During the off-season Policesoftball.com has been contacted by numerous tournament directors across the nation requesting we add their tournament as a ranking tournament. When teams plan their upcoming season schedule many tend to gravitate toward those tournaments that award ranking points. By us pre-determining tournaments those directors have an advantage to draw more teams over those who were not identified as a ranking tournament.

Rather than place the burden on Policesoftball.com to pre-determine ranking tournaments we have adjusted the ranking format. Version 2.0 will give the tournament directors control over their own destiny. They will now have the ability become a silver or gold tournament provided they draw quality teams. Policesoftball.com will no longer pre-determine which tournaments do/do not receive ranking points. Points will only be awarded AFTER a tournament is complete. The formula will be based off the final 2008 rankings. The formula is as follows:

If the tournament draws any combination of 10 out of the top 25 East OR West eams it is a GOLD tournament
If the tournament draws any combination of 7-9 out of the top 25 East or West teams it is a SILVER tournament
It the tournament does not draw any combination of at least 7 out of the top 25 East or West teams no points will be awarded


East/West teams can mix-match for point qualifications in version 2.0. Example: In ‘08 Vegas Bacon Ball had 8 top 25 West teams and had 4 top 25 East teams. If it has the same draw in ’09 it will be a gold tournament. (8 + 4 = 12).

There are many positives to Rankings version 2.0. To begin with all tournament directors have an even playing field so there is no favoritism. In the past there has also been a disparity between gold/silver tournaments. Some have argued that some silver tournaments had better competition than some gold tournaments so some teams got “easy” points while others faced tougher competition and got fewer points.

We do recognize some disadvantages to version 2.0. To begin with teams will not know if a tournament is gold/silver or non-ranked until AFTER the event. A team might plan to go to Tourney X in hopes of accruing ranking points, but if only 6 ranked teams show up and they will not accrue any points. Another disadvantage is that we are basing it off the FINAL 2008 rankings. A new team could emerge in 2009 that could be a top contender but their participation in an event will not count toward the 7/10 ranked team threshold.

If a team is truly interested in accruing points we encourage them base their ‘09 schedule on past history. If a tournament has a history of drawing top teams it “probably” will continue to do so. For the West teams, take a look at the Top 25 ranked teams and figure out where they typically compete. That formula will probably repeat itself in ‘09. For the East check the Top 25 and use the same formula. *Caveat to the East Top 25. Central-Ohio officially folded so Chicago-Metro will slide into that 25th spot. If any other ranked teams officially fold before the beginning of the ’09 season we will adjust accordingly and bump teams up.

So from here on out when a tournament director contacts us and requests to be named a rankings tournament we will put it back on them. The answer will be…if you draw at least 7out of the top 25 East or West teams you will be awarded ranking points. If a director really wants to be included in the rankings they need to solicit those ’08 top ranked teams that will get the event qualified.

As always Policesoftball.Com MINIMUM STANDARDS will apply. Tournaments that do not enforce the minimum eligibility standards will not be recognized for ranking purposes. TOURNAMENT DIRECTOS MUST CONTACT PS.COM AND EXPRESS THEIR DESIRE TO BE A RANKINGS TOURNAMENT. If they do this we will put the ps.com logo next to their tournament listing in the Upcoming Tournaments section of the website. The logo indicates they will follow the ps.com minimum standards and intend to draw enough quality teams to qualify as a silver/gold tournament.

And finally we are pleased to announce that Boombah will once again sponsor the Points Chase. The team that ultimately claims the Boombah Points title will receive $500 credit toward Boombah uniforms and/or equipment. More on that to follow.

Diamond Division Points

PoliceSoftball.com World Series

1= 32
2= 25
3= 22
4= 18
5= 16
7= 14
9= 12
13=10
17=8
25 or lower= 4

Gold Division Points

1= 20
2= 16
3= 14
4= 12
5/6= 10
7= 8
8/9=7
10/13=6
14 or lower=2

Silver Division Points

1= 13
2= 10
3= 8
4= 7
5/6= 6
7= 4
8/9=3
10/13=2
14 or lower=1