In the world of pro sports leagues are always popping up across a range of sports.
At present a new 3-on-3 hockey league, a new US-based team handball league, and a new pro roller hockey league are at various stages of development.
But, for the most part the new leagues are standard fare in terms of approach to the game.
Then there is Athletes Unlimited and its 鈥榖ubble鈥� launch of a new women鈥檚 softball league this fall.
The approach of AU is different, from the player-led organization, to how teams are chosen, to how it will determine wins and losses, to the importance of individual performance on the field.
Explaining it all in a short sports column is frankly impossible, but a couple of highlights are that team rosters will change weekly. The top four players become new captains each week and draft their teams from scratch for each week鈥檚 games.
In what the league itself terms a 鈥渞adical scoring system,鈥� every player can lose or win points during every game. Athletes score points as individuals and as a team to win MVP titles and cash bonuses.
Win points are all about the team performance. They accumulate during both individual innings and overall game wins. Each inning is worth plus-10 points and overall games are worth plus-50 points.
The final component of points is individual stats. Position players and pitchers will earn points based on their performance.
The breakdown for individual points include: Single: 10 points, Double: 20 points, Triple: 30 points, Home run: 40 points, Stolen base: 10 points, Caught Stealing: minus-10 points, Base on balls: 10 points.
Pitchers have their own scoring stats of course.
It all sounds rather intriguing to be sure.
There are 56 players in the bubble in Rosemont, Ill., including four Canadians infielders Joey Lye and Kelsey Jenkins, outfielder Victoria Hayward and pitcher Karissa Hovinga.
I caught up with Lye for an interview, and the Toronto born infielder said it was special to see the league hold its launch press conference a few days ahead of the start of play (Saturday).
鈥淭o see this all come to fruition ... was pretty exciting ... I just had goosebumps after goosebumps after goosebumps after that 小蓝视频. I鈥檓 getting them now. It was just eye opening to be part of something amazing,鈥� enthused the Canadian national team member since 2010. Lye she has competed in every WBSC Women鈥檚 Softball World Championship for Canada since then, earning bronze in 2010, 2016 and 2018. She was also a member of the Canadian teams that took home silver at the 2011 Pan American Games and gold in 2015.
Lye said the new league was something she wanted to be part of, as she initially reached out to her Canadian teammate Victoria Hayward the first player to sign-on with AU about her interest to play.
Initially the rosters looked full and Lye appeared destined to be a reserve player, but then an opening came up and she joined the 56-player pool for the season.
鈥淚鈥檓 very, very excited to be here,鈥� she said.
Lye said she looks at UA as something fresh and exciting for the sport.
鈥淚 definitely think this is an exciting new look for softball, and pro sports in general,鈥� she said, adding because the approach is so new 鈥淚t鈥檚 an exciting environment to be in.鈥�
As for the players earning points based on individual efforts in a team setting, Lye said softball works well with such a model.
鈥淲e are a game set up for individuals to shine in different ways than other sports,鈥� she said.
For softball fans wanting to see what the new league is all about, there are numerous platforms from which to watch games played Saturday, Sunday and Monday each week of the season,
The global Olympic Channel will stream all 30 games, with games also scheduled for TSN (online) in Canada and at .
Since I鈥檝e been a long-time softball fan, and a follower of the Canadian Wild in the National Pro Fastpitch league this is certainly something I鈥檒l be watching when time allows. It should be fresh, a bit confusing, exciting and interesting all at the same time.
