Nominations for the 24th UK Coaching Awards are open and British Triathlon are encouraging the swim, bike, run community to nominate a coach as part of the UK Coaching Great Coaching Comeback campaign.
Hosted by UK Coaching, the highly regarded awards showcase the diverse work of coaches from all walks of life who help people improve their wellbeing and activity levels.
This year, the lead charitable organisation for sports and physical activity coaches launched its Great Coaching Comeback campaign, which is helping to galvanise the nation’s coaching workforce to reinvent, recover and return to coaching following the lifting of coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
Overall, there are eleven award categories, eight for coaches and three in support of coaches. All honour #GreatCoaching and truly celebrate coaches and organisations that make a difference.
The awards for coaches are given to individual coaches who have excelled and shown outstanding commitment in a certain area or to an individual and/or group over the last 12 months. Public nominations for the awards will close at 10am on Monday 13 September. The awards are:
- Community Coach of the Year – Children and Young People
- Community Coach of the Year – Adults
- Young Coach of the Year
- Changing Lives Award
- Talent Development Coach of the Year
- High Performance Coach of the Year
- Lifetime Achievement Award*
- Coaching Chain* - recognising contributions made by individual coaches throughout an elite athlete’s life in helping achieve their potential
*These award categories are not open for public nominations.
The awards in support of coaches recognise those who recruit, develop, educate, qualify and/or deploy coaches effectively in the UK. The awards are:
- Coach Developer of the Year
- Transforming Coaching
- Coaching for an Active Life Award
Public nominations for the awards close at 10am on Monday 13 September. This will then be followed by an independent judging process. For the awards, UK Coaching uses the broad definition of coaching and welcomes nominations on behalf of coaches, instructors, leaders, teachers, trainers and others who support people to achieve their sport and activity goals.
New statistics released by UK Coaching show that the role that coaches play in inspiring people to be active will become increasingly significant as we emerge from the coronavirus crisis, with 72% of the British public saying that coaches and instructors will be important in supporting and encouraging people to get back into physical activity after the pandemic.
UK Coaching’s CEO Mark Gannon, said: “Our prestigious awards have been designed to ensure all coaches who give so much, from grassroots to the global stage, are recognised. Despite the uncertainties through the last year, cancelled events and postponed competitions, we have still heard, read and seen examples of great coaching – essential to supporting healthier and happier communities.
“Great coaching not only enhances sporting experiences but increases and sustains lifelong active lifestyles too – in turn bringing enormous health and well-being benefits. Coaches have had to work harder than ever to enable children, young people, adults, and elite athletes to follow their dreams, have fun and fulfil their potential, and that’s been no mean feat in the midst of a pandemic.
“We would like the public to support the Great Coaching Comeback campaign by giving kudos to coaches, who have transformed lives and inspired communities throughout this challenging period. Celebrate your coach by nominating them for a UK Coaching Award.”
