2005 Coach of the Year Applications

November 18, 2005

TO:              PRESIDENTS AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OF OLYMPIC AND PAN AMERICAN SPORTS
FROM:        Steve Roush, Chief of Sport Performance, Catherine Sellers, Manager of Coaching
RE:              2005 Coaching Recognition Program

Coaches make tremendous contributions to sport at all levels. The goal of the USOC Coaching Recognition Program is to acknowledge all coaches for their contributions and to elevate the status of the coaching profession.

We encourage each Olympic and Pan American sport to nominate a top coach in each of the four categories listed below covering the year of 2005 (January 1 to December 31, 2005). All NGB winners will receive a plaque.

Your nominees will become candidates for the USOC Coach of the Year in his/her category. The winners of the Volunteer, Developmental, “Doc Counsilman” Science award, along with the five finalists for the National Coach of the Year will be flown to the “Night of Champions” dinner on June 22, 2006.

Brief descriptions of the categories are below:

VOLUNTEER COACH - a coach who does not receive payment in any form for his/her involvement in coaching at any level. The nominee should actively be coaching youth athletes.

DEVELOPMENTAL COACH - a coach of a Youth Club, High School or Junior level athlete or a coach directly responsible for coaching athletes to the National or Junior national level.  They can receive payment for services.

NATIONAL COACH - a coach of an Elite level club, Collegiate, Pan-Am, World Championship or Olympic Games coach or the coach of an elite athlete who competes at the highest level of your sport.

“DOC” COUNSILMAN SCIENCE AWARD - a coach that utilizes science, medicine and/or technology as an integral part of his/her coaching methods or has created innovative ways to integrate sport science into coaching.

The panel of judges will choose the finalists, and ultimately, the winners in each category based on the information on the forms and the biographies submitted by the NGB. Please carefully answer all information requested on the enclosed forms. Each NGB should use a process that is objective, open to all potential candidates, and stimulates widespread interest and involvement at all levels of your membership.  Nomination forms are attached with this letter. Biographies are limited to 500 words.  There is not a form for the biography. 

Please submit your nominations before December 31,2005 to USATT.

If you have any questions regarding the Coaching Recognition Program, please feel free to call or e-mail USATT at: