NOMINATE NOW: Please help us with 4J Studios Annual Awards

Thursday 6th August 2020

Maria Lyle and Callum Hawkins received our main Awards last year from Paula Radcliffe (photo by Bobby Gavin)

scottishathletics are delighted to be staging our Annual Awards once again later this year – with support from our sponsors 4J Studios.

We have reluctantly decided against an indoor gathering and instead the 4J Studios Annual Awards will take the form of a special programme on our YouTube channel.

And, while it has been a very different year from others, there should be plenty to celebrate as we seek to recognise and acknowledge the contribution to our sport from athletes, volunteers, coaches and clubs.

To do that we need your help, please.

Nominations have now opened across various categories where we are asking the athletics community in Scotland to tell us who they think merits consideration for our 4J Studios Annual Awards short-lists. We need those nominations by August 30.

To reflect the circumstances of 2020, there are a couple of awards cancelled and a couple of special accolades created.

The new awards include the Janice Eaglesham Para Development Club of the Year – and we’re pleased to confirm this award will continue beyond 2020 on an annual basis.

4J Studios back our Annual Awards – but no Dinner in 2020

Our details for each award below is designed to help you when deciding on making nominations in the various categories.

4J STUDIOS INNOVATION AWARD

This special award for 2020 will recognise the innovative approach shown across the sport to engaging athletes, clubs, and volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

There has been a fantastic response to the pandemic across the athletics community in Scotland and our awards sponsors at 4J Studios want to recognise some of this work through the Innovation Award.

This Award is open to nominate an individual (e.g. club administrator or coach), a club or an event organiser.

Nominations should focus on the period from 23 March 2020 and highlight the inventive approach taken by the nominee to continue delivering athletics during the pandemic.

Nominate Here via our Events page

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Harmeny AC celebrate winning Impact Club of the Year for 2019 after the presentation by Ian Beattie (photo by Bobby Gavin)

4J STUDIOS IMPACT CLUB OF THE YEAR

In recognition of the great work that is going on in athletics clubs across Scotland, this Award recognises the club that has made a major impact over the last 12 months.

The Award recognises growth and/or retention of members, recruitment and development of volunteers and coaches, organisation and delivery of the club’s business, development initiatives and wider community impact.

The nomination can also highlight the work of the club during the COVID-19 pandemic.

4J STUDIOS OFF-TRACK CLUB OF THE YEAR

This Award will recognise the club that:

• Has shown development in off-track events (hill, cross-country, fell, road).

• Meets the needs of all athletes at every age and stage of their development.

• Has performed well across the year and/or shown a strong improvement in performances.

• Demonstrates an innovative approach to competition, supporting their athletes in gaining experience in off-track running.

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JANICE EAGLESHAM MBE PARA DEVELOPMENT CLUB OF THE YEAR

Being awarded for the first time in 2020, this new Award will recognise innovation shown by clubs to develop athletics provision for, and the performances of, athletes with a disability.

This year, we will pay particular attention to the work done by clubs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nominations should focus on the work done by clubs and their volunteers/staff to develop opportunities for, and retain, participants with a disability in athletics. They should also highlight the approach of the club to developing the performances of their athletes, and any improvements in performance they have witnessed in the last 12 months.

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Linda Nicholson was presented with the 2019 Development Coach of the Year award by Paul Bush (photo by Bobby Gavin)

COACH

The coach awards are split to recognise the expertise of coaches working at every stage of the development of athletes.

Note: Only coaches who are members of scottishathletics and who are suitably licensed by UKA will be eligible for these category of awards.

4J STUDIOS CLUB COACH OF THE YEAR

This award recognises the contribution of the thousands of coaches delivering regular training sessions in our member clubs.

Nominations should focus on all or some of the following: what the individual coach has done to support the development of athletes within the club; the role they’ve played in retaining the athletes; any coaching work they’ve done in the wider community to promote the sport and club; and anything you think sets them aside from other club coaches in Scotland.

This year, we are particularly interested in hearing about the work of club coaches during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep athletes active and to engage them with their club and/or the sport.

4J STUDIOS DEVELOPMENT COACH OF THE YEAR (12 years +)

This award recognises the coach who has had an impact on the development and performances of the athlete(s) they are working with.

Nominations should highlight all or some of the following: how the coach has demonstrated an understanding of the needs of the athlete(s); steps taken to help the athlete(s) reach their potential; their commitment to developing themselves to support the athlete(s) they’re working with; and anything else you feel sets them apart from other coaches at this level.

You may also wish to highlight in your nomination any work they have done during the COVID-19 pandemic to support the athletes they work with.

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Well-known coach and Official Mark Stringer was presented with Volunteer of the Year for 2019 by Mark Munro (photo by Bobby Gavin)

VOLUNTEER

4J STUDIOS VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

This award allows us to reflect on the great impact of the thousands of volunteers that contribute to the development of athletics clubs in Scotland every year and recognise one individual as our Volunteer of the Year.

This year, we are particularly interested in hearing about the work of volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep athletes active and to engage them with their club and/or the sport.

Nominations should outline the reasons why you think the individual has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the sport and the club, and what you believe they have done to set them apart from all other volunteers in athletics in Scotland.

4J STUDIOS TECHNICAL OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR

Behind every performance there is an official, this award recognises the large number of people that are involved in the delivery of competition at all levels of our sport and the people within clubs.

This year, we will also consider the contribution of officials during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many officials have played a crucial role in supporting the wider network of officials and assisting in the delivery of our virtual events series.

The input of technical officials to provide enjoyable competition is an integral part of athletics, and EVERY club has people who are working tirelessly to provide meaningful events for athletes at every stage of their athletics career.

NB: Only technical officials who are members of scottishathletics and who are suitably licensed by UKA will be eligible for this category of award.

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OTHER AWARDS

Nominations for Performer of the Year and Performance Coach of the Year are closed nominations, chosen by the relevant selection committees.

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Please use a separate form for each category.

The deadline for nominations is MIDNIGHT on Sunday 30 August.

Nominate Here via our Events page