NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR US SAILING’S COACH OF THE YEAR
AND DEVELOPMENTAL COACH OF THE YEAR

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (June 28, 2002) -- As a participant in the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) Coaching Recognition Program, US SAILING’s Olympic Sailing Committee (OSC) is soliciting nominations for sailing’s 2002 Coach of the Year and Developmental Coach of the Year. The USOC Coaching Recognition Program draws attention to the status of coaching as a profession, while giving recognition to the best coaches in the United States. Working with criteria approved by USOC, a panel designated by the OSC will evaluate each nominee's accomplishments for the period January 1, 2001, through May 30, 2002. Nominations, due by July 19, 2002, should be sent to olympics@ussailing.org. The winners for sailing will be announced August 1, 2002. The criteria for nomination follows.

COACH OF THE YEAR - Nominees must be actively coaching; should meet all appropriate USOC and US SAILING professional coaching standards; and will have made a significant impact on athletes' performances at the highest levels of competition within the period from January 1, 2001, to May 30, 2002. Consideration may be given for contributions in the field of coaching such as: educating or mentoring other coaches; development of coaching materials (i.e. books or videos); promoting character development and sportsmanship; servicing to disadvantaged communities; and pioneering new training or competition methods. Previous winners of sailing’s Coach of the Year Award are Luther Carpenter (New Orleans, La.), Betsy Alison (Newport, R.I.), and Jay Glaser (Long Beach, Calif.).

DEVELOPMENTAL COACH OF THE YEAR - Nominees must be actively coaching developmental athletes; should meet all appropriate USOC and US SAILING professional coaching standards; and will have made a significant impact in helping developmental athletes progress to higher levels of sport within the period January 1, 2001, to May 30, 2002. Understanding that athlete development is a long-term process, consideration should also be given to a developmental coach's career record in helping athletes develop to higher levels of sport and as human beings. Because developing athletes entails developing more than just athletic technique (i.e. psychological, physical, and social skills), supporting consideration may reflect: promotion of character development and ethical sportsmanship; service to disadvantaged communities; as well as development of athletes who display excellence in other fields such as citizenship, scholastics, art, etc. Previous winners of sailing’s Developmental Coach of the Year Award are Mike Zani (Bristol, R.I.), Scott Ikle (Geneva/Manhasset, N.Y.), Adam Werblow (St. Mary's, Md.), and Amy Gross-Kehoe (Bayville, N.Y.)

A USOC panel will select the top five finalists in each category from the winning coaches in 45 Olympic and Pan American sports. The finalists and their Executive Director will be honored in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, during the USOC Coaches Summit in mid-October, 2002. An overall USOC National Coach of the Year and Developmental Coach of the Year will then be selected.