Extra Inning Softball rankings are designed to recognize athletes while providing the softball community with a structured, research-driven evaluation of talent across the country. But how does the process actually work?
From nominations and statistics to regional recognition, national rankings and MyEIS360™ Athlete Profiles, there are several important facts every athlete, parent and coach should understand.
Here is what you need to know.
FACT #1: Athletes Must Be Nominated to Be Considered
An athlete must be nominated during her graduation class’s designated nomination period to enter the Extra Inning Softball rankings process.
Every nominated athlete is evaluated by the EIS Rankings Committee and becomes eligible for regional and national recognition.
Parents can submit nominations, although EIS encourages families to communicate with their athlete’s coach first to help ensure the submission contains the most complete and accurate information possible.
One nomination is all an athlete needs.
FACT #2: Every Nominated Athlete Receives a Regional Ranking
A nomination does more than put an athlete into an evaluation pool.
Every athlete successfully nominated is guaranteed a regional ranking.
Athletes are ranked according to the state in which they reside and evaluated within their respective EIS region.
Every nominated athlete is also evaluated for the opportunity to advance into the national rankings.
FACT #3: National Rankings Must Be Earned
While regional recognition is guaranteed for nominated athletes, national recognition is not.
Athletes must qualify through the complete evaluation process to earn placement within one of Extra Inning Softball’s three national tiers: Extra Elite 100 (No. 1–100), Extra Select (No. 101–200) and Extra Prospect (No. 201–300).
Together, these tiers recognize 300 athletes nationally, with every qualifying athlete receiving an individual ranking.
FACT #4: Extra Inning Softball Does Not Use Ties
Every athlete earns her own placement.
EIS does not place multiple athletes at the same ranking number. Why?
Individual rankings provide athletes, families and college coaches with a clearer picture of where each player stands within an evaluated class.
Every number represents an individual placement earned through the rankings process.
FACT #5: Statistics Matter — But They Don’t Tell the Entire Story
A great stat line does not automatically equal a high ranking.
Statistics are an important part of the evaluation, but EIS considers the athlete’s complete body of work.
That includes competition level, strength of schedule, tournament participation, positional impact, athletic ability, consistency, video, recommendations, performance history, long-term projection and additional verified information.
Two athletes can post similar statistics while competing against dramatically different schedules and levels of competition.
FACT #6: Verified Statistics Are Required
EIS requires verified statistics as part of the nomination process.
Screenshots from GameChanger or another verified statistical platform help provide the Rankings Committee with documented performance information rather than relying solely on self-reported numbers.
Complete and accurate nominations give evaluators a stronger foundation from which to assess an athlete.
FACT #7: Rankings Are Powered by the SERV™ Methodology
Extra Inning Softball evaluates nominated athletes using its proprietary SERV™ Methodology: Software, Evaluate, Research and Verify.
Software helps organize and analyze athlete information and performance data.
Evaluate examines the athlete’s ability, performance, positional impact and overall profile.
Research expands the evaluation beyond the nomination by examining the athlete’s broader body of work and supporting information.
Verify provides a final layer of review before rankings are published.
The objective is not to evaluate an athlete based on one statistic, one tournament or name recognition. It is to build a more complete picture of the player.
FACT #8: Position Matters
Softball positions require very different skill sets.
That is why Extra Inning Softball also evaluates athletes by position.
Position categories include:
Pitcher | Catcher | Middle Infielder | Corner Infielder | Outfielder
A pitcher should not be evaluated exactly like a shortstop, just as a catcher brings a different defensive responsibility and skill set than an outfielder.
Position-specific evaluation provides additional context to an athlete’s overall ranking.
FACT #9: Rankings Are Only Part of an Athlete’s Visibility
Recognition should not disappear when a rankings release ends.
That is one reason EIS created MyEIS360™ Athlete Profiles.
Members can establish a MyEIS360™ profile that brings an athlete’s information, rankings, accomplishments and recruiting-related content together in one centralized location.
Most importantly, anyone can view an athlete’s MyEIS360™ profile for free, making the profile easy to share with coaches, programs and the softball community.
FACT #10: Published Rankings Are Final
Once a rankings cycle has been published, athletes cannot be added afterward.
Factual errors may occasionally require correction, but ranking placements are not changed because of outside pressure, disagreement or requests to reconsider a player’s position.
Maintaining a consistent process is critical to protecting the integrity of the rankings.
That makes nomination deadlines especially important.
If an athlete wants to be considered, she must be nominated before her class deadline.
FACT #11: EIS Uses a Nationwide Evaluation Network
Extra Inning Softball does not evaluate athletes in a vacuum.
EIS collaborates with more than 100 organizational leaders nationwide as part of its broader evaluation network.
The EIS staff also includes women with collegiate playing and coaching backgrounds, bringing decades of combined softball experience into the process.
What’s Next in the EIS Rankings?
The rankings calendar keeps moving, and athletes and families won’t want to miss what’s next. The Class of 2030 Rankings are officially LIVE, giving athletes nationwide the opportunity to see where they landed across the EIS rankings.
Next up is the Class of 2028, with rankings reveals officially beginning Nov. 9. Athletes, families and coaches should be ready as EIS begins unveiling the next class of nationally recognized talent.
And the rankings cycle doesn’t stop there. Stay connected to Extra Inning Softball for upcoming nomination windows, deadlines and rankings releases—because once a nomination deadline passes, athletes must wait until their next opportunity for consideration.
Have More Rankings Questions?
Athletes, parents and coaches can visit the Extra Inning Softball Rankings FAQ for additional information about nominations, methodology, rankings tiers, regions, membership and visibility.
And remember: missing a nomination deadline means missing that rankings cycle.
Stay informed, know when your athlete’s class opens and make sure she is submitted before the deadline.
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