Sport and Leisure

MEA Sports Awards 2024

Nominatons closed at 12noon on Monday 22 January 2024.

The information published on this page is also available as a downloadable document (PDF 3MB)

Nomination Guidelines

Nominations for Sports Awards closed at 12noon on 22 January 2024.

Detailed information should be provided about the nominee’s sporting performance and/or outstanding sporting achievements.

This timescale excludes the Services to Sport category.

Nominations will only be accepted for individuals and teams who reside in the Borough of Mid and East Antrim and from sports which are recognised by Sport Northern Ireland.

If nominees are nominated for several awards, a separate nomination form is required for each category entered.

All nominations must address all relevant selection criteria.

Only information contained within the nomination forms will be used for assessment.

Selection Criteria Guide

The following selection criteria is for ALL award categories except Community Participation, Services to Sport which is listed separately.

An advisory panel will be set up in January 2024 to judge nominations taking into consideration the selection criteria outlined below.

The advisory panel’s decision will be final and cannot be overturned.

Sport Details

The nominee’s sport and any specialisation within the sport concerning particular events or the positions that are played.

Representative level

The level of representation in the sport by the nominee in 2023 – club, county, regional, national and if junior or senior.

Results

The result is the achievement/performance within the competition(s) for 2023.

This information should be referenced with the names of the competition and/or events, dates and locations.

Level of competition

The level refers to the position of the competition(s) within the sport where the achievements were made.

In general this would be at international, national, regional, county or club level.

The nomination should provide detail of the level and the importance or standing of the competition/event(s) within sport.

Quality and depth of competition

The factors considered illustrate the quality and depth of the opposition in the competition.

These factors may include, but are not limited to, the base of participants from which the identified competition is drawn; whether competitors are local, regional or national and the ranking of the abilities of the opposition in the competition or events.

Degree of difficulty in achieving at this level

Description of the amount of preparation and degree of commitment required to achieve at this level in sport.

Sports Bursaries

Balon Sportswear Bursaries

Balon Sportswear will award two bursaries to two sports people - one male and one female, who have overcome adversity and excelled in their sport, as demonstrated in the nomination form.

Each winning recipient will select and design leisurewear up to the value of £250.

This is for wear solely by the recipient.

Categories and Guidelines

The categories are:

Junior Sportsperson of the Year

Awarded to a junior athlete who has achieved outstanding results in respect of their performances within their sport.

The athlete must be under 18 on 31 December 2023.

School Sporting Performance

Awarded to an athlete or a team who has achieved outstanding results of their performances for their school.

Sportsperson/Team with a Disability

Awarded to an athlete or team with a disability who has achieved outstanding sporting success within their sport.

Manager/Coach of the Year

Awarded to an individual who has led an individual/team to significant achievement through an outstanding coaching performance at various levels of sport.

The manager/coach of the year award is open to paid and unpaid coaches.

All coaches must have recognised and valid coaching qualifications, and these must be included in the application form.

Community Participation

Awarded to a club or group who have demonstrated excellence in the management and development of a club/sport aside from their results in competition.

This award considers the work the club/group has done in recruitment and retention, health/fitness initiatives, inclusivity and improvements in coaching/volunteering.

Team of the Year

Awarded to a team who has achieved outstanding results in respect of its performances within its sport.

The team must be from the Mid and East Antrim Borough area.

Nominations must be from an individual team within a club.

We cannot accept nominations for the club as a whole.

Services to Sport

Awarded to an individual who over a number of years has displayed an outstanding contribution as a volunteer in the support, administration, promotion and/or delivery of services to the sport.

The individual must not be a current performer.

Sportsperson of the Year

Awarded to an athlete who has achieved outstanding results in respect to their performances within their sport.

The athlete must be 18 or over on 31 December 2023.

How to Nominate

Please ensure that you complete all required fields as highlighted.

Nominations are restricted to 500 words only.

If you have any queries contact your local Sports Development Officer (contact details are available below).

Hard copies can be obtained upon request.

Important Information

Detailed information should be provided about the nominee’s sporting performance and/or outstanding sporting achievements between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023.

This timescale excludes the Services to Sport category.

Nominations will only be accepted for individuals and teams who reside in the borough of Mid and East Antrim, from sports that are recognised by Sport Northern Ireland, and between the dates Monday 8 January and Monday 22 January 2024 when nominations will close at 12noon.

If nominees are nominated for several awards, one form is required just ensure that you tick the appropriate boxes on the nomination form required for each category entered.

All nominations must address all relevant selection criteria.

Only information contained within the nomination forms will be used for assessment.

Please submit a photo of the nominee in action if possible by emailing it to: gemma.brown@midandeastantrim.gov.uk 

We look forward to announcing the shortlist in early February 2024.

Sports Development Officers

Katrina McCaughan, MEActive Team Manager - Ballymena area
T: 028 2563 3296
E: katrina.mccaughan@midandeastantrim.gov.uk

Gemma Brown, Physical Activity & Sports Development Officer - Carrickfergus area
T: 028 2563 3302
E: gemma.brown@midandeastantrim.gov.uk

John Grant, Physical Activity & Sports Development Officer - Larne area
T: 028 2826 2403
E: john.grant@midandeastantrim.gov.uk