As Minneapolis Park Board changes registration for youth sports, pre-existing teams are out

Last year, Park Board youth leagues had 806 teams and a total of more than 10,200 athletes. About 10% of the teams were pre-formed, with about 925 participants.

The Park Board is rolling out central registration this spring for baseball, softball, track and field, and flag football because those sports have the fewest pre-formed teams. Seeing how central registration plays out may inform changes later.

Jack Bartsh, the Park Board’s director of athletics, aquatics, ice arenas and golf, said he was optimistic that central registration would improve participation in park leagues over time, but he acknowledged there would be growing pains in the near term.

“I’m willing to go to great lengths to try to get the kids participating and to get the coaches involved,” Bartsh said, promising to go door-to-door at Little Earth to help sign up kids if necessary.

“We’ll get a better idea of how things look after we run through this first season. And if we have to make adjustments, we’ll make adjustments. But I do believe we’re heading in the right direction.”

St. Paul Parks and Recreation spokeswoman Clare Cloyd said teams formed by outside organizations, such as the West Side Boosters, are welcome in St. Paul.