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Steve Turner – 2019 Children’s Coach of the Year

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With the 2020 Triathlon England Awards now open for nominations, we got in touch with our 2019 winners to hear what it meant to them to be nominated and win.

“My name’s Steve Turner, I’m a children’s coach at North Shields Polytechnic and the 2019 Triathlon England Children’s Coach of the Year.

“I was extremely flattered to be nominated because I hadn’t really considered receiving awards for coaching, instead focussing on the athletes and developing them as a person and helping them to achieve their potential as athletes.

“When I was nominated, I felt like it was affirmation of the work and provision we have for juniors at the club, as well as the environment we’ve created with all the coaches, volunteers, parents and of course, the athletes themselves.

“Although, as volunteers, we’re not involved for the rewards, it’s really nice to be thanked in this way, recognising the time and effort that is invested by coaches and volunteers.

“As a triathlon community, we’re very appreciative of volunteers and the Triathlon England Awards are a public way of thanking them beyond the sessions, activities and events we see them at.

“Winning the award has also gained extra positively publicity for the club itself, enabling us to attract new members into the club and sport as a result.

“During the lockdown period, volunteers have been doing a lot of unseen work to adapt and develop. As a coach, I’ve had to find new ways of keeping connected with athletes whilst we haven’t been able to meet face-to-face.

“We now have biweekly group Zoom sessions and regular messaging with parents to ‘check-in’ on how the juniors are doing. It’s be a great team effort from our fab coaching team, including some key workers, who have been so flexible and willing to adapt.

“As coaches we’ve been taking advantage of online opportunities to develop ourselves, including the webinars and vodcasts from British Triathlon, to help us coach during lockdown and for once it is lifted.

“I know many coaches and volunteers across the country will be doing similar things and more, so it’s really important that we celebrate all they’re doing and let them know they’re not forgotten.”

The 2020 Triathlon England Awards are now open for nomination and will close on Wednesday 2 September at 12 noon.

There are seven categories to nominate someone in: Club of the Year; Coach of the Year; Key Worker of the Year; Multisport Event of the Year; Volunteer of the Year; Virtual Activity of the Year; and Virtual Coach of the Year.

To find out more and to nominate, please use the button below.

2020 TRIATHLON ENGLAND AWARDS

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