All information for each category (apart from the lifetime achievement award) must relate to the year of 14 July 2021 to 13 July 2022.
The closing date for nominations is 12 noon on Wednesday 13 July.
Across all categories, we are keen for nominees to demonstrate the following attributes:
- Inclusive – proactively addresses barriers
- Responsive – adapts based on the circumstances of the people around them
- Person centred – listens and puts people first
- World class - does everything to the highest standard and always seeks to improve
The criteria for each category are listed below – please read these carefully before submitting a nomination. You may also wish to nominate an individual in more than one category if they meet the criteria, but you will need to submit a separate form for each.
Coaches
Young Coach of the Year
This award is for an outstanding coach/deliverer aged 26 years or younger (on July 13 2022) working in a school, club, community group, Community Sport Hub or on behalf of a Scottish Governing Body. This award is for a young person who has invested time in their development as a coach and has made a significant impact on the people they coach.
We are looking for an individual who:
- Has delivered regular quality coaching sessions, meeting the needs of all participants
- Has embedded inclusive coaching practices into their sessions, helping to remove barriers to participation and reduce inequalities in sport and physical activity
- Has helped their participants to build confidence and resilience, and develop a positive attitude towards sport and physical activity
- Has adopted a person-centred approach to coaching, taking time to understand their participants needs and goals and helping them reach their potential
- Has been an inspiration and a positive role model
- Has invested time and energy in their own development and is working towards or has gained a recognised SGB coaching qualification/award appropriate to the level at which they coach
Active Schools Volunteer Deliverer of the Year
This award is for an outstanding Active Schools volunteer deliverer who has made a significant contribution to the early development of children under the age of 18, using sport and physical activity as the vehicle.
We are looking for an individual who:
- Has contributed to the development of basic skills through the delivery of regular quality sport and physical activity sessions in schools, meeting the needs of all participants
- Has embedded inclusive practices into their sessions, helping to remove barriers to participation and reduce inequalities in sport and physical activity
- Has adopted a person-centred approach, taking time to understand their participant's needs and goals and helping them to reach their potential
- Has helped children and young people to build confidence and resilience, and develop a positive attitude towards sport and physical activity
- Has been an inspiration and a positive role model
- Has invested time and energy in their own development, such as attending appropriate CPD and training, helping to meet the needs of their participants
Community Club Coach of the Year
This award is for an outstanding coach, who has significantly increased the sport and physical activity opportunities available and participation levels within their sports club, community group or community sport hub and has contributed to the skill development of the people they coach.
We are looking for an individual who:
- Has delivered regular quality coaching sessions, meeting the needs of all participants
- Has embedded inclusive practices into their sessions, helping to remove barriers to participation and reduce inequalities in sport and physical activity
- Has helped participants to develop their skills, build confidence and resilience, and develop a positive attitude towards sport and physical activity
- Has adopted a person-centred approach to coaching, taking time to understand their participant's needs and goals and helping them reach their potential
- Has been an inspiration and a positive role model
- Has invested time and energy in their own development, and holds a recognised SGB qualification appropriate to the level at which they coach
Disability Sport Coach of the Year
This award is for an outstanding coach with a disability, or a coach working with disabled participants, athletes or teams. We will accept a dual nomination if you find that you want to submit your nominee here and within another category that relates to them.
We are looking for an individual who:
- Has regularly coached participants, athletes or teams with disabilities or is a coach with a disability who coaches regularly
- Has embedded inclusive practices into sessions, helping to remove barriers and reduce inequalities in sport and physical activity
- Has adopted a person-centred approach to coaching, taking time to understand their participant's needs and goals and helping them reach their potential
- Has helped participants to develop their skills, build confidence and resilience, and develop a positive attitude towards sport and physical activity
- Has been an inspiration and a positive role model
- Has invested time and energy in their own development and holds a recognised SGB qualification appropriate to the level at which they coach
Performance Pathway Coach of the Year
This award is for an outstanding coach who is representing and working with athletes and teams within identified Scottish Governing Body performance pathways, supporting emerging talent at a junior and youth level.
We are looking for an individual who:
- Has been a part of a successful coach/athlete team that strives to achieve and succeed and has been demonstrating outstanding progress and results within their sport
- Has embedded inclusive practices into their sessions, helping to remove barriers and reduce inequalities in their sport
- Has adopted a person-centred approach to coaching, building excellent relationships with athletes and those around them
- Has supported and demonstrated valued performance sport behaviours within their coaching, making a difference to the performance and success of an athlete or team
- Has been an inspiration and a positive role model
- Has invested time and energy in their own development and holds a recognised SGB qualification appropriate to the level at which they coach
Coach Developer of the Year
This award is for an individual who has made a significant contribution to the development of coaching through the delivery of effective learning and development programmes.
