Please introduce yourself.
My name is Quincy Jones. I'm 21 years old and from Alkmaar, the Netherlands. Nowadays I'm living with my girlfriend, son (3 months) and stepson (almost 4) in Spijkenisse. I have been playing softball since I was 16 just for fun. Not strictly for a team, but sometimes with the team where my father played in. I started playing serious softball when I just turned 21, before that I played baseball since I was six. My position is shortstop, but actually I'm a utility player. Now I'm in the selection of the national team since a couple of months and playing for Alcmaria Victrix in the highest league in the Netherlands. 

What made you want to play softball?
I grew up with softball. My father played and my sister is still playing. They have introduced me to the game. My sister always played for the national youth teams and went to different tournaments. My parents and I were always following her to support. It was a lot of traveling but I loved it (I am her number one fan :p). 

Can you tell me something about softball in your country?
In the Netherlands, softball is a normal sport for women. However, it's unfortunately not that famous (like soccer is). Softball for men is not famous at all. There are not many clubs and the competition level is just okay. I wish there were more teams of a higher level in our competition. But the level is rising again in the Dutch competition, however it's still not on the level where it is supposed to be yet.

Was it difficult to get into the national team and what was the process?
Fighting for a place in the national team is working hard. But my motivation to make my parents, my brother, sister, my girl and my two boys proud, gives me the strength and energy to work my way to my goals. And all my friends and family who support me in this makes it easier for me.
The coaching staff will select the final team after observing by practice, games and tournaments and physical test moments during the season and off season.

How often do you practice with your national team and what do the practices look like?
The practices with the national team are very alternately. During the off season we had a couple of practices together. But we had a training program which we had to do for ourselves. During the team practices we tested the progress of the training programs.

What is your goal for the 2018 season?
My goal for the 2018 season is to end up first with Alcmaria in our competition and to go with the national team to the European Championship and win it!

What is the best advice someone ever gave you?
- Have respect and get respect but never lose your self-respect – my father
- Never give up on something you really want, believe in your self – my mother
- Don’t run around the swimming pool – my mother

Is it hard for your National team to participate in European tournaments?
There are many good teams we have to face and every game you play, you have to work hard. Because during every game you want to show the best of yourself and improve yourself. But we have good players and I believe in every single one of them. And as long as we work hard I believe we can win the European Championship. It also is very hard to find sponsors and we don’t get money of the government. So we have to pay almost everything by ourselves.

Who's your role model and why?
- My mother, because she is strongest person I know, she works so hard and always has my back.
- My father, because he works hard and taking care of the family and always has my back.
- My sister, because she knows what she want and is ready to fight for it without giving up and also always has my back.

What do you think is the key to a successful team?
Communication, effort, passion, skills, technique, teamwork, fun and goals are in my opinion the key to success.

- Romy Marinus -