The Awards, now in their second year, are organised by the North West Coaching Network to celebrate and honour individual coaches based in the region for their outstanding commitment and successes achieved over the last twelve months.
There are five award categories; High Performance Coach, Talent Coach, Community Coach, Children’s Coach and Young Coach (under 25), and the awards are open to individuals from across different sports and competition levels.
Winners at last year’s inaugural North West Coaching Awards included Sion Mills soccer coach Danny Gallagher. Danny was named Community Coach of the Year for his tireless work with Sion Swifts FC which, since he established it in 1988, has enabled generations of local children to get active, gain confidence, and develop a love for soccer while forging friendships across different community and religious backgrounds. He was subsequently shortlisted for the Sport NI Coaching Awards, again winning the prize for Community Coach of the Year, this time for the whole of Northern Ireland. Danny’s awards success, which started with his North West Coaching Awards nomination, culminated with him being recognised as a finalist for the same award at the prestigious UK Coaching Awards in November 2014.
Chief Executive of Sport Northern Ireland, Antoinette McKeown, says the Awards are a great way for local communities to say thanks to local coaches for their dedication and the impact they make to communities across the North West.
“We at Sport Northern Ireland are delighted to once again be supporting the North West Coaching Awards. From the playground to the podium, the talent and commitment of our coaches is at the heart of a passionate, engaged and successful sporting society. Last year’s Awards were testament to the outstanding coaching that exists within the North West region, and we had the pleasure during the Awards process to see and hear first-hand the impact that their work is having on local communities and local people. The success of Danny Gallagher at the Sport NI and UK Coaching Awards is further evidence of this, and I look forward to similarly devoted and talented coaches being recognised in 2015.”
To nominate a coach, visit www.northwestcoaching.com/awards and simply complete a nomination form by 4pm Friday 27th February 2015. Nominations will be judged and shortlisted in March and the winners will be presented with their awards in their own club environment in front of their participants and athletes.