From the very best at grassroots to gold medal glory, Sport Wales is on the lookout for the nation’s sporting heroes.
The people of Wales are being called upon to nominate coaches and volunteers for The Sport Wales Coach of the Year Awards 2011.
Coaches and volunteers are at the heart of sport – whether it’s coaching kids or international stars, running competitions, officiating or cutting the community sports pitch. Sport Wales wants to recognise people at all levels – including the person who works morning, noon and night at your local club.
It is the chance on the calendar to champion and recognise people nationally who are often behind-the-scenes, but make sport in Wales tick.
For 2011, there are a number of categories you could nominate your coach or volunteer for. They are:
- Female Community Coach of the Year
- Male Community Coach of the Year
- Coach to Disabled Sportspeople
- Young Coach/Young Volunteer (aged 25 and under)
- High Performance Coach of the Year
- Volunteer of the Year
- Contribution to Coach Development Award
The deadline for nominations is Friday 23rd September 2011.
The prestigious Sport Wales Coach of the Year accolade will be awarded to one of the category winners.
Last year, Boccia Wales Head Coach Peter Pearse was awarded the Coach of the Year accolade, along with the Coach to Disabled Sportspeople award, after putting his performers on the road to London 2012.
A former Paralympian himself, his squad won countless titles across the UK and Europe in 2010, and his players are on the GB fast track programme aiming for a place at the Paralympics.
Previous winners of the award include rugby coaches Paul John and Graham Henry, swim guru Dave Haller and cycling’s Shane Sutton.
Recognising the importance of volunteers at all levels of Welsh sport, Sport Wales has set a target to double the number of volunteers in the country by 2016 – from around 5% (110,000) to approx 10% (250,000).
Chair of Sport Wales, Professor Laura McAllister explains:
“Coaches are the lifeblood of Welsh sport, we can’t do without them. The calibre of coaches I come across on a regular basis is absolutely outstanding.
“They play a crucial role in what we are trying to achieve and that’s why we need to recognise them in this way. From supporting elite athletes to excel on the world stage to encouraging local communities to get fitter and enjoy sport, coaches provide the inspiration and practical support to get Wales moving.
“This is the public’s chance to show their appreciation for the people who put in hours and hours of work across the country.”
The winners will be announced in a ceremony at the Sport Wales National Centre, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, on Wednesday 16th November 2011, 12pm.
To download or complete a nomination form online visit:
www.sportwales.org.uk/coachoftheyear.aspx or e-mail coachoftheyear@sportwales.org.uk. Or phone 0845 045 0904 for a nomination form.
More Information on the Categories:
- Female Community Coach of the Year
This award looks for evidence of encouraging more people to stay and/or succeed in sport, through innovative practice and high-quality coaching.
Open to any Female coach:
- Coaching a team or individual in a sport specific environment.
- Has made an outstanding contribution in developing people within their sport either by encouraging more people to start to be involved or by improving performance.
- Male Community Coach of the Year
This award looks for evidence of encouraging more people to stay and/or succeed in sport, through innovative practice and high-quality coaching.
Open to any Male coach:
- Coaching a team or individual in a sport specific environment.
- Has made an outstanding contribution in developing people within their sport either by encouraging more people to start to be involved or by improving performance.
- Coach to Disabled Sportspeople
This award looks for evidence of encouraging and helping participants/performers reach their goals, through the provision of opportunities and dedicated support.
Open to:
- Anyone who coaches disabled sportspeople
- Either as an individual or a club comprising of disabled athletes at any level
- Young Coach/Young Volunteer of the Year
This award is for an individual who devotes their time to support, develop or champion sport in their community. They give up their time to improve community life in any sporting situation – from officiating or coaching, to washing the kit, driving the team bus, preparing refreshments or even maintaining the grounds. This award looks for evidence of those up and coming coaches who have shown creativity and determination in their development as a coach/volunteer.
Open to coaches/volunteers:
- High Performance Coach of the Year
This award looks for evidence of a player-centred approach leading to successful performance within sport at the highest level.
Open to Coaches:
- Coaching athletes at high performance level in their sport.
- Volunteer of the Year
This award is for an individual who devotes their time to support, develop or champion sport in their community. They give up their time to improve community life in any sporting situation – from officiating, to washing the kit driving the team bus, preparing refreshments or even maintaining the grounds. This award seeks to recognise someone who has been instrumental in recruiting other people to help out in sport to enable the club or sporting organisation to grow.
- Contribution to Coach Development Award
This award is for an individual or sporting organisation that has made a significant contribution to the development of coaches through mentoring of coaches and individual coach training through delivery of effective education programmes.