We are looking for an individual coach developer or mentor who:
- Has a track record of providing excellent development opportunities and/or ongoing support of coaches/deliverers
- Has delivered excellent person-centred learning opportunities, meeting the needs of all learners
- Has embedded inclusive practices into their sessions, helping to remove barriers and reduce inequalities in their sport
- Has used an innovative approach to the delivery of learning and development
- Has been an inspiration and a positive role model
- Has invested time and energy in their own development, helping to meet the needs of their learners
The focus of this award is on a front-line educator or mentor, rather than an SGB staff member responsible for implementing coach education strategy in their sport. Governing body endorsement must be sought prior to submission for sport specific nominees. This can be done through the lead coaching officer.
High Performance Coach of the Year
This award is for an outstanding coach who is representing and working with athletes and teams at the highest level of sport competing at Major Games and Championships (Senior).
We are looking for an individual who:
- Has coached athletes or teams who have delivered a successful performance at the most senior level of International, UK or Scottish sport
- Has embedded inclusive practices into their sessions, helping to remove barriers and reduce inequalities in their sport
- Has adopted a person-centred approach to coaching, building excellent relationships with athletes and those around them
- Has supported and demonstrated valued performance sport behaviours within their coaching, making a difference to the performance and success of an athlete or team
- Has been an inspiration and a positive role model
- Has invested time and energy in their own development and holds a recognised SGB qualification appropriate to the level at which they coach
Officials
Young Official of the Year
This award is for a referee, umpire or match official aged 26 years or younger (on 13 July 2022). This award looks for a young person who has been inspired to develop as an official and is committed to supporting competition structures in their sport.
We are looking for an individual who:
- Has regularly officiated at either school, club, regional/district level, enabling competition structures in their sport to take place
- Has embedded inclusive practices into officiating, helping to remove barriers and reduce inequalities in sport and physical activity
- Has adopted a person-centred approach to officiating, taking time to understand competitor's needs and supporting others
- Has been an inspiration and a positive role model
- Has invested time and energy in their own development as an official, and is working towards or has gained a recognised SGB qualification appropriate to the level at which they officiate
Official of the Year
This award is for a referee, umpire or match official aged 27 or over (on 13 July 2022) who has shown outstanding dedication and commitment in their role.
We are looking for an individual who:
- Has regularly officiated at either local, regional, national or international level, enabling competition structures in their sport to take place
- Has embedded inclusive practices into officiating, helping to remove barriers and reduce inequalities in sport and physical activity
- Has adopted a person-centred approach to officiating, taking time to understand competitor's needs and supporting others
- Has been an inspiration and a positive role model
- Has invested time and energy in their own development and has gained a recognised SGB qualification appropriate to the level at which they officiate
Volunteers
Young Volunteer of the Year
This award will be made to an outstanding volunteer in a non-coaching or officiating role, aged 26 years or younger (on 13 July 2022), who has made a significant contribution to the development of sport and physical activity.
We are looking for an individual who:
- Has been a leader such as an ambassador, decision maker or competition organiser in their school, club, community group, Community Sport Hub or Scottish Governing Body and without them, the organisation or community would not be the same
- Has embedded inclusive practices into their volunteering or the place in which they volunteer, helping to remove barriers and reduce inequalities in sport and physical activity
- Has adopted a person-centred approach to volunteering, taking time to understand people's needs and supporting others
- Has been an inspiration and a positive role model
- Has dedicated a substantial amount of time to volunteer in sport and physical activity
Volunteer of the Year
This award will be made to an outstanding volunteer in a non-coaching or officiating role, over the age of 27 (on 13 July 2022), who has made a significant contribution to the development of sport and physical activity and the organisation they support.
We are looking for an individual who:
- Has been a volunteer in their school, club, community group, Community Sport Hub or Scottish Governing Body and without them, the organisation or community would not be the same
- Has embedded inclusive practices into their volunteering and the place in which they volunteer, helping to remove barriers and reduce inequalities in sport and physical activity
- Has adopted a person-centred approach to volunteering, taking time to understand people's needs and supporting others
- Has been an inspiration and a positive role model
- Has dedicated a substantial amount of time to volunteer in sport and physical activity
Coach, Official or Volunteer
Lifetime Achievement Award
This award will be presented to an outstanding individual who has made an exceptional contribution through a lifetime dedicated to sport and physical activity as a coach, official or volunteer.
We are looking for an individual who:
- Has dedicated a substantial amount of time to sport in their school, club, community group, Community Sport Hub or Scottish Governing Body and without them, the organisation or community would not be the same
- Has been an inspiration and a positive role model
- Has significantly improved their club, sport or community and the individuals they work with through their lifelong dedication
- Has gone above and beyond what is required of them