2026-10-29, 03:44 PM - Word count:
So you’ve decided to join the SSL
Welcome to those new and old to the SSL.
I remember like it was yesterday (it was March this year, to be fair) when I joined this great league and how confusing those first few weeks could be. So here is my list of things I wished I knew or had to ask about:
-It doesn’t really matter what position you play in the academy. When scouts come to speak to you (and they will), they’ll ask what position you want to play, and how flexible you’ll be to moving around the pitch. So in the academy just do whatever you think will be fun.
-You don’t get to choose which team you’ll end up with. All players get drafted* in a “secret” draft with pick order in reverse of the major league standings. Plus some trading of picks. I was unfamiliar with this concept but it’s actually pretty cool to let things play out rather than try and force a move. If they really want you, they’ll get you.
-Your player performance almost doesn’t matter. You scored 20 goals in your academy season? Great. Unless you are earning TPE and making yourself known to scouts it’s almost pointless. The top scorer in my academy season got drafted near last and has now retired due to inactivity. But the streets will remember Nacho Kusora.
-There are no stupid questions. Honestly this community is almost sickeningly nice, and some things that seem routine to them might be confusing to you, so ask away.
-Weekly PTs are very open ended. I chose to write articles for my weekly PTs and I wrote some more narrative/roleplay and some more analytical. Some people write about IRL football, some about their holidays. As long as it somewhat relevant, written by you (and not a bot) and makes sense then it will count. You could also…
-Get a league job. There’s varying levels of commitment but all pay in game money and usually come with a PT pass meaning you don’t have to submit an article, graphic, podcast or affiliate. I spent the last season as an accountant, which at most has been a couple of hours a week during the off season and has mostly been very straightforward. It also shows you’re planning to stick around and can commit to something.
-Your PT WILL be graded and paid out. There’s often a backlog early in the season where there’s lots of new players posting for the first time. Grading can take anything from a few hours or a couple of weeks depending on how busy the graders are. Maybe they’ll hire some more and you can get a league job…
-Your player render doesn’t have to be a footballer. If you can dream it you can render it. So to speak. There are Pokémon, inanimate objects and even other athletes as the player renders. (If you have left it out already then you can contact BoD and ask pretty please for a one time change)
-Not everyone gets to win the league. If your aim is to win every trophy - that’s great. But there’s players who have been here since the beginning who have never won a trophy. The fun will be in the friends we make along the way. And trying to get a transfer to Hollywood FC to win the league.
If any other players would like to add anything, please do. But if you take away one thing, please let it be this - Have Fun
Welcome to those new and old to the SSL.
I remember like it was yesterday (it was March this year, to be fair) when I joined this great league and how confusing those first few weeks could be. So here is my list of things I wished I knew or had to ask about:
-It doesn’t really matter what position you play in the academy. When scouts come to speak to you (and they will), they’ll ask what position you want to play, and how flexible you’ll be to moving around the pitch. So in the academy just do whatever you think will be fun.
-You don’t get to choose which team you’ll end up with. All players get drafted* in a “secret” draft with pick order in reverse of the major league standings. Plus some trading of picks. I was unfamiliar with this concept but it’s actually pretty cool to let things play out rather than try and force a move. If they really want you, they’ll get you.
-Your player performance almost doesn’t matter. You scored 20 goals in your academy season? Great. Unless you are earning TPE and making yourself known to scouts it’s almost pointless. The top scorer in my academy season got drafted near last and has now retired due to inactivity. But the streets will remember Nacho Kusora.
-There are no stupid questions. Honestly this community is almost sickeningly nice, and some things that seem routine to them might be confusing to you, so ask away.
-Weekly PTs are very open ended. I chose to write articles for my weekly PTs and I wrote some more narrative/roleplay and some more analytical. Some people write about IRL football, some about their holidays. As long as it somewhat relevant, written by you (and not a bot) and makes sense then it will count. You could also…
-Get a league job. There’s varying levels of commitment but all pay in game money and usually come with a PT pass meaning you don’t have to submit an article, graphic, podcast or affiliate. I spent the last season as an accountant, which at most has been a couple of hours a week during the off season and has mostly been very straightforward. It also shows you’re planning to stick around and can commit to something.
-Your PT WILL be graded and paid out. There’s often a backlog early in the season where there’s lots of new players posting for the first time. Grading can take anything from a few hours or a couple of weeks depending on how busy the graders are. Maybe they’ll hire some more and you can get a league job…
-Your player render doesn’t have to be a footballer. If you can dream it you can render it. So to speak. There are Pokémon, inanimate objects and even other athletes as the player renders. (If you have left it out already then you can contact BoD and ask pretty please for a one time change)
-Not everyone gets to win the league. If your aim is to win every trophy - that’s great. But there’s players who have been here since the beginning who have never won a trophy. The fun will be in the friends we make along the way. And trying to get a transfer to Hollywood FC to win the league.
If any other players would like to add anything, please do. But if you take away one thing, please let it be this - Have Fun
![[Image: CTtL39n.jpg]](https://iili.io/CTtL39n.jpg)
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