In fastpitch softball, rankings often spark debate. Parents ask how players are compared fairly. Coaches want to know what truly matters. Athletes want reassurance that their hard work is being evaluated with integrity. Those questions are valid—and they deserve a transparent answer.
At Extra Inning Softball, tournaments matter. A lot.
Over the past several months, our team has taken a deep dive into one of the most complex components of our ranking’s algorithm: the tournaments athletes compete in.
With thousands of nominations submitted —each containing player statistics, achievements, video links, and schedules, the challenge is evaluating fairly and consistently across the entire country.
The Reality of Ranking at Scale
Imagine reviewing thousands of athletes across every position, class year, region, and nationally. Now imagine that each athlete competes in a different mix of events—local tournaments, regional showcases, qualifiers, invitationals, and national championships. Some events draw elite, nationally ranked teams. Others are more developmental or geographically limited.
The question becomes simple but critical: How do you fairly compare athletes when the level of competition varies so widely?
That is where tournament analysis comes in.
Understanding the Importance of Tournaments
Over the last few months, our internal research team evaluated hundreds of tournaments nationwide, assigning each tournament a proprietary numerical value. These internal tournament ranking numbers are now embedded directly into our player rankings evaluation algorithm.
This means tournament participation is not treated as equal by default. Our focus is on the quality and competitive level of the event, not just the number of tournaments played.
Let me be very clear:
Playing more tournaments is not the only goal.
Playing at high-quality tournaments where elite athletes compete is what carries the most weight.
An athlete who consistently performs at top-tier tournaments against strong competition provides evaluative data that is meaningful, comparable, and ultimately more fair within a national ranking system.
How Tournament Rankings Are Determined
These tournament rankings were not created casually or in isolation.
Our process included:
- Extensive internal research by our evaluation team
- Historical performance data tied to organizations and tournaments
- Community feedback from coaches, parents, and industry leaders
- Outreach to organization leaders for insight on top tournaments
We asked hard questions. We listened carefully. And we received valuable, thoughtful feedback that directly shaped how tournaments were ranked.
Importantly, this process remains ongoing. I am still open to feedback, and I believe that transparency and collaboration are essential if we want rankings done the right way. Submit your feedback on tournaments HERE.
Considering Every TournamentÂ
Another key point I want the softball community to understand:
We consider every tournament an athlete plays in during the time specified on the nomination form.
That does not mean an athlete is penalized for local play. It means that our system evaluates context.
A strong performance at a highly ranked national event carries different evaluative weight than a strong performance at a smaller, localized tournament—and that distinction matters when ranking athletes nationally.
This approach allows us to continue scaling our internal operations while improving accuracy, consistency, and fairness across every position group.
Looking Ahead: More Coverage, More Insight
One of the most exciting developments for 2026 is our expanded commitment to tournament coverage.
We recently reached out to tournament directors nationwide, offering free promotion and coverage of their tournaments. Why? Because better rankings require better data—and better data comes from being present, engaged, and informed.
By building closer relationships with tournament directors and conducting interviews throughout the upcoming year, we aim to gain deeper insight into:
- How tournaments impact regional development
- How tournament structures differ across the country
- How national competition trends are evolving
These relationships will strengthen not only our rankings, but the broader ecosystem of fastpitch softball coverage.
What Comes Next—and Why It Matters
I am currently considering releasing select tournament rankings publicly to gather structured community feedback. This would be a significant step toward greater transparency and collaboration—and one I do not take lightly.
Our mission at Extra Inning Softball has always been clear:
To empower, inspire, and support athletes through coverage that is thoughtful, ethical, and earned.
Rankings are not about hype. They are about context, competition, and consistency. Tournament quality is one of the most critical variables in that equation, and we are committed to refining how it is evaluated year after year.
If you would like to learn more about how we are expanding our coverage nationwide, I encourage you to explore our tournament initiative.
For more information reach out to our Community Engagement Specialist, Jayden Mount, by emailing her at: Jayden@extrainningsoftball.com
This work is complex. It is intentional. And it is done with one goal in mind: getting it right for the athletes.
That is the standard we hold ourselves to—and it is not changing.
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