Althea Byfield
Encyclopedia
Althea Latoya Byfield is a Jamaican international basketball
and netball
player. Byfield has represented Jamaica in both sports, and is a current member of the Jamaican netball team.
in Texas.
season. In 2002 she transferred to Texas A&M University–Commerce
, majoring in kinesiology
, but did not play basketball until the 2003–04 season. In that season Byfield started in 16 of 19 games played, averaging 7.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per match; she was also named Lions Newcomer of the year. In the following season, Byfield was the only player in the Lone Star Conference
to be ranked in the top ten players for rebounds (3rd), assists (10th) and steals (3rd); she also had the seventh-highest minutes played throughout the LSC season, averaging over 33 minutes per game. The 2005–06 season saw her playing time reduced, somewhat due to a larger playing bench.
Byfield was also part of the Jamaican national women's basketball team selected to compete in the Caribbean Basketball Championships
in 2006, and subsequently at the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship for Women
. As of October 2008, she was playing for the Metrobelles in the Jamaican National Basketball League.
and 2007
Netball World Championships
, with Jamaica winning bronze medals in both tournaments. In 2010, she featured in Jamaica's Commonwealth Games campaign
in India and won bronze at the 2010 World Netball Series
in England.
In domestic netball, Byfield plays for Jamalco in the Jamaican Netball Association Open League competition, having previously played for Waulgrovians and Blades United. In 2008, Byfield was signed with the Central Pulse
in New Zealand for the 2009 ANZ Championship
season. She became one of the team's standout players, although the Pulse finished their season in 10th place. Byfield transferred to the Northern Mystics
in 2010 as their starting goal keeper. She was not signed for the 2011 season.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and netball
Netball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
player. Byfield has represented Jamaica in both sports, and is a current member of the Jamaican netball team.
Early life
Althea Byfield was born in Kingston on 28 November 1984, the daughter of Tony Byfield and Jean Rumble. She also has a twin brother, Ian. Byfield attended high school at The Queen's School in Jamaica, and subsequently travelled to the United States to attend Midland Junior CollegeMidland College
Midland College was established as an independent junior college in 1972 and held its first classes on campus in 1975. Since that time, the campus has expanded to a main campus on in Midland, Texas, United States - a county seat of over 100,000 people in the Permian Basin region of west Texas...
in Texas.
Basketball career
Byfield played basketball at Midland in the 2001–02 Western Junior College Athletic ConferenceWestern Junior College Athletic Conference
Also known as '. Hosted by the National Junior College Athletic Association, also known as Region IV is a junior college conference for many Tech and Community Colleges...
season. In 2002 she transferred to Texas A&M University–Commerce
Texas A&M University–Commerce
Texas A&M University–Commerce is a state university located in Commerce, Texas and a member of the Texas A&M University System, the second largest university within the system behind Texas A&M University in College Station....
, majoring in kinesiology
Kinesiology
Kinesiology, also known as human kinetics is the scientific study of human movement. Kinesiology addresses physiological, mechanical, and psychological mechanisms. Applications of kinesiology to human health include: biomechanics and orthopedics, rehabilitation, such as physical and occupational...
, but did not play basketball until the 2003–04 season. In that season Byfield started in 16 of 19 games played, averaging 7.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per match; she was also named Lions Newcomer of the year. In the following season, Byfield was the only player in the Lone Star Conference
Lone Star Conference
The Lone Star Conference is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II. Member institutions are located in the southwestern United States, with schools in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico...
to be ranked in the top ten players for rebounds (3rd), assists (10th) and steals (3rd); she also had the seventh-highest minutes played throughout the LSC season, averaging over 33 minutes per game. The 2005–06 season saw her playing time reduced, somewhat due to a larger playing bench.
Byfield was also part of the Jamaican national women's basketball team selected to compete in the Caribbean Basketball Championships
FIBA CBC Championship
The CBC Championship or Caribebasket is a FIBA-sponsored basketball tournament where national teams from the Caribbean participate. These countries make up Caribbean Basketball Confederation...
in 2006, and subsequently at the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship for Women
FIBA Americas Championship for Women 2007
-Group B:-Championship Bracket:-5th place bracket:-Classification rounds:-Semifinals:-Third place game:-Final:-Final standings:-Olympic Qualification:...
. As of October 2008, she was playing for the Metrobelles in the Jamaican National Basketball League.
Netball career
As a member of the Jamaican U21 squad, Byfield won a silver medal at the 2000 Netball World Youth Championships in Cardiff. Later, she was a member of the national squads that participated in the 20032003 Netball World Championships
The 2003 World Netball Championships were held in Kingston, Jamaica between 10 July and 20 July. It was the eleventh World Netball Championships. After 100 matches, the New Zealand national team, the Silver Ferns, won the tournament, defeating Australia to win the World Championship for the first...
and 2007
2007 Netball World Championships
The 2007 World Netball Championships was the 12th staging of the World Netball Championships, a quadrennial international netball world championship co-ordinated by the International Federation of Netball Associations , inaugurated in 1963....
Netball World Championships
Netball World Championships
The World Netball Championships is a quadrennial international netball world championship co-ordinated by the International Federation of Netball Associations , inaugurated in 1963. Since its inception the competition has been dominated primarily by the Australian national netball team and the New...
, with Jamaica winning bronze medals in both tournaments. In 2010, she featured in Jamaica's Commonwealth Games campaign
Netball at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
Netball was one of 17 sports that were contested at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. Netball is a core sport for women at the Commonwealth Games, and one of only three events in the 2010 programme for women only...
in India and won bronze at the 2010 World Netball Series
2010 World Netball Series
The 2010 World Netball Series was the second edition of the World Netball Series, an annual international netball competition held under fastnet rules. The 2010 event was held in Liverpool, England, and was contested between the top six national netball teams according to the IFNA World Rankings....
in England.
In domestic netball, Byfield plays for Jamalco in the Jamaican Netball Association Open League competition, having previously played for Waulgrovians and Blades United. In 2008, Byfield was signed with the Central Pulse
Central Pulse
The Central Pulse are a New Zealand netball team based in Wellington that compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The Pulse represent several New Zealand regions in the North and South Islands, from East Cape in the north to Tasman and Marlborough in the south, and were formed as an...
in New Zealand for the 2009 ANZ Championship
ANZ Championship
The ANZ Championship is the pre-eminent netball league in the world. The competition is held annually between April and July, comprising 69 matches played over 17 weeks. It is contested by ten teams, five from Australia and five from New Zealand...
season. She became one of the team's standout players, although the Pulse finished their season in 10th place. Byfield transferred to the Northern Mystics
Northern Mystics
The Northern Mystics are a New Zealand netball team based in Auckland that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The franchise was formed in 2007 as an amalgamation of two teams from the National Bank Cup – the Northern Force and the Auckland Diamonds – after the competition was...
in 2010 as their starting goal keeper. She was not signed for the 2011 season.