UK Coaching has officially opened a public vote for the Great Coaching Moment of the Year award category as part of its UK Coaching Awards
New for 2018, the Great Coaching Moment celebrates an iconic sporting moment form the past 12 months when a coach’s support and guidance really paid off.
Shortlisted in the category are Gareth Southgate for his country-unifying exploits with the England football team at the FIFA World Cup in Russia; Tracey Neville’s gold on the Gold Coast with the Roses, and Kris Stafford, Stephen Quinn and Harrison Marshall, who masterminded Yorkshire’s Old Otliensians’ greatest day by winning the RFU Junior Vase at Twickenham.
The public vote, which closes on Thursday 29 November at the 2018 UK Coaching Awards, is open to everyone to recognise their favourite of the three coaching moments. Votes can be placed on the UK Coaching website at www.ukcoaching.org/GCM
Gareth Southgate, who took England to their first World Cup semi-final since 1990 said:
“It’s an honour to be nominated for this UK Coaching Award and I’d like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the contribution of my support staff who, as I’m sure all coaches would agree, are key to the success of any team.
“Awards like this are a chance to celebrate examples of coaching excellence across the country and the role that plays in inspiring individuals to be the best they can be.”
England Netball Head Coach Tracey Neville MBE said:
“I am absolutely honored to be shortlisted along with very experienced coaches. Coaching is now more than a job but a way of life for me, it has grown me as a person and given me once in a lifetime experiences. Coaching challenges me on a daily basis to be better than myself and support a talented group of athletes and staff who strive to be world class.
“When you talk about achieving your dreams, the Commonwealth Games was where my dream was made. The minute the shot went in it felt like the beginning of a glorious journey for the Roses and a long time coming.”
Proud to be finalists alongside Tracey and Gareth, Old Otliensians’ Head Coach Kris Stafford added:
“Steve, Harrison and I are over the moon with being nominated for Great Coaching Moment award. It’s always nice to receive recognition for the work you do, but to receive it on a national platform is unbelievable.
“It’s amazing the power sport can have on a community, and to be nominated by someone locally for this achievement is a huge honour and we are very grateful to them. To be on a short list with household names like Gareth Southgate and Tracey Neville is unbelievable, they are both incredible and highly regarded coaches within their sports and in the wider sports coaching community.
“One of the key objectives I have at the heart of my sessions is to make them learner-centred through utilising games-based coaching sessions to provide all players with opportunities to problem solve and make decisions. When working in any sports domain it’s really important to keep sessions fun and engaging, as this develops the individual’s skills and also provides them with physical and mental health benefits.”
UK Coaching’s Director of Coaching, Emma Atkins said:
“Great coaching produces incredible results on a daily basis, bringing so many, societal and health benefits – but it also produces unforgettable moments such as these. It is great to see a range of coaching moments being celebrated from local to international level. We encourage the public to vote on who they think should claim the inaugural Great Coaching Moment title from our three fantastic finalists.”
Who wins? You decide. Cast your vote at www.ukcoaching.org/GCM