The GB Management Committee (GBMC), a semi-autonomous arm of the BSF that oversees and makes policy for softball national teams, has had an influx of new members from across the softball community who have responded to a website plea to provide much-needed support for national team staff.
The new members, who all attended their first GBMC meeting on Saturday 6 April in Slough, include:
- Steve Getraer, who will provide financial management for the bank account used by all of the GB youth fastpitch teams.
- Christopher Dickinson, who will take on administration for the Committee.
- James Clarke, who will be in charge of communications to national teams.
- Kat Carter, who will head up fund-raising efforts for national teams.
- Joe Hodges, who will provide strength and conditioning support across the national team programmes.
New Chair
The GBMC also has a new Chair in Beth Perkins, who was elected to the position of National Teams Officer at the BSF AGM in February, a role that includes chairing the GBMC. Brief bios of all new GBMC members are provided below.
Continuing members of the GBMC include BSF Executive representatives Mark Wigington and Vicky Hall; Stan Doney, National Teams Programme Manager; Robin Dickinson, who manages national team clothing and equipment; Sara Vertigan, representing GB Slowpitch; Steve Fullan, representing GB Men's Fastpitch; and Bob Fromer, former GB National Teams General Manager.
Other GB Team coaches and managers have been invited to join the group, either temporarily or on a long-term basis.
April 6 meeting
The GBMC generally meets two or three times a year to look at national team issues and provide support for national team programmes, but the meeting on 6 April was primarily to bring the new members together and define their roles.
None of the new GBMC members except Beth Perkins has previously been involved with national teams, but all responded to an ad on the BSF website asking for people to support national team programmes in specific areas. All are keen to help provide a supporting framework that will let national team coaches and managers get on with their primary job, which is to recruit, coach and develop players and lead GB teams to success in international competition.
There are currently seven GB National Softball Teams – the GB Co-ed Slowpitch Team, and then six fastpitch teams: the GB Women, GB Men, GB Under-19 Women, GB Under-19 Men, GB Under-16 Girls and GB Under-13 Girls.
For the first time in the history of British softball, all seven national teams are playing in official ESF or ISF competitions this year, emphasising the need for programme support.
GBMC BIOGRAPHIES
Below is biographical information supplied by the new GBMC members:
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Beth Perkins
I was born and lived in Canada until 2004, when I decided I wanted to see more of the world. I ended up first in Scotland, then eventually settled in Nottinghamshire. I am a trained photographer and work as a Key Account Manager for a photographic production company.
I have been involved in softball since I was eight years old and all I wanted to do was to be a catcher. I still love catching and am lucky to be able to continue this with the newly-formed East Midlands Fastpitch League.
I am currently the Chair of the East Midlands Slowpitch Softball League, the Assistant Coach for the GB Under-13 Girls Fastpitch Team and, as the BSF National Teams Officer, I chair the GB Management Committee.
I’m excited to be involved in GB softball at this crucial time when the focus is on developing home-grown talent at a young age so we can continue to compete at the highest levels in European and World softball.
Steve Getraer
Steve Getraer has been playing softball in the UK for the last 13 years and before that in the USA for over 30 years.
He currently plays in the Greater London Softball Mixed League for the Coyotes as well as on mixed and single-sex tournament teams. He has also played fast pitch softball.
Steve is a BASU-qualified slowpitch umpire and has begun umpiring fastpitch as well. His credentials for performing the finance role on th GBMC are that he qualified as a CPA in the United States and has been a Chief Financial Officer for different companies.
Steve and his wife live in Southgate, North London.
Christopher Dickinson
I am from Leeds but now work in law for a city firm, Field Fisher Waterhouse, in London. I was involved in an attempt to set up a baseball team in Leeds, and I handled the legal tasks such as drawing up the association Constitution. I also dealt with funding applications.
I played softball in a corporate league in Leeds for the Leeds Junior Lawyers team.
I will take on the role of administrator for the GBMC. My legal background and experience in the commercial sector as an administration manager has given me the skills to organise a business or association efficiently.
James Clarke
James was born on the English South Coast, but was raised and lived in Florida and California.
Now back in the UK with his wife and kids, James has been the softball coach for the Chichester Falcons club in the Solent softball league and is in the process of starting up a youth softball club.
James says: “I hope to see and help softball grow in the UK so that all children – especially my own – get introduced to our sport and progress and play though school. I want to see as many universities and senior schools playing competitive softball as possible.”
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Kat Carter
Kat is originally from southern California and moved to the UK in October 2008. Before moving “across the pond”, she played softball for 10 years in local leagues in her home town of Newbury Park and attended California State University, Fullerton where she earned a BA in Communications and Advertising.
Kat currently works for the University of Southampton as a fund-raiser and has been involved with the not-for-profit sector for the past 15 years. Kat plays outfield for the Sharks in the Solent Softball League and now joins the GBMC to help extend the fundraising efforts of the organisation.
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Joe Hodges
My name is Joe Hodges, and I will fill the role of Strength and Conditioning advisor to the BSF.
I’ve been involved with the sport and fitness industry for the past 10 years. I’ve worked as a personal trainer for the last three years and have had great success with softball players in this time. I am currently studying Strength and Conditioning at St Mary's University in Twickenham and I hope pursue a career working with elite-level athletes.
I am available for all BSF athletes and coaches to contact me at any time with any queries they may have about Strength and Conditioning and Injury Prevention.
I can be reached at: joehodgesfitness@me.com.