The Sunday Mail and sportscotland Sports Awards 2010 will celebrate excellence in Scotland’s sportsmen, women and teams for their outstanding achievements across the sporting spectrum in 2009.

The categories for this years awards include: Amateur Performance of the Year, Coach of the Year, Disability Sport Award, Event of the Year, Inspirational Performance of the Year, Lifetime Achievment Award, Local Club of the Year, Local Hero of the Year, School Sports Award, Sports Personality of the Year, Team of the Year, Young Sports Person of the Year, Sport of the Year.

Nominate now at: http://www.quaydigitalscotland.co.uk/sites/events/a_sports_awards/nominations.html

Hosted by one of Scotland’s finest television presenters, Stephen Jardine will share the stage with the delightful and glamorous co-host, Kelly Dalglish and our sporting heroes of 2010. Join them all by attending the event on Thursday 2nd December at the Glasgow Hilton Hotel – the night promises to be one you and your guests will never forget!

If you canÕt make it to the ceremony you can still vote for the sporting star you feel has contributed most to their sport in 2010.

basketballscotland National Volunteer Recognition Awards took place on Sunday 4^th July at the basketballscotland head office, with numerous volunteers recognised for their contribution to the sport over the past season. 

Unfortunately, one of this year’s most deserving recipients, Bruce Hendry, was unable to attend the ceremony due to a family holiday to Canada over the summer. 

However, on Saturday 28th August 2010  at the National Referees Pre-Season Seminar in Bruce’s home town of Perth, basketballscotland were finally able to catch up with Bruce and proudly present him with the “Douglas Bader” Contribution to Officiating Award for 2010.  

  Douglas Bader Contribution to Officiating Award 

Bruce Hendry – basketballtayside & Fife 

Bruce has taken on the role of Tayside and Fife Officials Co ordinator for the past few years and this year has successfully allocated referees to the Senior Men’s Division 1 and 2 leagues and the Senior Women’s league all season.  Bruce has also appointed officials to University games for Abertay, Dundee and St Andrews Universities.  Bruce has appointed referees to over 150 games with only 6 games being postponed due to lack of officials.  Bruce has over 40 years experience in officiating in both Canada and his native Scotland, he still referees games in the Tayside and Fife local leagues and has also covered a few National league games this season supporting younger referees.

Bruce Hendry (left) receives the Douglas Bader Contribution to Officiating Award from Chris Dodds, Scottish National Referee Instructor

basketballscotland’s congratulations and thanks go to Bruce Hendry and the volunteer work he does for officiating basketball in Scotland, including the mentoring and supporting of young referees in Tayside & Fife.

Alan Richardson Presents at the 2010 PreSeason Referee Seminar in Perth

The 2010-11 basketballscotland Pre-Season seminar took place on Saturday 28th August 2010 at the brand new facilities of North Inch Community Campus in Perth.   

Six basketballscotland referee assessors and 44 referees were in attendance at the annual seminar which helps referees prepare for the season ahead, increase their basketball knowledge and develop their feel for the game.    

Our special guest was Alan Richardson, one of Britian’s  best ever FIBA referees and now a FIBA World/FIBA Europe Referee Instructor. One of the highlights of the day was his on floor presentation regarding Post Play and Hand Checking. Alan also delivered a very informative session on Game Management and passed on invaluable experience and advice to all those in attendance.    

After basketballscotland CEO Kevin Pringle opened the seminar, Scottish National Instructor Chris Dodds presented on the 2010 rule changes and used the new 2010 FIBA Europe Teaching Materials to deliver a video session with a particular focus on Act Of Shooting, Charge/Block, Flopping and Unsportsmanlike fouls.  
 
Tom Stobo and Ian Watt, (basketballscotland Referee Assessors), led on court sessions on Trail and Lead Mechanics, which some of our younger referees found particularly useful.    

All referees in attendance sat the rules test, and 21 of the referees did the 20 metre bleep test.    

Copies of the 2010 FIBA Europe Teaching Materials and tutor notes were made available to all referees who attended, and they were encouraged to watch the whole DVD in addition to reading the rules book, mechanics manual and official FIBA Interpretations to enhance their knowledge and refereeing ability.    

basketballscotland would like to express their huge thanks to

• Alan Richardson for accepting our invite to present at our seminar and his fantastic presentations
• FIBA Europe for the excellent 2010 Teaching Materials and their approval to copy them for our referees
• Chris Dodds, Ian Watt and Tom Stobo for their input on the day
• and finally, the Officials Commission for their organisation and delivery of this event.    

Alan Richardson (left) receives a sample of the local “produce” as a thank you from basketballscotland

* if you are refereeing National or Regional basketball in Scotland during the 2010-11 season you must be a member of basketballscotland and registered as a referee.

