Groundscare Award scheme recognises the role of volunteers

IOG Chief Executive Geoff Webb says the Awards are designed to acknowledge the year-round role that volunteers have in maintaining a wide range of sports playing surfaces. “Their efforts largely go unnoticed outside of the clubs and the grounds which they help,” he says, “and the IOG Awards are designed as a public platform to recognise and applause their sterling efforts.”

A number of Award categories are open to the volunteer groundscare sector, including Volunteer Sports Groundsman of the Year, Volunteer Sports Grounds Management Team of the Year and Grass Roots Sports Ground of the Year.

Being held at the SWALEC Stadium, Cardiff, on Thursday November 25 (the same day/venue as the IOG Industry Conference), the Awards comprise 16 categories of entry covering sport, grass roots, young people and the environment.

Each category will be judged on criteria which will include available resources, budget control, maintenance and use of machinery, presentation and housekeeping standards, technical knowledge, scale of operations and frequency of use, health & safety management, record keeping, environmental issues, community involvement and training & education.

Visit www.iogawards.com for full information, including category and entry/nomination details.

Published: 3/08/2010