Although no GB National Teams – fastpitch or slowpitch – will be taking part in official competitions this summer due to issues posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, three GB Women’s Fastpitch 
Teams have announced their roster selections for 2021 to honour the athletes selected.
These selections – for the GB Under-22, Under-18 and Under-15 Women’s Teams -- followed an extensive trial process that was conducted entirely online during the peak of the pandemic’s second wave in the UK and North America, which posed a considerable challenge for athletes attempting to win places on national team squads.
In addition to announcing roster selections, the three teams concerned have also announced plans for remote training during 2021 that will culminate in an in-person Winter Training Camp in Florida next winter.
Trial and selection process
For the 2021 season, due to ongoing pandemic restrictions, the GB Women's Fastpitch Softball Programme held its first entirely virtual team trials. The trials were open to all athletes wishing to try out for the GB Under-15, Under-18, Under-22, and Senior Women’s National Teams. All athletes were required to submit video evidence of testing protocols -- athletic, defensive and offensive skills -- as well as game footage and player stats by 22 February.
Following the successful receipt of this data, selection panels convened throughout March. The panels consisted of each team’s coaching staff plus two external selectors, whose role was to ensure that athlete selections were being made fairly and transparently based on criteria set out in GB Softball’s Selection Policy.
All athletes who trialled for 2021 GB Women’s Teams were then contacted regarding selection decisions, and athletes who were offered a spot on the roster were required to confirm whether they would accept their selection.
BSF National Teams Officer and GB Softball Coach Alexis Markham-Hill said:
“Despite being in the midst of a global pandemic and people experiencing a huge variety of hardships and losses, we had an exceptionally high number of applicants register to trial for the GB Softball Women’s Teams Programme in 2021. Reviewing all of the athletes’ trial videos was quite an emotional experience, knowing that despite the struggles our athletes and their families may have been going through, they were still determined to do the best they could, in the safest ways possible, to try to earn their spot on a GB Softball National Team roster.
“I always look forward to GB Softball trials, and my heart always bursts with pride when I see athletes bravely challenging themselves to do their best for a sport they love, and this year’s trials felt particularly inspiring. We saw family members or friends (Covid-restrictions permitting) stepping into the role of ‘coach’ to assist with catching pitches or hitting balls out to be fielded, timing base running and throws, and creating softball kit out of household items if the athlete did not have access to softballs, bats or throwing nets, as well as being videographers, data recorders, and motivational cheerleaders.
“With sports facilities closed, many athletes were restricted to completing testing protocols on concrete spaces such as empty car parks or driveways while battling unforgiving winter weather. We also had a number of athletes who were unable to go outside at all due to Covid restrictions; these athletes worked with the GB coaching staff to find ways to complete the testing protocols from their living rooms, hallways, garages and stairwells! It was humbling to see so many amazing examples of perseverance despite the overwhelming challenges.
“Although this year’s distance trials were complex for all involved and we would have loved to have been able to work with the athletes beforehand and hold face-to-face trials, we remain honoured that so many girls and women wish to be part of the GB Softball programme. I want to give my personal thanks to the GB Softball staff for working tirelessly to support the athletes throughout this process and I would like to thank each of the athletes for sharing your determination, creativity, grit, and effort while facing so much adversity. GB Softball and the British Softball Federation are thrilled to finally be able to announce the GB Under-15, Under-18, and Under-22 Women’s Team roster selections (below) to the wider softball community and we hope you will join us in congratulating and celebrating all of the athletes on their successful selection to represent GB Softball this year.”
Roster announcements
The players selected to rosters for the GB Under-22, Under-18 and Under-15 Women’s Teams for 2021 are listed below. In each case, athletes shown with an asterisk are returning GB players.