The basketballscotland National Volunteer Recognition Awards took place on Sunday 4^th July at the basketballscotland head office, with numerous volunteers recognised for their contribution to the sport over the past season.

As with any awards, there has to be a winner and the Panel of Judges (themselves volunteers), selected the following worthy recipients.

 School Aged Volunteer of the Year

Sara Plummer – Clark Eriksson Fury

Sara is a level 2 table official, a qualified coach and is a regular statistican for Clark Eriksson Fury.  She has been a key member of the coaching squad at Larbert High School and also coaches with the Fury under 14 development teams both boys and girls. Sara also table officiated at the National Cup Finals, the British University Games and the Senior Men’s international fixtures against Norway.

Young Volunteer of the Year

David Legge – Perth Phoenix

David is a hugely committed member of Perth Phoenix BC and has made a significant contribution to the club in the past season.  He is head coach of the cadet men and several of his squad are involved in the U15 and U16 National squads. David is also assistant coach for the U18 men as well as a statistician for the club.   David also coaches Perth and Kinross development squads and the Tayside and Fife Talent Development Programme.

Ronnie Mather Contribution to Coaching

John Bunyan – Clark Eriksson Fury

John has had one of most successful years in coaching this past season as head coach of Falkirk High School and Clark Eriksson Fury, winning the Open Girls and Open Boys teams School Cup Competitions, the Junior Men league and cup double and the Senior Men Scottish Cup.  This award however is not about winning but the continuing hard work and number of hours that John puts into the basketball in Falkirk and the surrounding area.  This past season he has accumulated over 30 hours of coaching per week at all age groups from primary level to national squad athletes in his national league squads. John has recently completed his UKCC level 3 coaching award and is also involved as a coach tutor.

Douglas Bader Contribution to Officiating Award

Bruce Hendry – Basketball Tayside & Fife

Bruce has taken on the role of Tayside and Fife Officials Co ordinator for the past few years and this year has successfully allocated referees to the Senior Men’s Division 1 and 2 leagues and the Senior Women’s league all season.  Bruce has also appointed officials to University games for Abertay, Dundee and St Andrews Universities.  Bruce has appointed referees to over 150 games with only 6 games being postponed due to lack of officials.  Bruce has over 40 years experience in officiating in both Canada and his native Scotland he still referees games in the Tayside and Fife local leagues and has also covered a few National league games this season supporting younger referees.

Volunteer of the Year Award

Amanda Wilson – Dundee Sharks and Basketball Tayside & Fife

Amanda has volunteered her time with Basketball Tayside & Fife for the past 6 years and is also a member of Dundee Sharks.  She continues to organise and promote Women’s Basketball in the region and has had a positive effect with both the number of team and the number of players increasing.  Amanda’s organisation and communication skills have led to the league being completed with no defaults or forfeits this season. She is a committee member for Basketball Tayside & Fife and is also a level 2 table official.  Outside of her organisational work, she is frequently seen on the table at games at both National and local leagues fixtures.

Chairman’s Award

Maureen McNeill – Glasgow Storm

Maureen has been involved in basketball for over 25 years and she still contributes over 20 hours per week even though she has “cut back” her involvement with Glasgow Storm.  She is a stalwart of Glasgow Storm and her role is that of mentor, social worker, development officer, and general mother hen.  She is a regular at local league games and tournaments. She has a level 3 tutor award and has coached the Special Needs National British basketball team at the Beijing Special Olympics in 2007/08.  Maureen also recently won the Glasgow City Council Volunteer of the Year award for services to basketball.

 Special Recognition Award

John Grant – Arbroath Musketeers

Having recently retired from basketball after a 34 year involvement, the Panel wished to recognise John’s contribution to basketball over a hugely successful career.

John’s main role was as founding member and head coach of Arbroath Musketeers, the club he ran and coached for 17 years, winning numerous national titles and developing a number of top Scottish players and coaches. 

Out with the club activity, John coached the highly successful Arbroath High School programme, led several International programmes, was basketballscotland’s Coaching Director, lead a number of developments in coach and teacher development for the governing body.  He was also involved with numerous committees at regional and national level as well as volunteering to host several international basketball events in Arbroath.

John has been the driving force behind Arbroath Basketball for almost 20 years and his contribution will be missed both locally and nationally.

 Service Awards

Service Awards are presented for service to basketball over an extended period of time.  This year 13 service awards were presented taking the total to 149.  Those recognised this year were:

25 Year Service Award

Maureen McNeill

20 Year Service Awards

Chris Dodds

Trish McMahon

10 Year Service Awards

Paul Boath

Kim Bunyan

Marie Caie

Jennifer Gallacher

Russel Kesson

5 Year Service Awards

Alan Buchan

Stewart Gillies

Davy Forfar

Paul McBrierty

Gordon Munnoch

basketballscotland took the opportunity to thank all volunteers throughout the country for their contribution to the sport.