Snow on the Ground, Competition in the Air: Inside the Quad City Steamwheelers’ Winter Tryouts

Only hours after a late-night snowstorm dropped nearly four inches across the Quad Cities, the Quad City Steamwheelers were out on the turf hosting one of their most important offseason events: open tryouts. The weather may have slowed down morning commutes, but it didn’t slow down the energy inside the arena as hopeful athletes arrived ready to prove they belonged on a professional roster.

Setting the Tone

Head Coach Cory Ross gives players the run down of the day for his expectations and the process.

Head Coach Cory Ross opened the day by gathering all participants at midfield. He laid out expectations, explained the process, and set a tone that balanced intensity with encouragement. From there, players lined up for warmups—lunges, sprints, high knees, and other movement prep drills—before splitting into two groups to begin the evaluation process.

Players work on streches to looses up before drills.

Speed First: Shuttle Runs and 40s

One group headed to the shuttle run, where athletes began in a three-point stance, exploded five yards to the right, flipped their hips and sprinted ten yards to the far cone, then turned again to finish the last ten yards through the line. The speed was there, no doubt, but several players struggled on that first change-of-direction, having trouble planting and driving back with power—a reminder that raw speed and functional speed aren’t always the same.

The other group lined up for 40-yard dashes. A few athletes turned heads immediately with standout times, drawing early attention from coaches and scouts watching quietly from the sideline.

Player lines up for 40 yard dash making sure to use proper technique before exploding out of his stance.

Technique Time: Position Breakdowns

After the initial testing, Coach Ross regrouped the athletes and sent them to position-specific stations. Linemen worked through pass-rush and blocking drills, giving coaches a look at leverage, hand placement, and footwork. Meanwhile, quarterbacks threw to a rotation of running backs, receivers, defensive backs, and linebackers. With IFL rosters being so small, versatility matters—and Coach Ross made it clear every rep counted.

One of the most revealing sessions came from the receivers and defensive backs. The group ran the gauntlet drill, catching passes while moving down a straight line to show hands, coordination, and ball security. It was noticeable how many players relied on body catches instead of extending their hands—something coaches always pay attention to.

Coach Ross watching guantlet drill. He did make mention of the body catches.

A four-cone drill followed, run tightly around a small square before sprinting back toward the quarterback to finish with a catch. After that, the QBs and receivers cycled through route work, allowing staff to evaluate timing, accuracy, and overall chemistry.

Five-on-Five Action Heats Up

The day closed with live 5-on-5 action—always the most spirited portion of tryouts. And if anyone thought defensive players might be worn down by then, they were wrong. The secondary made multiple interceptions, drawing loud reactions from coaches who clearly liked what they were seeing.

Conversations With the Front Office

During a break in the action, I had the chance to speak with General Manager Destiny Brown, who was pleased with the turnout despite the weather. She admitted the snow had her a bit nervous about attendance but was ultimately encouraged by the number of athletes who showed up ready to compete.

Brown also shared that the Steamwheelers typically do sign some players from tryouts, depending on roster needs. Even more interesting—many players who don’t earn immediate contracts often receive calls later in the season when injuries or roster shifts open doors.

After drills wrapped up, I caught up with Coach Ross. He spoke with real excitement about how prepared the athletes were this year. In past tryouts, conditioning had sometimes been a concern, but this group showed up in shape and ready to work.

When asked about the strong culture he has helped build, Ross lit up. “Every coach likes an asshole,” he said, but the asshole has to have a little character." And he’s not wrong. Under Destiny Brown and Coach Ross, the Steamwheelers have seen consistent success, both on the field and in team chemistry.

Looking Ahead

With training camp on the horizon, these tryouts gave the Steamwheelers a chance to identify hungry athletes capable of contributing immediately or developing into future playmakers. If the effort, competition, and energy from this snowy morning are any indication, Quad City fans have plenty to look forward to in the months ahead.

Blog by Ryan Burhite