GB Under-22 Women’s Team 2021
- Cameron McGinnis*
- Carys Lynch*
- Catriona Strang
- Elise Coulthard*
- Hannah Edwards*
- Holly Newell*
- Kaitlyn Hickey
- Katie Burge*
- Lauren King*
- Madison Chappell*
- Megan Kyte*
- Michelle Shaw*
- Morgan Salmon*
- Saige Sampson
- Sidney Rose*
- Tia Warsop*
GB Under-22 Women’s Team Staff:
- Jo Malisani – Head Coach
- Gina Carbonatto – Assistant Coach
- Windy Thees – Pitching Coach
- Whitney Hollis – Team Manager
- Edwin Lam – Sports Therapist
GB Under-22 Women’s Team Head Coach Jo Malisani said, “We are very excited to announce our long-listed athletes for 2021, and while we are disappointed that we will not have a meaningful competition this summer due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, we are looking forward to working with everyone through our athlete training programme.
“This programme will be athlete-centred, focusing on individual player development, as we prepare for our winter training camp ahead of the 2022 competition year. I and the rest of the staff were very pleased to see that the selected athletes found ways to put their best foot forward and get the work done in order to successfully trial in a completely virtual process with limited access to resources. This commitment, desire, and love of the sport is what we will be leaning into to develop and prepare these athletes.”
GB Under-18 Women’s Team 2021
- Cara Edwards*
- Carys Lynch*
- Catriona Strang
- Emma Smith
- Emma Thomas
- Georgia Wilson*
- Ivy Clark*
- Jasmine Francik
- Jessica Chan
- Madeleine Sherwood*
- Megan Longman*
- Mililani Youngman*
- Molly Blackwood
- Rhianne Henderson*
- Saige Sampson
- Shinju Kimura-Phalon*
- Sidney Rose*
- Sonia Keswani
- Tia Warsop*
GB Under-18 Women’s Team Staff:
- Kathleen Laster – Head Coach
- Tara Tembey – Hitting Coach
- Kate Mayfield – Pitching Coach
- Alexis Markham-Hill – Assistant Coach
- David Morris – Team Manager
- Sarah Cormack – Sports Therapist
Since joining the GB Softball coaching staff at the end of 2020, GB Under-18 Head Coach Kathleen Laster had focused on creating a comprehensive pre-season training plan that would enable this year’s team to be competition-ready for the European Under-18 Women’s Championship in July 2021.
However, no one imagined the team would be forced to miss out on a second summer of softball due to Covid-19. Although hugely disappointed at not being able to take the team to the Europeans this summer, Coach Laster said, “Having the opportunity to select a roster as talented as this one for the European Championship was invigorating. Unfortunately, the global pandemic is not allowing this team to step onto the field together this year, but I am looking forward to continuing to work with the GB Under-18 staff and athletes as we prepare to showcase our talents in the next competition.”
The GB Under-18 team also welcomed Tara Tembey (Hitting Coach), Kate Mayfield (Pitching Coach), and Alexis Markham-Hill (Assistant Coach) onto the staff in 2021.
Kate Mayfield, who is a former Temple University pitcher, a current pitching coach and an eight-year travel softball coaching veteran, shared her thoughts on the GB Under-18s: “I was really looking forward to helping coach these athletes while they represented Great Britain this summer and I’m sad we’re having to adjust those plans. I think we have selected a special group of athletes who are dedicated to becoming strong athletes and are determined to play for their country. I would encourage any athlete who is disappointed or sad about the withdrawal from this summer’s tournament to commit those feelings back to the field and grow their game even more, so that when we do finally get to come together to compete, we can all be our very best.”
Tara Tembey, a former Tennessee-Chattanooga All Southern-Conference athlete and twelve-year NCAA coaching veteran, added “I am very grateful for the opportunity to be a part of GB Softball. I look forward to working with the athletes and staff and continuing to develop our competitive Under-18 programme.”
GB Under-15 Women’s Team 2021
- Cara Edwards*
- Ella Holloway
- Emma Smith
- Emma Thomas
- Georgia Wilson*
- Jasmine Francik
- Jenna Thompson
- Jessica Chan
- Madeleine Williamson
- Megan Rollins*
- Megan Longman*
- Mililani Youngman*
- Molly Blackwood
- Saige Sampson
- Shinju Kimura-Phalon*
- Sonia Keswani
GB Under-15 Women’s Team Staff:
- Jo Malisani – Head Coach
- Alexis Markham-Hill – Associate Head Coach
- Sian Wigington – Assistant Coach
- Felicity West – Assistant Coach
- Mary Murray – Team Manager
- Natasha Furnell – Sports Therapist
After a very competitive trial and selection process within the GB Under-15 age group, a talented roster of athletes has been chosen, with 10 athletes being selected to a GB National team for the very first time. The staff can’t wait to get working with these athletes and is looking forward to watching them develop across the year.
