Upcoming IFL Tryouts for the 2027 Season

November 2026 IFL Tryouts

Jacksonville Sharks Free-Agent Tryouts

Team: Jacksonville Sharks

League: Indoor Football League (IFL)

Level: Professional indoor football

Location: Jacksonville, Florida

Date: November 14, 2026

Registration: 8:00 AM

Tryout begins: 9:00 AM

Venue: Blue Cypress Park, Jacksonville, Florida

Status: Upcoming — check registration availability

The Jacksonville Sharks have announced an open free-agent tryout for players interested in competing for a place on their 2027 roster.

Participants can expect athletic testing and position-specific evaluations designed to help the coaching staff identify potential professional players.

The announced activities include the 40-yard dash, agility testing, football drills, and competitive evaluations.

The Sharks have previously identified players through free-agent workouts, making this a relevant opportunity for athletes seeking a route into professional football outside the NFL.

View Official Jacksonville Sharks Tryout Registration

December 2026 IFL Tryouts

Quad City Steamwheelers Free-Agent Tryouts

Team: Quad City Steamwheelers

League: Indoor Football League (IFL)

Level: Professional indoor football

Location: Davenport, Iowa

Date: December 5, 2026

Registration: 2:00 PM

Tryout: 3:00–5:00 PM

Venue: St. Ambrose Bubble

Fee: $75 online; $85 on the day

Status: Upcoming — check registration availability

The Quad City Steamwheelers have announced a free-agent tryout ahead of the 2027 IFL season.

The evaluation is intended for players looking to demonstrate their abilities in front of the team's coaching staff.

Athletes with college football experience, previous professional experience, or other competitive football backgrounds may find this opportunity worth exploring.

The Steamwheelers have provided online registration information for interested players.

View Original Steamwheelers Tryout Announcement

Visit Official Steamwheelers Tryout Page

Past IFL Tryouts for the 2027 Season

Past tryouts can still help you identify professional football teams that evaluate players through open recruitment.

If you missed an event, monitor that team's future announcements. You can also prepare your playing film and research its coaching and player-personnel staff ahead of the next recruitment period.

October 2026 IFL Tryouts

Athens Crush Open Tryouts

Team: Athens Crush

League: Indoor Football League (IFL)

Level: Professional indoor football

Location: Watkinsville, Georgia

Date: October 24, 2026

Registration: 7:00 AM

Tryout begins: 9:00 AM

Venue: Oconee County High School, 2721 Hog Mountain Road, Watkinsville, GA 30677

Fee: $65 preregistration; $80 walk-up

Minimum age: 18

Status: Past listing

The Athens Crush held an open player evaluation ahead of their inaugural 2027 Indoor Football League season.

The organization invited athletes to compete in front of its coaching staff, with the possibility of earning consideration for a professional football contract.

The evaluation included 40-yard dash testing, short-shuttle drills, agility testing, position-specific drills, and one-on-one competition.

The event was non-contact, so players were not required to bring helmets or pads.

Athens is scheduled to begin IFL competition in 2027 at Akins Ford Arena. The franchise's ownership group includes former NFL running back Jerome Bettis, former Georgia linebacker David Pollack, and former NFL and MLB player Brian Jordan.

Although the October tryout has passed, the announcement confirms that the Athens Crush have used open evaluations to identify prospective players.

View Original Athens Crush Tryout Announcement

Athens Crush

When Are IFL Football Tryouts Held?

IFL teams organize their own player evaluations, so there is no single nationwide tryout date.

The announcements collected for the 2027 season include:

• October 2026: Athens Crush

• November 2026: Jacksonville Sharks

• December 2026: Quad City Steamwheelers

These examples show that some IFL teams begin recruiting several months before the following season.

However, teams can also recruit throughout the year through scouting, free-agent evaluations, and direct player identification.

Players should monitor official announcements rather than assuming every team follows the same schedule.

How to Get an IFL Tryout Without an Agent

You don't necessarily need an agent to attend an IFL open tryout.

Teams such as the Jacksonville Sharks and Quad City Steamwheelers advertise registration opportunities that allow eligible athletes to apply directly.

1. Identify Teams Recruiting Players

Start by researching active IFL teams.

Check official team websites, social media accounts, and league announcements for upcoming free-agent evaluations.

Look for announcements using terms such as open tryouts, free-agent workouts, and player evaluations.

You can explore the league through the official Indoor Football League website.

2. Prepare Your Football Film

Professional football coaches need to evaluate what you can do on the field.

Prepare a highlight video that clearly identifies you and demonstrates your strongest performances.

Include your position, height, weight, previous teams, and most recent playing experience.

If available, provide full-game footage so coaches can evaluate your performance beyond selected highlights.

3. Find the Right Coaching or Player-Personnel Contacts

Not every professional football team publicly announces open tryouts.

Some organizations identify prospective players through their coaching staff, football operations department, or player-personnel personnel.

Finding the appropriate person can help you understand whether a team is evaluating free agents or accepting player film.

Cancha Labs is building a professional football contact directory to help athletes identify relevant team personnel across the IFL and other professional leagues.

Join our early-access waitlist to be notified when the directory launches.

4. Register for Available Tryouts

When a team announces an open evaluation, follow its official registration process.

