Active York Sports Awards launch with a trio of new categories

Nominations are now open for the fourth instalment of the popular awards, which will culminate in a ceremony at the University of York on Thursday, March 30.

The awards are organised by Active York, the city’s sport and active leisure partnership which is working to encourage people to be more active more often, and the initiative is backed by The Press.

There are 15 categories in this year’s awards, with nominations opening today and running until February 10.

The categories are: Active Primary School (new), Active Secondary School (new), Active in York, Coach of the Year, Disabled Sportsperson of the Year, Outstanding Achievement, Sportsman of the Year, Sportswoman of the Year, Student Sportsperson of the Year, Team/Club of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Young Disabled Sportsperson of the Year, Young Female Sportswoman of the Year, Young Male Sportsman of the Year and Youth Group Provider of the Year (new).

The shortlisted nominees will be announced on February 24 and the leading nominees in each category will be invited to attend the Active York Sports Awards ceremony at the University of York’s Roger Kirk Centre on Thursday, March 30.

Paula Stainton, Active York chair, said: “We are delighted to launch the Active York Sports Awards 2017. Back for another year, the awards have become an annual fixture in York’s sporting calendar.

"They are a great opportunity to celebrate the sporting talents, facilities and community our city has to offer.”

To be eligible for nomination for any Active York Sport Award you must live, attend school or train within City of York Council’s boundaries. There is a period of qualification, a minimum of a nine-month period running between February 2016 to February 2017.

The awards will be judged by members of the Active York board, which includes sporting partners from across the city, and Stuart Martel, deputy editor of The Press.

The Active York Sports Awards dinner will be used to celebrate and raise the profile of the Fund for the Gifted programme, which provides grants for young sportspeople to put towards equipment and training.

There will be opportunities for corporate diners to donate, while a raffle and auction will bring new funds to the programme.

Nomination forms and awards criteria are now available at www.activeyork.co.uk

Awards criteria

Young Male Sportsperson of the Year* (under 18) The aim of this award is to recognise the commitment, dedication and success achieved by young sportsmen in York. Nominees will have achieved significant success at county, regional, national or international level.

Young Female Sportsperson of the Year* (under 18) The aim of this award is to recognise the commitment, dedication and success achieved by young sportswomen in York. Nominees will have achieved significant success at county, regional, national or international level.

Young Disabled Sportsperson of the Year* (under 18) The aim of this award is to recognise the commitment, and success achieved by young sportsmen and women in disability sport in York. Nominees will have achieved significant success at county, regional, national or international level.

Student Sportsperson of the Year (16-plus) Nominees must be in full time education and studying a recognised qualification within a college or university within the city. This award aims to recognise the sporting success of an individual who has achieved when playing or volunteering in their sport. They will have enjoyed success and had impact at institutional, community/local, regional or national level.

Sportsman of the Year (18-plus) The aim of this award is to celebrate the commitment, dedication and success achieved by the best of York’s sporting talent. The winner of this award will have achieved success at a national or international level within the last year. Sportsmen from all recognised sports* aged over 18 years are eligible for this award.

Sportswoman of the Year (18-plus) The aim of this award is to celebrate the commitment, dedication and success achieved by the best of York’s sporting talent. The winner of this award will have achieved success at a national or international level within the last year. Sportswomen from all recognised sports* aged over 18 years are eligible for this award.

Disabled Sportsperson of the Year (18-plus) The aim of this award is to celebrate the commitment, dedication and success achieved by the best of York’s sporting talent. The winner of this award will have achieved success at regional, national or international level in the last year. Sportspeople from all recognised sports*Δ aged over 18 years are eligible for this award.

Coach of the Year This award is designed to recognise the important and inspirational role of coaches, whose job it is to work with sportspeople within York. It seeks to recognise the commitment, dedication and impact their involvement has had on their sport, club, team or on an individual.

Volunteer of the Year This award is designed to recognise the importance of volunteers who support sportsmen, sportswomen and sport within York. It seeks to recognise the commitment, dedication and impact their involvement has had on their sport, their club, their team or on an individual.

Active Primary School of the Year (new) This award aims to recognise primary schools where sport and activity have positively impacted upon the school environment through the involvement of pupils, teachers, coaches, parents and volunteers. The award will recognise all involved with initiatives and events that have made a significant contribution to school sport, promoted an active lifestyle and a positive healthy environment for the pupils within the last school year.

Active Secondary School of the Year (new) This award aims to recognise secondary schools where sport and activity have positively impacted upon the school environment through the participation of pupils, teachers, coaches, parents and volunteers. The award will recognise all involved in ongoing initiatives and events that have made a significant contribution to school sport and to a positive healthy environment within the last school year.

Youth Group Provider of the Year (new) This award aims to recognise organisations providing sport and sports facilities to young people in York. The winner of this award will have achieved success in inspiring young people to get involved with sport and activity. The award will collectively recognise the impact of ongoing initiatives and events that have encouraged sport and activity in the youth sector within the last 12 months.

Team/Club of the Year This open age award aims to recognise a local amateur team or club, based in York that have had a successful year competing within its sport in the last 12 months. This team could be recognised for the impact, development, organisation and wide ranging success.

Active in York This award is aimed at rewarding individuals who may be training, taking part or competing locally to achieve great thing things in their active leisure time. The award is also open to workplaces and groups taking on challenges to stay active in the city. The aim is to motivate them to continue in their pursuit of their chosen sport or activity and inspire others to “Get Active”. This award is open age.

Outstanding Contribution to Sport This award is only presented when a nominee is deemed deserving of this accolade and recognises an individual who has demonstrated total commitment and dedication to their sport or sports, in general or over a considerable numbers of years.

Key to symbols

* as recognised by Sport England.

Δ as recognised by English Federation of Disability Sport (EFD)

Geographical area

To be eligible for nomination for any Active York Sports Award you must live, attend school, train or play sport within City of York Council’s boundaries.

Period of qualification

Minimum of a nine-month period running between February 2016 to February 2017.