The South West Volleyball Association appreciates the importance of volunteers in our sport and the huge contribution they make.
The Annual Awards go a little way to recognise their contribution and we hope that clubs and members will nominate those who they believe have put in their time and energy to assure the future development of volleyball.
All nominees for volunteer awards must be part of an affiliated club or association. Nominees for the coach or referee awards must be currently registered Volleyball England Coaches or Referees (or have recently retired from long-standing registration / membership).
Nominators must follow guidelines given on the sheets which can be downloaded from the website as well as providing any additional relevant information that may apply.
Award categories:
- Doreen Dingle Administrator Award
- Bert Williams Referee Award
- SW Coach Award
- Commitment to SW Volleyball Award
2013 Doreen Dingle Award for Administration: Jim Gilbert
Role: Countrymen Treasure and Club Organiser (20 plus years)
Successes achieved:
Jim is one of those who does not seek credit but is always at the front of any effort that the club does. Including running and organising the beach competition, helping out with schools and the county committee.
Jim leading the Countrymen at the 2011 Vets Tournament
2013 Bert Williams Referee Award: Charlie Huitson
Role: SW & NL Referee
Success:
Charlie is a regularly referees on the National, SW and EDVA circuit and has given up his time at the last two years SW Champs (at least) to both referee and help to mentor new developing referees.
Charlie picking up the Bert Williams Award
2013 SW Coach Award: Steve Allen
Role: PMVC Head Coach
Successes achieved:
Coached the PMVC Ladies with a very small squad of girls to the SW Title. Throughout a very challenging year Steve Allen’s coaching has helped keep the numbers at good level and motivated players to want to improve.
As well as coaching the ladies he has been the main and often only coach at weekly club training sessions and played for the PMVC Mens team in the SW league. Along with that he has found the time to mentor three of our junior girls to the point where two of them are now regional players and one is an England Junior .
Steve at work at this years SW Champs
2013 Commitment to SW Volleyball Award: Geoff Allen
Role: Wessex Chairman, Volleyball Dorset Chairman, Coach to Wessex Women and co coach to Wessex u18 women. Staff tutor – runs coaches courses.
Successes achieved:
Wessex Women who finished 3rd in the VE Super 8’s and reached the semi final of the National Cup.
- International Volleyball Federation Level 3 coaching award – having attended courses in Czechoslovakia (1978), Mexico (1979) and the UK (1992)·
- Volleyball England Staff Tutor since 1982, teaching other coaches to coach – now Senior Staff Tutor.·
- Has coached all ages and standards, from 8 year-old beginners to internationals – over 70 players to England/GB honours.
- Former Assistant Coach to England Men’s team – European Championships in Finland (1986)·
- Former Chief Coach of England South Cadet boys, South-West Under 17 and under 19 boys.
- Coached both Wessex men and women’s teams all the way from beginners to National Volleyball League Division 1.
- Coached Men’s NVL team for 15 years, women’s NVL team for 19 years.
- Coached 5 Wessex teams to National Champions, and 4 South-West teams to Inter-Regional Champions.
- Holds the UK Coaching Certificate from Sports Coach UK (2008)·
- Dorset Coach of the Year in 2004·
- Founded Wessex Volleyball Club in 1976, now one of Britain’s biggest most successful volleyball clubs – 200 players, 40 teams and 38 National Championships. Still Chairman and Chief Coach.
- Director of English Volleyball Association for 7 years – fulfilled the roles of Marketing Director (1999-2001), Finance Director (1998-1999), Playing Director (1996-1998), and Vice-President (1994-1996)·
- Chairman of the Poole-Bournemouth Volleyball Association, the area association for volleyball, for the last 16 years. Member of the committee for 41 years.
- Tournament Director and founder (1995) of the Sandbanks Beach Volleyball Festival, the largest in Britain. Over 300 teams compete in 26 competitions, including the British Open and the British Junior Championships.
2012 Doreen Dingle Award for Administration: Dave Robson
Role: Secretary Cornwall Volleyball Association, coach and Referee
Successes achieved: 30 years, probably more.
Dave has been secretary of the Cornwall Association for over 20 years. He has passed it on whenever he went to sea but was always asked to do it again when he returned. In the good times he is supportive of new initiatives and helps. In the bad times, and there have been several, he keeps the Association ticking over until others come along to help.
2012 Bert Williams Referee Award: Andrew Smith
Role: Calne Comets VC
Successes achieved: Upgraded to Grade II Referee, selected for Olympics as line judge
Andy has lived and worked in the Calne area for about 10 years. He has refereed for most of that time both in the Wiltshire League and National League. He has also spent the past 5 years on the National Technical Officer (NTO) programme which has been training line judges and scorers for the Olympics and Paralympics.
Andrew Smith
Much of this training has involved going to top NVL matches at his own expense, and he has regularly line-judged at national and national and international events. This has culminated in Andy’s selection for the Olympics.
Andy is an ‘unsung hero’ who quietly gets on with the job taking all the normal refereeing challenges in his stride. He is highly thought of amoungst his peers and sets a fine example for lesser experienced referees.
2012 SW Coach Award: Jose Castro
Role: Team South Wales/ Head CoachWales Boys/ Head coachUWIC Junior Academy / Head Coach
Successes achieved: Jose has coached Team South Wales to become a successful team. Successes last year include Winning the NVL play-offs and promotion to Division 1, winning the National Shield Final, winning the South West Champs, and winning the Cardiff Open.
Jose has without question raised the professionalism of coaching and volleyball in Wales. He has consistently committed his personal time to developing our NVL team, as well as being the coach of the Welsh Junior Boys squad and coaching in schools. Jose’s professionalism is outstanding and he runs our team as if it were professional.
He has pushed for us to train up to three times a week, for two hours per session, plus been at every game, home and away. Even with this level of personal commitment he looks to do more and to take us further. Every session is meticulously planned and led with enthusiasm and I can honestly say we have enjoyed every one of the many training sessions we’ve done.
Commitment to SW Volleyball Award: Sue Pierce
Role: She has retired from active involvement, but her legacy lives on with Melksham playing an active part in SW Junior Competitions
Successes achieved: Sue has played at the highest levels – NVL and England over many years earlier in her volleyball career. It is however as a teacher, coach and club leader that I believe she deserves this award.
Under her leadership Sue has produced large numbers of very high standard volleyball players for George Ward, Melksham, regional squads and England squads. In doing so she has flown the flag not only for volleyball in the local area but in the SW as well – there are so many excellent young people who have gone on to be ambassadors for the club, and for the region.
