Frequently Asked Questions about the women's national team
The dialogue below is based on questions I have received over the years.
If you have a question please ask.
Is there a USA women's national baseball team?
Yes. There is a women's national baseball team that plays in elite international competitions called the Women's World Cup of Baseball. The World Cup competitions are played in even years and started in 2004. The 2012 Women's World Cup will be played in Edmonton.
Who selects the women's national team?
USA Baseball selects the players for the United States Women's National Baseball Team.
How are women's national team prospects found?
Several tools are used.
- Players are identified through a database kept by USA Baseball, the American Women's Baseball Federation and others.
- Scouting reports may be compiled at regional and national tournaments promoted by various local and national women's baseball organizations.
- In 2012 USA Baseball will host three tryouts at three different trials sites. The trials dates and sites are: June 2 in San Francisco, June 9 in New Lenox, IL and June 16 in Cary, NC. Players selected at these trials sites will be invited to Final Trials Camp in San Francisco from July 29-August 31.
National Team training will be held August 2-8 in San Francisco. The National Team will travel directly to Edmonton for the 4th Women's World Cup of Baseball scheduled August 10-19.
Players will pay their own expenses to and from the trials sites. If a player is selected to attend the Final Trials Camp, all expenses will be paid by USA Baseball.
Australia, Canada, Cuba, Japan, Hong Kong, India, Korea, Netherlands, Puerto Rico, Taiwan and Venezuela also have established women's national baseball teams and have played in a World Cup competition.
What is the Women's World Cup of Baseball?
The Women's World Cup is an international tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation. The Women's World Cup evolved from the Women's World Series competitions and currently is the premier elite baseball competition for women. Only national country teams selected by their respective governing bodies are eligible to compete. The first Women's World Cup was played in 2004 in Edmonton, Canada. The event is played biannually in the even years.
The International Baseball Federation (IBAF) organizes and sanctions international baseball competitions including the World Cups, World Baseball Classic and the Olympic Games. USA Baseball and other national governing bodies belong to the IBAF.
Is women's baseball an Olympic sport?
No. - but neither is men's baseball -nor softball. Men's baseball and women's softball were dropped as Olympic sports after the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and won't be played in either the London 2012 games or the 2016 games. Baseball and softball are on the "short list" of eight sports being considered for inclusion in the 2020 games. The IOC will select only one of those eight sports to play in the 2020 Olympic games.
What countries have won the Gold Medals at the Women's World Cups of Baseball?
The United States won the Gold Medal in Edmonton by defeating Japan 2-0 in 2004. In 2006 the United States again won the Gold Medal by defeating Japan 13-11. Japan won their first Gold Medal in 2008 WWC and repeated as the Gold Medalist in 2010 .
When is the next Women's World Cup?
2012 - Edmonton will host the 8 country event from August 10-19.
Prior WWC and WWS venues have been:
2010 - Venezuela
2008 - Japan
2006 - Taiwan
2004 - Edmonton
2004 Women's World Series - Japan
2003 Women's World Series - Australia
2002 Women's World Series - USA
2001 Women's World Series - Canada
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