With award winners ranging from young volunteers to high-performance coaches, the sportscotland Coaching, Officiating and Volunteering Awards are a celebration of outstanding individuals from across the sporting system.
For the 2018 awards there were more than 320 nominations from across 44 sports and 31 local authorities. Find out more about the winners of our 13 categories below.
Young Volunteer of the Year – Chloe Lawson (judo)
Chloe is a volunteer and coach with the Judo Girls Rock programme in the east end of Glasgow. Through her involvement in the programme, she has become a positive role model to the girls and provides a safe and fun learning environment for them to get active.
- Discover more about Chloe
Young Coach of the Year – Gemma Lumsdaine (wheelchair basketball)
Gemma coaches the junior and senior squads at Dundee Dragons Wheelchair Sports Club and is assistant coach of the Scotland Under-19 team. With her guidance, the teams and individual players have achieved considerable success at both domestic and representative levels.
- Discover more about Gemma
Young Person's Coach of the Year – Greg Broadbent (badminton)
Through the Edinburgh Badminton Academy, in the past year Greg has provided badminton sessions for 250 children aged five to 18. He coaches players of all abilities, with many of his beginner players progressing into the national leagues.
- Discover more about Greg
Community Coach of the Year – David Sturman (squash)
As a coach at Scottish Squash Rackets Club, Dave has worked to attract a diverse range of participants to the sport, particularly within the black and minority ethnic (BME) community. He delivers free sessions in the local community and works closely with two local Additional Support Needs (ASN) schools.
- Discover more about David
Coach Developer of the Year – Bob Easson (rugby, squash, basketball)
Bob dedicates his time to developing and mentoring coaches across various sports and is working to embed a positive coaching culture across sport in Scotland. He has been fundamental to coach development in the sports he’s involved with and has supported the progression of numerous coaches.
- Discover more about Bob
Performance Development Coach of the Year – Jennifer Scally (wheelchair basketball)
As head coach of Glasgow Rocks wheelchair basketball team, Jennifer approaches her coaching with an evidence-based style and provides individual support to players wishing to pursue a performance pathway. Under Jennifer’s supervision, the Scottish Women Warriors and Scotland Under-19 teams have enjoyed notable success.
- Discover more about Jennifer
Disability Coach of the Year – Gregor McMillan (swimming)
As head coach of the University of Aberdeen performance swimming squad, Gregor has worked to develop a truly inclusive programme, and his para swimmers are thriving under this approach. Toni Shaw won six medals at the 2018 IPC European Swimming Championships and Conner Morrison claimed a silver medal.
- Discover more about Gregor
High Performance Coach of the Year – David Gourlay MBE (lawn bowls)
David’s preparations for the 2018 Commonwealth Games paid off when every one of his players won a medal, including gold for the men’s triples and fours. A dedicated coach, he is passionate about developing a culture of coaching excellence in his sport and mentors others in the sport to realise their goals.
- Discover more about David
Technical Official of the Year – Darren Thomson (boccia)
Darren is an international =boccia official, taking on the role of lead official at European and World Cup matches. He continues to officiate at local, regional and national levels, and also mentors and delivers training for other officials to support their development.
- Discover more about Darren
Volunteer of the Year – Kirsty Ewen (swimming)
Kirsty is a volunteer coach at Inverness Swim Club and is passionate about getting others involved in volunteering. In her time on the Young People’s Sport Panel she has shared her own experiences of the benefits of volunteering, and volunteered at the open water swimming at Glasgow 2018.
- Discover more about Kirsty
Lifetime Achievement in Volunteering – Alex Jackson MBE (athletics)
Having dedicated countless hours to athletics over the past 40 years, Alex has become one of the most respected volunteers in his sport. As well as coordinating the East District Cross Country League and numerous other events each year, he is heavily involved in the organisation of the National Cross Country Championships where more than 1700 athletes of all ages compete.
- Discover more about Alex
Lifetime Achievement in Coaching – Ann Dickson (swimming)
With over 40 years’ experience of coaching, Ann has been a stalwart of swimming in Scotland. Committed to improving her charges’ performance at all levels, she has recently seen athletes including Stephen Milne and Scott McLay claim world, European and Commonwealth medals.
- Discover more about Ann
Coaching Chain Awards
These awards recognise the contributions made by two groups of individuals who have been instrumental over time in developing a performance athlete, one in a team sport and one in an individual sport. The 2018 Coaching Chain winners have supported two athletes who have enjoyed significant success on the national and international stage.
Coaches of Andy Robertson (football)
As Scotland captain and a first-team regular at Liverpool, Andy is one of the finest talents to have been produced in Scotland in recent years, and he owes his success to a long list of coaches:
- Brian Robertson
- Gerry O’Kane
- Martin Miller
- David McCallum
- Gardner Speirs
- Jackie McNamara
- Steve Bruce
- Gordon Strachan
- Jurgen Klopp
Coaches of Duncan Scott (swimming)
Duncan is a European and Commonwealth champion who became Team Scotland's most decorated athlete at a single Commonwealth Games with six medals at Gold Coast 2018. He owes his development to four coaches:
- Andrew Buchanan
- Elaine Johnston
- Monica Borland
- Steven Tigg
Find out more
Visit our website to find out more about the Coaching, Officiating and Volunteering Awards.