GB Under-15 Assistant Coach Felicity West said: “Heading into my second year as an Assistant Coach for the GB Under-15’s, I'm really excited! I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed that we’re no longer preparing for the Canada Cup, but I am confident and motivated to help run the online sessions and look forward to supporting our athletes’ development as they prepare to get back out on the field soon!”
The GB Under-15 staff’s collective positive mindset was echoed by Assistant Coach Sian Wigington: “I want to offer a BIG congratulations to all the girls selected. There is some very serious talent in this team and I am so excited to see the girls compete on the diamond, whenever that will be! It's been a tough year for all: athletes not being able to play and coaches not being able to coach. But we know from the 2020 season that the necessary transition to online sessions / group work has been a great help and strengthened both the team and the coaching staff, so we feel really confident that we will see even greater progression this year. Roll on 2022, when we can get back out there!”
The GB Under-15 Women’s Team has welcomed Tasha Furnell onto the staff this year as the team’s Sports Therapist. Tasha, who has previously worked as a Sports Therapist for rugby and football clubs and is currently a full-time University lecturer delivering massage and rehabilitation modules, said: “I’m really excited to join the GB Softball programme as the Under-15 Women’s Sports Therapist. This will be my first experience of working within softball and I am looking forward to learning the rules of a new sport. I can’t wait to help the athletes develop to be the best they can be in representing their country!”
Training plans for 2021
It was decided at the end of April that no GB Softball National Teams across the GB Women’s and Men’s Fastpitch and GB Slowpitch programmes would be competing in international tournaments this summer, for reasons directly related to the Covid-19 pandemic. The BSF announcement about GB Team withdrawals is on this link: https://www.britishsoftball.org/news/article/covid-forces-gb-teams-to-withdraw-from-european-competitions.
However, GB Softball is committed to finding every opportunity available to make the most of 2021. The year will be used to its fullest extent and will certainly not be a ‘year off’.
As a programme, the GB Women’s Softball staff embrace and believe in the added value of working collaboratively across the different age brackets and teams, and the staff is excited to share the following plans for the GB Under-15, Under-18, and Under-22 Women’s Teams for 2021:
Athlete Training Programme. GB Softball staff are creating an individually-tailored GB Softball Athlete Training Programme to run across the spring and summer seasons in 2021, to enable every athlete to train hard under the guidance of the GB coaching staff and to work towards both individual and team goals.
The individual training programme will focus on areas of development tailored to individual player needs and skills growth (athletic/physical literacy, athletic capacity, technical skills, mental skills, life skills and tactical/decision making skills). While the primary focus will be on individual technical skill development, the staff will work with athletes to deepen their understanding of the integration of those technical skills with life skills, mental skills, athletic skills and tactical skills within a High-Performance environment and how this translates on the field for optimal individual and team performance.
The programme will include (but will not be limited to):
- Technical: Weekly reviews and check-ins with athletes. One week will focus on defensive skills work, the next week will focus on offense. Athletes will be working with coaches across the Under-15, Under-18 and Under-22 staff.
- Life Skills and Mental Performance Skills: Workshops/readings on goal-setting and fuelling for high-performance.
- Tactical: Chalk talks and watch parties (including the Olympic Softball competition).
GB Softball Winter Training Camp. The Athlete Training Programme will culminate in athletes attending an elite GB Softball Winter Training Camp in Florida, USA (dates are still to be determined). The GB Training Camp will include intensive team training sessions and multiple exhibition games, giving the athletes an opportunity to bring together all they have learned and showcase their talents on the diamond together, in preparation for upcoming official competitions.