be a fun experience, even if I’m a bit older now.
First thing I did was hit the internet. I needed to find out where and when these tryouts were even happening. I dug around, found some info, and realized I needed to get myself registered.
Getting Ready
Now, I wasn’t exactly in “pro football” shape. So, I knew I had some work to do. I started hitting the gym more regularly. I focused on a mix of things:
- Cardio: Lots of running, sprints, interval training. Gotta build up that endurance.
- Strength Training: Weights, focusing on compound exercises like squats, deadlifts, bench press. Need that power.
- Agility Drills: Cone drills, ladder drills, anything to improve my footwork and quickness.
I also started watching some old XFL games, just to get a feel for the style of play again. It’s different from the NFL, a bit more fast-paced, I think.
The Tryout Day
Man, was I nervous. I showed up at the tryout location, and there were a TON of guys there. All shapes and sizes, all looking hungry. We got checked in, got our numbers, and then the real work began.
We started with some basic drills:
- 40-yard dash
- Broad jump
- Vertical jump
- Shuttle run
I did, I think good in the 40, but the broad jump I did better. After the basic stuff, we got split up into position groups. I lined up with the receivers since that’s what I played back in the day.
We ran routes, caught passes, and did some one-on-one drills against defensive backs. I have done better in the one-on-ones.I felt pretty gassed by the end, honestly.
The Waiting Game
After the tryout, it was just a waiting game. They said they’d be in touch if they were interested. It’s been a few weeks now, and I haven’t heard anything. I got nothing for a few weeks.
But hey, even if I don’t make it, it was a cool experience. I pushed myself, got back in shape, and gave it my best shot. That’s all you can really do, right?
