GB Under-18 Women
The Head Coach position for the GB Under-18 Women’s Team is vacant due to the resignation of Head Coach Kathleen Laster.
The GB Under-18 Women’s Team does not have an official European Championship in 2022 but the hope is to bring the team together after two years of inactivity due to the Covid-19 pandemic to play in this summer’s prestigious Canada Cup Tournament from 17-26 June in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.
When the GB Under-18 Women last competed in a European Championship in 2018, the team finished sixth; but two years earlier, playing in an Under-19 age group, the GB Team won the gold medal at the competition.
The team will have a European Championship in 2023 that will be the first step towards qualifying for the 2025 WBSC Under-18 Women’s World Cup. Players in the current GB Under-18 Women's Team pool are based in a number of countries around the world as well as in the UK.
GB Under-23 Men
The Head Coach position for the GB Under-23 Men’s Team is vacant due to the resignation of Head Coach Ian Tomlin. Ian has been the Head Coach for both the GB Under-18 and GB Under-23 Men’s Teams for the past three years but has found it increasingly difficult to cope with the requirements of coaching both teams. He will remain as Head Coach for the GB Under-18 Men.
The GB Under-23 Men’s Team will play in the first-ever Under-23 Men’s Softball European Championship in 2022, from 4-9 July in Sezimovo Usti in the Czech Republic. This tournament is a qualifying event to compete in the first WBSC Under-23 Men’s World Cup.
The majority of players in the current GB Under-Men's Team pool -- though not all -- are based in the UK.
Responsibilities
The main responsibilities for the Head Coach of a GB National Team, working in conjunction with the Team Operations Manager and other staff, are to:
- Design and oversee annual player trials and selections.
- Plan and oversee team training activities and camps in the lead-up to competitions.
- Lead the team and staff at competitions.
- Play a leading role in post-competition reviews.
- Work in conjunction with other National Team programmes and coaches to maintain a consistent philosophy and approach throughout GB Softball.
- Maintain consistent communication with players and staff throughout the year to maintain programme unity.
This latter point is particularly important because GB National Fastpitch Teams often have passport-holding players based in countries around the world as well as players based in the UK.
Conditions and applications
All staff positions on GB Softball National Teams are voluntary; no one is paid a salary or fee.
However, all costs for staff members are covered when a national team attends an international competition outside the country and some expenses connected with organising training and competition for national teams within the UK can also be claimed if necessary.
Anyone interested in applying to be the Head Coach for either the GB Under-18 Women or GB Under-23 Men should start by filling out a GB Staff Application Form on this link: https://bit.ly/3pB8UFZ.
Viable candidates will then be invited to attend a videoconference meeting with an interview panel
The deadline for applications for the Head Coach position for the GB Under-23 Men’s Team is 5.30 pm on Friday 4 February 2022.
The deadline for applications for the Head Coach position for the GB Under-18 Women’s Team is 5.30 pm on Friday 18 February 2022.
/ Cover photo by Grega Valancic
