New centralized process focused on simpler sign up, easier planning for families, and fairer competition
Posted on 5 December, 2024
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) switches to a new and improved process for youth sports registration beginning with spring/summer 2025 sports – baseball, softball, flag football, and track and field. The new process will debut when registration opens for those sports on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.*
Previously, MPRB youth sports were offered through individual parks. This resulted in a long, confusing list of dozens, or even hundreds of registration options across the park system, in which not every park offered options for every age group. If a park didn’t offer a specific age group or have enough participants signed up to create a full team, park staff would work to find spots on teams at other nearby parks.
Now, youth and families will go through a much easier and streamlined process. Simply choose a sport, age division, and three preferred sites. Then after registration closes, Youth Sports staff will review all registrations, create teams based on people’s preferred sites, and place teams into citywide leagues.
Replacing a decentralized approach with a more efficient and organized process helps ensure every child or teenager who signs up to play a sport is placed on a team with less potential hassle or uncertainty.
How to Sign Up
This process begins when registration opens for spring/summer youth sports on Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Online: Go to minneapolisparks.org/youthsports and follow the registration links.
In-Person: Walk into any recreation center and front desk staff can help you register.
Phone: Call 612-230-6400 during regular business hours, Monday-Friday, 8 am-4:30 pm.
Benefits of Centralized Registration
Easy Sign Up: All participants have the same registration process, experience, and fees
Fair Competition: To reduce disparities in skill level, no pre-existing teams will be allowed
Consistent Schedules: Days of the week for practices and games are set when registration opens for easier planning for families
Efficiency and Savings: More efficient scheduling for referees and facilities, along with cost savings and consistency in uniform and equipment ordering
Outside Groups and Pre-existing Teams
Everyone participating in MPRB leagues must register individually through the new central registration process. No pre-existing teams will be allowed.
All volunteers and staff from athletic councils, schools and youth-serving organizations in Minneapolis are deeply appreciated, and everyone is encouraged to participate in this new process.
Associations and groups that organize their own teams are welcome to apply to rent space at MPRB facilities for their own practices, games, and leagues, but in order to participate in an MPRB league, everyone must follow the new MPRB registration process.
More Information
Please read the MPRB Youth Sports Registration FAQ for more information and visit the MPRB Youth Sports page to sign up for email updates on Youth Sports in Minneapolis Parks.
*A previous version of this announcement stated 2025 spring/summer youth sports registration would open February 3. That date has since been updated to March 5.