Nominations Now Open: Rising Stars Futures Watchlist with New Tiered National Recognition

Nominations now open! Extra Inning Softball has officially opened nominations for the upcoming Rising Stars Futures Summer Watchlist, introducing major new enhancements designed to elevate youth athlete recognition and visibility nationwide.

The updated platform will feature a new three-tiered evaluation system alongside expanded national leaderboards that include athlete information and photos, marking a significant evolution in how younger athletes are identified and showcased within the sport.

Focused on the 10U and 12U divisions for athletes in the Classes of 2031 through 2034, the Rising Stars Futures Summer Watchlist is designed to spotlight emerging talent while helping create a stronger developmental pathway toward future Extra Inning Softball rankings opportunities. Submit Here.

“This initiative is about recognizing athletes earlier and creating meaningful visibility opportunities for young players across the country,” said Bonnie Holland, CEO of Extra Inning Softball. “The Rising Stars platform is designed to help identify athletes with strong long-term potential while also celebrating the work they are already putting into their development.”

New Three-Tier Futures System 

As part of the expanded format, athletes selected for the Rising Stars Futures Summer Watchlist will now be placed into one of three national tiers based on performance, consistency, projection, and overall upside.

In addition, the Watchlist gathers and evaluates athlete statistics across a two-season sample, creating a broader view of long-term development and performance trends.

Families and coaches are encouraged to carefully follow all instructions on the submission form to ensure accurate evaluation and placement within the Futures system.

Futures Premier

Futures Premier represents the highest distinction within the platform and identifies athletes demonstrating elite-level ability, advanced skill sets, and standout consistency. This tier serves as the Futures equivalent of the nationally recognized Extra Elite 100 platform.

Futures Select

Futures Select highlights athletes who have established themselves as strong performers with clear upward trajectory and continued developmental potential within their age group.

Futures Prospects

Futures Prospects recognizes emerging athletes who are continuing to build momentum while showing promising growth and long-term potential. The new structure is intended to create additional clarity for families, coaches, and organizations while strengthening Extra Inning Softball’s long-term rankings pipeline.

Expanded National Leaderboards

In addition to the new tier system, Extra Inning Softball will also introduce expanded national leaderboards tied directly to the Rising Stars Futures Summer Watchlist.

The leaderboards will feature athlete names, teams, positions, graduation years, and photos, providing additional national exposure opportunities for players across the country.

The addition of leaderboard integration reflects Extra Inning Softball’s continued investment in youth softball coverage and athlete development initiatives. Submit Here.

Nominations Now Open

Nominations for the Rising Stars Futures Summer Watchlist are now officially open and will close on Tuesday, June 30. Submit Here.

A direct link to the nomination form is now available on the Extra Inning Softball website and prominently displayed within the top yellow banner.

The Rising Stars Futures platform continues to grow as one of the nation’s premier early-identification systems for youth fastpitch softball athletes, helping spotlight the next generation of standout players before they become eligible for full national rankings.

The Future is Rising

As youth fastpitch softball continues to evolve nationally, the Rising Stars Futures Summer Watchlist is designed to help identify and celebrate the next generation of standout athletes before they reach the national middle school rankings stage.

With the addition of tiered recognition and expanded leaderboards, Extra Inning Softball is continuing to build a clearer pathway for long-term athlete visibility and development.

For families, coaches, and organizations looking to help young athletes gain early national exposure, the Rising Stars Futures platform represents an opportunity to be recognized, evaluated, and seen on a larger stage.

With nominations now officially open, the next wave of rising talent is ready to step into the spotlight. Submit Here.

View more trending news below.

Join Now!

TRENDING NEWS

COPYRIGHT © 2026 Extra Inning Softball TM