XFL fans have had their countdown clocks set since the end of 2021, when Dany Garcia announced the new XFL season is slated to start on February 18, 2023. Even though we have over half a year before a football will be kicked, preparations and excitement are already reaching fever pitch.
Unfortunately, however, there’s still a long way to go before the season begins. For those of you who are itching for kickoff, there are a few things you can do to make the wait that little bit less boring.
Get a Refresh on the Rules
The XFL is a new league, there’s no shame if fans need a little refresher before the new season starts. Here’s a recap of what you need to know:
- Shortening the distance between opposing teams. We don’t want those damaging collisions of the ‘other’ league, do we?
- Double forward pass. This is perhaps the most exciting rule, giving an extra edge and excitement to play. Throw out the old playbooks.
- Point after touchdown. Higher stakes, fine-tune strategies. The point after touchdown with no kicker, with values of 1-3 points.
- The punt. The XFL wants coaches to go for it, not to play a conservative style.
- Overtime. No ties in this league. Its winner takes all through a shootout. The best players get a chance to show their stuff and take the win home.
Sports Betting and Online Gambling
For some, it’s a guilty pleasure, for others a casual game-time experience, and for others a way to actually make money. Whatever your flavor, sports betting is finally becoming more accessible for American consumers. Expect the XFL to offer some exciting opportunities once the new season hits, with users perhaps being able to stream the games for free as an added bonus (not a guarantee, of course, with no television deals firmly set).
Extend your foray from sports betting into online gambling for an added layer of excitement, with an increasing number of casinos offering consumers traditional games like blackjack and roulette, in addition to new and exciting slots. Take advantage of the welcome offer given to new players, these often provide a chance to place a bet without having to take out your bank card.
XFL Preseason Workout
XFL players are known for their quickness, their explosiveness, combined with ridiculous strength and power. It’s that unique mix of traits that attracts many fans to the league, with the show on display often seeming otherworldly.
Think you have what it takes to mimic their athletic performances? Or perhaps you’re interested in seeing just what kind of effort you need to put in to get even a tiny percentage of their results.
Step aside, Odell Beckham Jr. It’s your cousin Terron who is making waves amongst XFL fans. He’s recently released an absolutely ridiculous workout for the XFL trials. The guy is perhaps even a greater physical specimen than Odell (who thought that was possible?), and just watching that workout will have you break a sweat.
Relive the Highlights
The history of the XFL isn’t exactly steeped in tradition, which isn’t a surprise; the league only has a single season under its belt. And a shortened one at that, with the season canceled due to reasons beyond the league’s control.
Nevertheless, the season as it was provided plenty of highlights. The players showcased exactly why the league was created in the first place: fast, up-tempo play, exciting end-to-end action, and nail-biting finales. For Houston fans, things certainly looked rosy, with the Roughnecks hitting the ground running at 5-0.
Enjoy the Buildup
For most sports fans, it’s not the actual season that we enjoy most, but the buildup to it. The hope that your team is going to do something, that this is finally the year. It’s sometimes better than what turns out to be an anticlimax (sound familiar, New York Knicks fans?).
So instead of counting down the days before training camp starts (FYI: January 4, 2023), take time to enjoy the exciting run-up to the new season. Gobble up the news on the players that may join the Draft Pool, chase the rumors on the upcoming showcases, and get pumped about potentially seeing the action live in your local stadium. Who knows, you may even meet The Rock!
Don’t Overdo It
We’re all looking forward to the new XFL season. Just don’t overdo it, or you’ll burn yourself out before a football’s even been kicked. Instead of spending all your time watching highlight reels on YouTube or reading the latest rumors on Twitter, give it a 50:50 split. Spend the rest of your time enjoying the outdoors, spending time with family, and turning your brain off every once in a while. Before you know it, the new XFL season will be right around the corner.
