Game Changer: How the Tahlequah Sports League is Transforming Youth Sports

If you look at the numbers, the growth of youth sports in Tahlequah isn't just a trend—it’s a transformation. In 2025, the Tahlequah Sports League (TSL) saw a staggering 3,225 local children registered across five sports. For TSL President Trae Ratliff, this participation is the realization of a vision that began on a road trip in the summer of 2019.

"It probably started... where a group of us took a trip to Sallisaw to visit with their youth league board," Ratliff recalls. He and his team were looking for a template to unify Tahlequah’s fractured sports organizations. The goal was simple but ambitious: bring softball, baseball, football, basketball, and soccer under one roof.

A Unified Front for Youth Sports

Incorporating as a nonprofit in late 2019, the league faced an immediate hurdle: COVID-19. Their inaugural spring season in 2020 was delayed and shortened, but they pushed through. Since then, the league has operated with a unique philosophy regarding its workforce. While the Board of Directors volunteers, the game-day operations do not.

"We never have operated off of volunteers," Ratliff explains, noting the importance of accountability. "If you need an umpire, or somebody in the concession stand... we’ve always paid all our workers."

Strategic Growth and New Turf

The league’s explosion in popularity—including a jump from 42 to 88 basketball teams recently—is largely due to strategic decisions that prioritize the family experience.

A major shift occurred in 2024 with the integration of soccer. Ratliff and the board introduced a "Rec League" option for the U10 division, allowing 8 and 9-year-olds to play locally at the Anthus Brennan fields rather than being forced into travel ball.

"We’ve seen the retention is a lot better because it's just easier on mom and dad," says Ratliff.

The facilities themselves have become a massive draw. Through a partnership with the City of Tahlequah, local kids now play on premier turf fields. The impact on the schedule has been undeniable. Ratliff points out that two years ago, the league suffered 29 rain-out days. In the wet spring of 2025? They had just one.

High-Tech Maintenance

The league is even innovating in groundskeeping. Ratliff recently acquired a GPS-driven "Tiny Mobile Robot" to stripe the fields.

"I just fill it with paint, turn it on, and press go," Ratliff says. "It paints the field laser straight... It’s like having an employee out there."

Spring Registration is Now Open

With the spring season approaching, Ratliff is urging parents to register early to ensure teams can be formed and practices can begin. He emphasizes that the league’s goal is to create a quality of life that keeps families in Tahlequah.

"It’s hard to say Tahlequah is not the best place to be growing up as a kid," Ratliff says. "I think it’s going to continue to just get bigger and better."

How to Get Involved: Registration for Spring sports (Softball, Baseball, Soccer) is upcoming. Visit the Tahlequah Sports League website to sign up.

Tahlequah Sports League Website