Before attending, confirm:

• Eligibility and minimum age

• Registration deadline

• Participation fee

• Exact location and start time

• Required clothing and equipment

• Whether the event is contact or non-contact

Do not travel to a tryout without confirming the latest details.

5. Follow Up After Your Evaluation

Attending a tryout does not guarantee a roster spot.

Some players may receive additional evaluation opportunities or training camp invitations, while others may not be selected.

Follow any instructions provided by the team and continue researching other professional football opportunities.

What Happens at an IFL Tryout?

IFL tryouts typically focus on athletic ability, football technique, and performance under competitive conditions.

Based on the announced Athens Crush and Jacksonville Sharks evaluations, players may encounter several types of drills.

40-Yard Dash

Measures straight-line speed and acceleration.

Pro Agility Shuttle

Tests how quickly a player can change direction while maintaining balance and control.

Position-Specific Drills

Allow coaches to evaluate techniques relevant to each player's position.

One-on-One Competition

Provides an opportunity to demonstrate football skills against another athlete.

Passing Competition

Some evaluations include competitive passing drills to assess offensive and defensive players.

The exact format depends on the team. Review the official announcement before preparing for a specific evaluation.

Can You Play Professional Football Without Being Drafted Into the NFL?

Yes. The NFL Draft is not the only pathway into professional American football.

The Indoor Football League provides another opportunity for athletes seeking to continue their careers after college or other competitive football experience.

The Jacksonville Sharks reported that three players signed through their 2025 free-agent workouts finished the season on the team's 24-man roster. The Quad City Steamwheelers also reported that more than 20 players had earned opportunities through their free-agent tryout process, including seven training camp invitations in 2026.

Jacksonville Sharks+1

Other professional football leagues include:

• Canadian Football League (CFL): Professional football in Canada.

• United Football League (UFL): Professional spring football in the United States.

• Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional (LFA): Professional American football in Mexico.

• Other indoor and arena leagues: Additional organizations operating professional indoor football teams.

Each league has its own scouting, eligibility, roster, and recruitment processes.

Players should research the requirements of individual teams before pursuing an opportunity.

Missed an IFL Tryout?

Missing an announced evaluation doesn't necessarily mean you have to stop pursuing that team.

Past announcements can help you identify organizations that have previously recruited players through open tryouts.

Start by researching the team's coaching staff, football operations personnel, and player recruitment process.

Prepare a concise player profile with your position, playing experience, physical measurements, and film.

If the team accepts direct inquiries, ask whether additional evaluations are planned.

Get Early Access to Professional Football Contacts

Cancha Labs is developing a searchable directory of professional football team contacts, including planned coverage of the NFL, IFL, CFL, UFL, other arena leagues, and LFA Mexico.

Our goal is to help athletes find relevant team personnel without spending hours researching individual organizations.

Join the early-access waitlist for 50% off your first month when the football directory launches.

No payment is required to join the waitlist. Coverage is still being developed, and access to contacts does not guarantee a tryout or professional contract.

IFL Tryouts 2027: Frequently Asked Questions

What does IFL stand for in football?

IFL stands for Indoor Football League. It is a professional indoor American football league featuring teams across the United States.

Are there IFL tryouts for the 2027 season?

Yes. Multiple teams have announced player evaluations for the 2027 season, including the Jacksonville Sharks, Quad City Steamwheelers, and Athens Crush.

When are IFL tryouts held?

Tryout dates vary by team. The announcements collected on this page include evaluations in October, November, and December 2026 for the 2027 season.

Are IFL tryouts open to everyone?

Eligibility depends on the organization. Some teams advertise open free-agent evaluations, while others may have minimum age requirements or additional conditions.

The Athens Crush required participants to be at least 18 years old for their October 2026 tryout.

How much do IFL tryouts cost?

Fees depend on the event. The Athens Crush advertised $65 preregistration and $80 walk-up admission. The Quad City Steamwheelers announced $75 online registration and $85 on the day.

Always check the original announcement for the current fee.

Can you play in the IFL without college football experience?

Potentially. Some open tryouts welcome players from different competitive backgrounds.

However, professional teams evaluate athletes based on their football ability and roster needs. Being eligible to attend does not guarantee selection.

Do IFL players get paid?

The IFL is a professional league, but compensation and benefits can vary by team and contract.

Players should confirm salary, housing, transportation, insurance, and other conditions before accepting an offer.

Can I contact IFL coaches directly?

Some professional football organizations accept direct inquiries from prospective players.

However, contact information and recruitment procedures vary by team.

Cancha Labs is developing a directory to help players find professional football coaching and team-personnel contacts.

Do you need an agent to attend an IFL tryout?

Not necessarily. When a team provides public registration for an open tryout, eligible players can generally register through the team's announced process.

Does attending an IFL tryout guarantee a professional contract?

No. A tryout provides an opportunity to be evaluated. Teams determine whether a player receives a training camp invitation, further evaluation, or contract offer.

Are all the tryouts listed here upcoming?

No. This page includes both upcoming and past announcements associated with the 2027 season.

Past listings help players identify teams that have previously held open evaluations.

How can I find more professional football tryouts?

Follow official league and team websites, monitor free-agent tryout announcements, and research the recruitment processes of teams you're interested in.

You can also join the Cancha Labs professional football waitlist to receive updates about the planned contact directory.