RANKINGS
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ABOUT
Extra Inning Softball is known for our player rankings and we know that as more and more people follow the sport—and us—there will be questions.
And strong opinions!
We get a lot of both and feel it is our duty to try to answer them best we can, especially as we have a lot of new players, parents and coaches joining us!
Hopefully, the three emails we recently received—and our responses—will answer questions others may have.
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Question 1:
Hi, I have a few questions, please. When will the rankings be re-calculated? What information is used to create the rankings? If you play multiple positions do the stats from each position go into the rankings? Do you consider high school and travel ball stats for the rankings? Do the previous rankings affect the new rankings each time?
We’ve been looking at the rankings among some of the players that play together and can’t make sense of how it was done. And the kids that want to improve their rank are wondering how to do that. Thanks!
— M.
Extra Inning Softball Answers:
Ranking Schedule
Rankings are updated usually once per year per class. Here is the schedule that is found on the home page nav bar (Click HERE to access it):
Rest of 2021
- Class of 2022 – October 11th, 2021
- Coaches Rankings – December 13th, 2021
Rankings Schedule for 2022
- Class of 2027 – January 10th, 2022
- Class of 2026 – March 7th, 2022
- Class of 2025 – May 16th, 2022
- Class of 2024 – July 11th, 2022
- Class of 2023 – September 19th, 2022
- Class of 2028 – November 7th, 2022
- Coaches Rankings – December 12th, 2022
What Goes Into Ranking Consideration? Who Can Submit? And What?
As for information, we use coach and scout evaluations submitted to us primarily by club and college coaches, as well as independent scouts and our own Extra Inning Softball staff.
Parents are welcome to send in info to give more background and color to a player’s accomplishments and achievements as well as video, photos and even human interest background ideas for possible story ideas, but the primary consideration for rankings comes from coaches, scouts and from our own research.
When Should They Be Submitted?
Nominations can be done at any time; we prefer that player nominations are submitted 2-4 weeks prior to the release date as this helps ensure that all the information we have on file is current.
How Should They Be Sent In?
Nominations can be submitted on our website on the Rankings Nominations tab (Click HERE)
You can find additional information regarding our national rankings under our ‘Rankings’ tab on our home page. Click HERE to access the link:
Stats… Are They Important?
We use stats on an individual position basis as well as overall and yes, we do take into consideration players who play in multiple positions. Stats are a bit tricky, though, as you have to factor the level of play and even when and where it was played.
For example, playing the Summer in Nationals and doing well is different than playing in the Fall in practice games.
And high school stats, like those in travel ball, can give context and support a player’s talent but we tend to use them as background info; they’re not a primary, determining factor in a player’s ranking. That comes from evaluating and projecting a player’s abilities which is certainly not a sure thing!
Do Previous Rankings Factor in Update Ones?
Yes, they serve as a starting point, but the previous rankings do not impact new rankings greatly as players can improve or regress in the time from the previous listings.
Thus, players ranked in a spot one year might see a difference in where they are ranked the following year, either higher or lower, simply because we are continually receiving higher volumes of nominated players and also see a lot of talent emerge over time.
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Question 2:
How does my daughter get involved with Extra Innings? I see some of her friends that she’s played with for years with an Extra Innings ranking? Does she need to attend a camp?
– B.
Extra Inning Softball Answers:
No, she doesn’t need to do anything, be it go to an event or a camp, but she should let her coach know that she is interested in being considered and he/she can nominate her.
Or, she and your family can go send info as detailed above… EIS is always looking for good stories!
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Question 3:
In your most recent rankings (2024’s), you had pitchers ranked position wise by Pitcher – Primary and Pitcher -Duo… can you explain what that means?
– T.
Extra Inning Softball Answers:
Sure, just as they are different types of fielders, for example corner infielders have different skill sets usually than middle infielders, we have pitchers broken into two categories:
- Pitcher – Primary is one who is mostly a pitcher and doesn’t typically hit and/or play another position.
- Pitcher – Duo is one who typically plays the infield or outfield when not in the circle and/or is a hitter as well who can do damage with the bat, like Rachel Garcia when at UCLA.
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Question 4:
You’ve got quite a racket with these rankings that coaches pay for. Amazing to see Facebook posts of players that suck that you rank in the top 100 and players that are much better being ranked 250, while players that are truly top 50 don’t even get a mention.
Anyone with half a brain knows it’s a “pay to play” scheme. The fact that you hide the rankings until people fork over money is such a scam. Keep raking in that money by stroke (sic) coaches’ and parents’ egos!
– B.
Extra Inning Softball Answers:
Don’t know if there’s a question in there as much as pretty pessimistic opinions but let’s address some points that are made, alleged or insinuated:
— Coaches don’t have to pay for these rankings, they can choose to look at them, ignore them and, if so desired, completely disregard. These rankings are to bring attention to players’ hard work, talents and accomplishments… to give them recognition and honor. If coaches disagree, so be it…
— Players that one person thinks “suck” others have recommended as having potential and being accomplished in the past with a future that is promising. As the cliché goes, beauty (talent) is in the eye of the behold
Time will tell but these athletes how good these teen athletes are and they were nominated by someone… we’re certainly NOT taking money to put players in. Absolutely not, that is the definition of unethical and would be the death of our efforts. So, no, I’m going to completely push back on that one… show me just one instance where just ONE time a kid has been put in by paying. Nope, nadda, not gonna happen.
— Definitely not a “pay to play” scheme. We don’t factor in who “pays” (subscribes) and who doesn’t because we don’t look at who is a subscriber or not one when putting kids in. It’s a nomination process.
–“Hide the rankings.” Huh. Does Netflix hide it’s TV shows behind a paywall? Does ESPN put its premium media content behind a paywall (televised and online)? Are there other services you have to pay for to get content? Yea, you know the answer to that.
We are a subscription-based company and, surprising perhaps, but some content is premium but more than half (if not more) is free. The rankings takes ENORMOUS time and research; recently, the write-ups alone were eight hours per day and that doesn’t include the production of editing, cropping photos, uploading content and pics, writing headlines and captions, tagging, promoting on social media, etc.
–“Raking in the money.” Yes, as I write this, I’m sitting on a beach in the Bahamas while a masseuse works my back kinks out and I’m being served virgin pina colatas. And then I woke up. We are trying to make a living and have put years into building a company that promotes and honors fastpitch softball.
Not a millionaire yet but that’s not why I do this: I do it because I love the people, the players who work so hard, the coaches who assist these young girls in reaching their dreams. I’ve been on the boys’ side of the media coverage and didn’t like the football, baseball or basketball people half as much as I do the softball world.
Some of the parents are a bit… out there… but these athletes aren’t competing for pro contracts worth millions, or for the TV exposure and all the glamour. They’re playing for the love of a sport and dedicating their lives to it.
It’s so uplifting and rewarding to watch it unfold, so no it’s not about “stroking egos.” It’s about watching dreams come true.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, my man-servant here in the Bahamas wants to refresh my drink.
Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball