Nominations open August 28
Extra Inning Softball is proud to announce the official return of national team rankings for the 2026 season, covering 12U through 18U, with nominations opening August 28, 2026. After a deliberate two-year pause, team rankings are back—and rebuilt from the ground up.
Extra Inning Softball intentionally stepped away from team rankings to strengthen and refine its player rankings process. With that work now complete, team rankings are returning—backed by the same trusted commitment to excellence that defines our SERV approach: Software, Evaluations, Research, and Verifications.
“SERV is the standard we hold ourselves to—Software, Evaluations, Research, and Verifications. It’s how we ensure every ranking is earned, credible, and worthy of the trust the softball community places in us,” said Bonnie Holland, CEO of Extra Inning Softball.
National Team Rankings Are Returning
The decision to pause team rankings was not about slowing down—it was about getting it right. Over the past two years, Extra Inning Softball invested heavily in process improvement, evaluation standards, and proprietary technology designed to better reflect on-field performance across the country.
That investment has culminated in the launch of new internal software developed specifically for team rankings. This system goes far beyond surface-level results. It evaluates:
- Strength of schedule
- Tournaments competed in
- Wins recorded at those events
- Competitive context across regions and age divisions
The goal is simple but demanding: ensure that rankings reflect what teams actually accomplish, not just where they play or who they know.
One Application, Multiple Divisions
To streamline the process and ensure consistency, a single team nomination form will be used for all competitive divisions. When applications open on August 28, teams in 12U, 14U, 16U, and 18U will all submit through the same form.
Within that form, nominators will clearly identify which age division the team should be considered for. This unified approach allows Extra Inning Softball to evaluate teams through the same lens while still honoring the nuances of each division.
A Watch List Approach for 10U
For the youngest athletes, Extra Inning Softball will continue its development-first philosophy. Rather than rankings, 10U teams will be featured on a Team 10U Watchlist, designed to spotlight programs that are building the game the right way at the foundational level.
This approach is intentional. At early ages, the focus remains on growth, fundamentals, and love for the game, while still providing recognition for teams making positive impacts on the field. The Watchlist allows Extra Inning Softball to acknowledge teams that are demonstrating strong coaching, positive culture, and competitive effort—without placing unnecessary labels on young athletes. View more youth news HERE!
Built for the Community
At its core, this relaunch reflects Extra Inning Softball‘s ongoing commitment to the softball community. Rankings are part of a broader mission to deliver credible highlights, meaningful recognition, and trusted news that serves players, teams, coaches, and families nationwide.
Every update, from software development to evaluation criteria, is designed to answer one question: Does this help tell the true story of the game?
What Comes Next?
With applications opening August 28, teams across the country are invited to be part of a rankings system that has been tested, refined, and rebuilt with intention. The return of team rankings marks a new chapter—one rooted in accountability, competitive integrity, and continuous improvement.
Extra Inning Softball remains committed to evolving alongside the sport, ensuring that recognition keeps pace with the hard work being done on fields every day.
More details, timelines, and nomination information access will be released as August approaches.
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