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AIS Sport Performance Awards

Award categories and guidelines

The AIS Sports Performance Awards (ASPAs) clearly place a value on not only winning, but how we win (Win Well) in a contemporary and leading fashion across the Australian High-Performance System.

  • All nominees must be a) members of an ASC recognised NSO/NSODs that receives High Performance or Pathways investment at a program or team level and/or b) competed at an Australian High Performance system Benchmark/Pinnacle event.
  • Emerging Athlete of the Year nominees are eligible for performance outcomes at their first Benchmark/Pinnacle event.
  • The period of eligibility is 1 November 2022 - 18 October 2023.
  • Nominations must be received by 11.55pm (AEDT) on October 18, 2023.

Nominee's with be assessed across the following criteria:

  • Criteria A) Performance Outcome - Quality of sporting performance(s) outcomes
  • Criteria B) Contribution/Behaviours with one of three measures under consideration.
    • Criteria B is an eligibility criterion that will be rated Red, Amber, Green (RAG)
  • Criteria C) Impact/Contribution/Values

Weighting:

  • Criteria A) Performances on the field of play will be weighted objectively using the following approach:
    • Competition (e.g., BME- World Championship), Performance Attained, Gold Medal Conversion, Medal conversion, Quality of field (Number of world ranked athletes competing), World Record (WR), World Leading (WL), Australia Record (AR), Personal Best (PB)
    • A working example may be as follows: Ian Thorpe, Swimming World Championships, 200m 400m,200IM,4*200 relay 1st 1st, 2nd 1st , 75% (Won 3 gold in 4 events), 100% medal conversion (4 medals in 4 events), 8 of the top 20 athletes in the world were in the finals of all events, QOF 100%. No WR/WL/AR/PB
  • Criteria B) Nominations will require supporting information and evidence for one of the three components in Criteria B. These nominations will be assessed as Red, Amber, Green (RAG) rated.
    • All finalists must have a green rating to be considered as finalists.
Award Category Award Criteria A - Performance Outcome Award Criteria B - Contribution / Behaviours
Performance of the Year Quality of sporting performance in 2023 in an Individual or Team Event (Team). Para and Able
  • Demonstrated behaviours such as sportsmanship, fair play, respect, and integrity,
  • Contribution to broader athlete cohort, e.g., Role Model, leadership.
  • Achievement beyond on the field of play sporting performances, e.g., Community Involvement, academic excellence, vocation achievement.
Female Athlete of the Year (Able) Quality of sporting performance(s) outcomes throughout 2023 in an individual event or in special circumstances as part of a team.
Male Athlete of the Year (Able) Quality of sporting performance(s) outcomes throughout 2023 in an individual event or in special circumstances as part of a team.
Female Athlete of the Year (Para) Quality of sporting performance(s) outcomes throughout 2023 in an individual event or in special circumstances as part of a team.
Male Athlete of the Year (Para) Quality of sporting performance(s) outcomes throughout 2023 in an individual event or in special circumstances as part of a team.
Emerging Athlete of the Year Quality of sporting performance(s) outcomes throughout 2023 in an individual event or in special circumstances as part of a team.
** Athlete must be competing at their first Benchmark/Pinnacle event
Coach of the Year Quality of sporting performance(s) outcomes by an athlete(s) or team directly coached by the nominee.
  • Demonstrated behaviours such as sportsmanship, fair play, respect, and integrity,
  • Contribution to broader coaching peer cohort, e.g., Role Model, leadership.
  • Display initiative to improve the standard of their own coaching performance.
Team of the Year Quality of sporting performance(s) outcomes throughout 2023.
  • Demonstrated behaviours such as sportsmanship, fair play, respect, and integrity,
  • Contribution to broader athlete cohort, e.g., Role Model, leadership.
  • Achievement beyond on the field of play sporting performances, e.g., Community Involvement, academic excellence, vocation achievement
High Performance Program of the Year Quality of sporting performance(s) outcomes throughout 2023.
  • Displayed initiative and embraced improvement in the day-to-day management, conduct and delivery of the program to support its athletes, teams, and HP staff.
  • Athletes and members of the program are a positive influence on the community
  • Demonstrated contemporary and innovate practices
Award CategoryAward DescriptionAward Criteria C – Impact/Contribution/Values
Award for Leadership An outstanding demonstration of leadership by an established or emerging individual within the National Institute Network or a National Sporting Organisation.
  • Demonstrated ability in strategic thinking and delivery.
  • Demonstrated ability to adapt to continuous change, creative thinking and, develop solutions and inspire others.
  • Broader contribution to the high-performance system.
  • Displays initiative to improve the standard of their own leadership performance.
Community Engagement Award Outstanding effort in community engagement by an athlete
  • Athlete is a positive influence on the community by promoting inclusion and diversity, health and wellbeing, or participating in other community engagement-based initiatives.
  • Undertake charitable work.
  • Contribution to the promotion, development of their sport.
Sport Volunteer of the Year Award Outstanding contribution to a sporting organisation, club, team, or program over the past year. Nominees should have willingly given their time for the good of their organisation, sport, and community, and without financial gain.
  • The impact of the volunteers work within their organisation/club/team.
  • The impact of the volunteers work to the broader community.
  • Demonstrated commitment to the values of fairness, integrity, inclusion, and respect.
Win Well Award The Win Well award recognises the organisation or high-performance program that embodies the vision of Australia’s 2032+ High Performance Sport Strategy: We win well to inspire Australians.
  • Clearly demonstrated that they are organisation or program that strives to win well, where how they win is just as important as when they win.
  • Committed to holistic development of our athletes and staff and recognise wellbeing as the foundation of sustainable success.
  • Prioritises integrity and has a directly contributed to establishing a culture of challenge and care so our athletes and staff can perform at their best and reach their potential.
  • AIS Director – Matti Clements
  • Senior Performance Program Consultant, (AIS Performance Pathways and Programs) – Jonathan Hall
  • National Wellbeing Manager, (AIS Sport Wellbeing and Engagement) – Sonia Boland
  • Paralympic Australia representative – Kate McLaughlin
  • Commonwealth Games Australia representative – Petria Thomas OAM
  • Australian Olympic Committee representative – Luke Pelligrini
  • Athlete representative (recently retired) Able – Patrick Johnson OLY
  • Athlete representative (recently retired) Para – Kate Naess PLY
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