Frazer Grant honoured with sportscotland Young Coach of the Year 2011 award

Frazer Grant (21) from Easter Muckovie, Inverness, was officially presented with sportscotland’s Young Coach of the Year Award 2011 on Wednesday (14 December 2011).

The award, given annually to a coach aged 25 years or younger in recognition of their achievements to date, was presented to Frazer at Inverness Leisure Centre at 7.30pm by sportscotland Partnership Managers Iain Kennedy and Gemma Fay.

Further, on the back of this outstanding achievement, Frazer was also honoured with the regional sportscotland Highlands and Islands Young Coach of the Year award.

A member of basketballscotlands Coach Apprenticeship programme, Frazer has coached with Highland Bears basketball club for the past two years and currently holds the role of head coach for the U16 boys team in Scottish National League division 1 and assistant coach to the U14 boys.

Frazer started in a coaching assistant role and despite his inexperience when both the U18 and U16 teams were left without coaches last season he stepped up to the mark coached them for the remainder of the year.

His enthusiasm and commitment to the club in his own time has seen fantastic results, while Frazer’s further interest in developing other young coaches has further increased club participation.

Frazer was nominated by Highland Bears’ club volunteers Mairi Brooman and Stacey MacDonald who said that his strong relationship with the players and passion for the sport is an inspiration.

Frazer, who works full time in telesales, said: “It was a huge shock for me when I heard I am sportscotland’s Young Coach of the Year 2011, I was gobsmacked.

“Basketball in Scotland and in the Highlands particularly is growing and growing and it’s great for local players to see that it’s possible to achieve great things in the sport.

“For me basketball is my passion and I get a huge buzz from seeing players develop on and off the court. This award has been a great motivation to me.”

On 1 November 2011, six coaches were named as winners of the second sportscotland Coaching Awards.

As part of the prize winners receive a £300 development grant for equipment or extra training.

Iain Kennedy from sportscotland, said: “The sportscotland Coaching Awards aim to highlight some of the volunteers who are the lifeblood of Scottish sport and we are committed to continue to recognising these inspirational coaches across the country.

“Over the past few years, it’s estimated over 5,000 Scottish coaches have completed UK Coaching Certificates (UKCC) at level 1, 2 or 3.  Every week they make a selfless commitment to developing the skills of young and old participants in sports clubs, schools and communities throughout the country.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

*   Please credit attached images to Rodger Price.

*   For further free to use images please contact Chris Bone on 0141 221 0707 / cbone@3×1.com<mailto:0707%20/%20cbone@3×1.com>

*   For further information contact Viki Nocker, sportscotland’s communications manager, on 0141 534 6608 or viki.nocker@sportscotland.org.uk