UNSW Hockey Awards

Each year, we recognise the great effort and achievements of our players and coaches at Presentation Night.
Awards are decided by the Blues Subcommittee, comprised of 5-7 members from across the club, with knowledge of the players.
The Subcommittee should maintain independence from club’s executive committee.

Annual Awards

Best and Fairest

Awarded to one player from each senior team, at the nomination of their coach.

The Best and Fairest award for our top women’s team (ML1) is the Pioneer’s Cup.

The Best and Fairest award for our top men’s team (PL1) is the Tony Marshall Memorial Award. Tony Marshall was a second grade men’s player and Secretary of the club in the 1970’s who was tragically killed in a car accident while driving home from university. His parents donated the trophy for this award in his honour.

Warren Farleigh Awards for Highest Goal Scorers

Awarded to one men’s and one women’s player from the senior teams, based on the highest number of goals scored across the winter season.

This award is named for Warren Farleigh, a longstanding Whalie who has played over 40 seasons of hockey for the club, and won the award 11 times.

Goalkeeper Awards

Awarded to one men’s and one women’s player from the senior teams, for valuable service to the club through goalkeeping.

Most Improved Awards

Awarded to one men’s and one women’s player from the senior teams, at the nomination of their coach.

Service Awards

Awarded to players for 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 or more seasons playing for the club.

Other Awards

These awards are not awarded annually; they are only awarded when a particular player meets the award criteria.

Merit Awards

Awarded to one or more players in recognition of a special or particular achievement over one or more years.

Dave Mike Coaching Excellence Award

Awarded to a coach in recognition of a special or particular achievement over one or more years.

The award is named in honour of Dave Mike, a former first grade women’s coach who contributed to the development and performance of the women’s game over many years, including the club’s entry into the Sydney Women’s Hockey League.

Major Awards

These awards are not awarded annually; they are only awarded when a particular player meets the award criteria. Each award can only be awarded to the same individual once in their lifetime.

David Evans Award

Awarded to a player who has demonstrated outstanding service to the club in general administration and/or coaching over one or more years. Can only be awarded to a player once.

David Evans was a player for the club in the 1960s. He played a number of roles in the Committee including Secretary, and likely President, and was awarded a University Blue in 1964. He was captain and centre half of his team in 1961.

Complete Hockey Player Award

Awarded to a player who has demonstrated leadership in club activities on and off the field, including through playing, coaching, umpiring, and volunteering on the Executive Committee. Criteria include high attendance at training throughout the year, fostering and promoting team spirit throughout the year, and personal development in skills.

Elise Wilkinson Award

Awarded to a player who has previously been awarded the David Evans Award of Merit or Complete Hockey Player Award. Recognises continued service to the club in a manner that would merit award of the David Evans Award of Merit or Complete Hockey Player Award for a second time if the criteria for those awards allowed.

Elise Wilkinson was the club’s first female representative player in the Hockeyroos, selected in 1978. She played centre half for the club’s first grade women’s side in while studying architecture at UNSW from 1972, and her daughters Rachel and Kate later played for the club.

UNSW Awards

These awards are awarded by UNSW Sport; the club may choose to nominate players to receive them.

University Blue

The UNSW Blue award recognises and celebrates UNSW students who have achieved the highest level of sporting excellence in their chosen sport, who are a person of outstanding character and values, and who have made a contribution to sport at UNSW.

Doug Crawford Sports Recognition Award

Sport Recognition Awards are awarded to sporting club members for their continuous outstanding contributions to sport at UNSW. Doug Crawford has been a passionate contributor to UNSW Sport since 1952.

The nominee shall have actively supported the nominating club for a minimum period of five (5) years including the year of nomination, either by consistent participation in the club's sporting or recreational activity or by valuable service to the club's organisation and administration.

Alex Blackwell Award

This award, now in its second year, aligns with the UNSW Women in Sport and Active Recreation Strategy and is named in honour of UNSW alumna and former Australian cricket captain Alex Blackwell, who has been a long-time advocate for women in sport.

The nominee upholds the values and vision of the UNSW Women in Sport and Active Recreation Strategy in one or more of the following ways:

• advocating for women and girls in sport and active recreation
• being a trailblazer for women in the leadership of a sporting club or organisation
• coaching or developing programs that have increased women’s participation in sport
• supporting or being a role model for girls and women who want to participate or be involved in sport.

Other UNSW Awards:

• Coach of the Year - Awarded to a coach who has guided their team/athlete to the pursuit of greatness, on and off the field in 2021
• Administrator of the Year - Awarded to a member of the UNSW sporting community who has made an outstanding contribution to their sport in 2021
• Team of the Year - Awarded to an outstanding team who has achieved sporting excellence in 2021
• Club of the Year - Awarded to an outstanding club who has achieved on and off the field excellence in 2021
• Community Sport Award - Awarded to an individual, club or society that has made an outstanding contribution to the UNSW sporting community.

Other awards for UNSW students:

• Female Athlete of the Year
• Male Athlete of the Year
• Indigenous Athlete of the Year
• International Student Athlete of the Year
• Academic Excellence Award - Awarded to a student who has achieved excellence in both sport and study in 2021

Nominations close 30 September, nominate someone here
 

See below for previous awards winners from 1964 to 2021