RANKINGS
EVENTS
I COMMITTED
COLLEGE
ABOUT
In a major overhaul of its ranking process, Extra Inning Softball is excited to announce significant improvements to the Extra Elite 100 player ranking system. With new ownership at the helm, the company has transitioned from a singular, week-long review process to a comprehensive, three-and-a-half-week evaluation conducted by a dedicated rankings committee instead of just one person determining where players should be ranked.
The EIS ranking committee is composed entirely of individuals who have played and coached fastpitch softball at high levels, bringing a wealth of experience and insight to the rankings. Their deep understanding of the game ensures a more nuanced and accurate assessment of talent. To preserve the integrity of the rankings, the identities of committee members remain confidential, safeguarding the process against potential conflicts of interest or bias.
The rankings are now determined through unanimous consensus among all committee members, reflecting a collective agreement on the placement of each player and team both locally and nationally. This methodical approach is designed to enhance fairness and accuracy, setting a new standard in the evaluation of young athletes.
Streamlined Nomination Process
Recognizing the competitive nature of the market and the need for precision, nominations must now be submitted exclusively online through the Extra Inning Softball website. This digital submission process ensures that no player information is lost—a significant improvement over the previous email-based system—and allows the committee to focus more effectively on evaluating talent rather than managing administrative tasks.
By requiring all nominations to be made online and ceasing to accept nominations via email, Extra Inning Softball is better positioned to manage and organize the influx of information, ensuring every candidate is given thorough consideration.
Importance of Nominating Players Every Year
To maintain the integrity and accuracy of our rankings, Extra Inning Softball requires that players previously ranked must be nominated on a yearly basis. This annual nomination ensures that our rankings committee has the most current and relevant information to evaluate players effectively. The dynamic nature of fastpitch softball, with players continuously improving and new talents emerging, necessitates up-to-date data to accurately assess each athlete’s current standing and potential.
A Note to Coaches and Parents
We urge coaches and parents to be particularly vigilant about the nomination deadlines. While we strive to remind coaches of these critical dates, their schedules can be demanding, and sometimes notification efforts do not reach everyone involved. Consequently, if a player’s updated information is not submitted within the designated period, the rankings committee will not have sufficient data to consider them for ranking—even if they have been ranked in previous years.
It is crucial for all stakeholders to recognize that failure to provide updated information could result in a player not being ranked, not due to a lack of talent, but simply because of incomplete player information that the rankings committee needs in order to base their decisions in the spirit of accuracy and fairness. Therefore, we encourage parents, coaches, and organizational leaders to take active responsibility in the nomination process, ensuring that all deserving players are evaluated. A complete schedule of our nominations deadlines and rankings release dates can be found HERE.
The Issue of Ties in the Extra Elite 100 Rankings
In previous years, our ranking system sometimes faced challenges with ties in player standings, leading to the addition of players to the rankings after they had been initially posted online. This approach not only compromised fairness but also diluted the exclusivity of our Elite 100 rankings, as multiple players ended up sharing the same rank, significantly increasing the total beyond 100.
Addressing this issue, our revamped ranking system introduced by the new rankings committee has been designed to eliminate these inconsistencies. Now, instead of comparing players across different positions indiscriminately—like equating a catcher from Utah with a pitcher from Florida—our committee conducts a detailed, position-specific analysis. This means catchers are evaluated alongside other catchers, pitchers are assessed with their peers, and so forth.
This refined approach allows for a more accurate, fair comparison and ranking based on the specific skills and contributions relevant to each position. This method not only enhances the precision of our rankings but also upholds the integrity of the Elite 100 concept, ensuring that each ranked player truly represents the top talent in their respective positions nationwide. This systematic, careful analysis ensures that our rankings reflect the true merit of each athlete without the confusion and unfairness of previous systems.
Conclusion
These enhancements to the Extra Inning Softball rankings not only reflect our commitment to excellence and fairness but also our dedication to using technology and expertise to elevate the recognition of talented athletes across the nation. As we continue to refine our processes and embrace these changes, Extra Inning Softball remains at the forefront of promoting and supporting the next generation of softball excellence.
COPYRIGHT © 2024 Extra Inning Softball TM