USA
The USA Women's softball team won the 2002 Women's World Championship this summer after beating out Japan. That makes it their fifth consecutive Women's World Championship. It is the seventh title that they have won. They will have the number one seed in the 2004 Olympics. Natasha Watley scored the winning run in the 2000 Olympics against Japan, to take home the gold. The score was 1 to 0.

To be able to qualitfy for the USA Women's Team you must a citizen of the US during the team tryouts. Athletes will be invited to training camps for selections, there will also be regular scouting. There is also open tryouts throughout the US. After the fall camp, there will be 18 to 20 atheletes chosen. They will be selected on various competitions. Here are some Selection Criteria on batting, baserunning, fielding, judgement, communication with other players, instincts for necessary adjustments or positions. If you are a pitcher you will be selected on pitching speed, ball movement, different pitches and commands and other communications with the catcher and teammates and how you handle different game situations. Other factors are enthusiasm, versatility, maturity and teamwork.

This picture is of Natasha Watley scoring the winning run in the 2000 Olympics.

The USA Men's Team won gold medals in 1966, 1968, 1976, 1980, and 1988. The silver medal came in 1972. They won bronze medals in 1984, 1992, and 2000. They placed fourth in 1996.

Selections for the Men's USA softball team you must be a citizen of the US during this time. There is a fall training camp, where 30 to 40 athletes will be invited to come and tryout. At the end there will be 17 to 22 athletes will be chosen. Once they are selected they will compete in competitions. In the spring there is another training camp, they invite 30 to 40 people. When that camp is over, they will pick again 17 to 20 athletes. All of the athletes that were chosen, must have been present at the camps. The only way they can be selected without attending the camp, is to be excused for certain reasons. They are selected on batting, baserunning, fielding, judgement, communication with other players, instincts for necessary adjustments or positions. If a player is wanting to be a pitcher for the team, they will be judged on pitching speed, ball movement, different pitches and commands and other communications with the catcher and teammates. Other things are the teams enthusiasm, versatility, maturity, teamwork, and feedback from the coaches.

Tim Wahl, one of the catchers for the 2000 Men's National Team.

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