USA Softball's women's squad has reunited for the first time since last March ©USA Softball

USA Softball's women's national team has gathered for the first time since March at a training camp in Florida.

The 18-member camp at the Barnett Athletic Complex, home of the Florida Southern College softball programme, began earlier this week and is due to conclude on January 16.

Players are set to be put through a series of workouts, practice sessions and simulated game situations at the camp.

It is the first time the squad has been together since the "Stand Beside Her" tour, presented by Major League Baseball, was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The camp provides the American team with vital training in the lead-up to the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, due to open on July 23.

USA Softball has named 18 players for the Florida camp ©USA Softball
USA Softball has named 18 players for the Florida camp ©USA Softball

"I want to thank Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing and Florida Southern College for helping us get some training in these next couple weeks," head coach Ken Eriksen said. 

"The training is a big part of our preparation and for groups such as Polk County and Florida Southern to get behind this team and support us is a huge commitment."

The US will be looking to go one better than the silver medal they achieved at Beijing 2008, the last Games where softball featured on the programme, when they compete at Tokyo 2020.

Softball matches at Tokyo 2020, rescheduled for this year because of the COVID-19 crisis, are scheduled to be held in Fukushima and Yokohama.

The tournament is due to run from July 21 to 27.