Ontario Coaching Excellence Awards

Coaches nominated will be assessed and placed into the most appropriate award category based by the selection committee, based on the information provided in the nomination:

• Grassroots Coach Award (1 Male, 1 Female)

  • Coaches recognized in this category are inspirational role models in the community. The focus would be on working with children and youth, where daily success is achieved by the number of smiles.

• OFSAA School Sport Coach Award (1 Male, 1 Female) – Selected by OFSAA

• Good-to-Great Coach Award (1 Male, 1 Female)

  • Coaches recognized in this category focus on performance excellence and competing to win.

• Susan Kitchen Trailblazer Coach Award (1 Winner)

  • A coach recognized in this category exemplifies the characteristics of the CAO’s founder and former Executive Director, Susan Kitchen, as an innovative out of the box thinker. Just like Susan, this coach never shies away from pushing the boundaries and making sport a better place for everyone.

• Everyone Matters Coach Award (1 Winner)

  • A coach recognized in this category has influenced the culture of their team, organization or community by embracing diversity and differences, demonstrating the value of an inclusive approach through acceptance and accessibility.

• Andy Higgins Lifetime Achievement Award (1 Winner)

  • A coach recognized in this category is an outstanding coach who has made a significant contribution to coaching in Ontario over 20+ years.

To be eligible for an Ontario Coaching Excellence Award:

1. The nominee must be an Ontario resident
2. The nominee must be actively coaching*
3. The nominee cannot have previously won an Ontario Coaching Excellence Award

*If the nominee had intended to coach and cannot due to COVID-19, they will still be eligible