TCA Awards Criteria

The TCA Award nomination process follows a thorough three-stage procedure to ensure each nominee meets the established criteria. From nominations submitted by members to due diligence checks and final voting by the TCA Board, the process concludes with the presentation of awards at the TCA Annual Awards Night.

TCA Award procedure

1. Stage One invites members, colleagues, or clubs to nominate Coaches as potential award recipients according to the set criteria. The Board accepts self nominations.
2. Stage Two of the process requires the TCAV President to begin due diligence by checking that both the nominee and the nomination satisfy the criteria. To complete due diligence The TCAV administrator must ratify financial and ethical status of each nominee, qualifications, and years of membership through current or archived records. Nominations are then assessed by the TCAV Board at which time each Board member in a secret ballot casts his or her votes in order of merit. The votes are tallied and the President then notifies the winner in each category within 24 hours.
3. Stage Three involves presenting the awards in each category at the TCAV annual awards night. All winners will have their name added to the TCAV Honour Board currently displayed prominently at Tennis Victoria.

Detailed Criteria by Award

TCAV Life Members

Any TCAV member nominated must receive at least a 75 percent majority vote of the TCAV membership who respond by ballot. The Board of Management on this basis will then at either an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting under the constitution put any successful nominee up for Life Membership recognition. Life Member awards are made to Coaches and Administrators who:

•  Have made an outstanding contribution above all others to the TCAV Board of Management
•  Have served and represented the needs of all of its members via the TCAV Board of Management or position thereon over a period of no less than ten years
•  Have served the needs of TCAV Coaches with energy and enthusiasm
•  Have served the TCAV and its members without prejudice
•  Have shown exceptional commitment to the TCAV and the sport of tennis
•  Have shown respect for the best traditions of the TCAV
•  Have brought credit to the TCAV
•  Has represented the TCAV as a coach, player, or volunteer with pride

TCAV Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame status will be bestowed upon a Coach who has met the following criteria:

•  Has made outstanding contributions to the tennis coaching profession as a PTAV/TCAV/TCV member
•  Holds or has held a PTAV/TCAV qualification of Advanced or equivalent (Diploma of Tennis Coaching, Certificate of Qualification, Club Professional) or higher
•  Hall of Fame Inductees will generally have made contributions to tennis and tennis coaching as part of our Association for a period of 30 years or more
•  Has been a Head Coach at Club level or equivalent and/or have coached State or National teams or individuals, coaching with absolute professionalism
•  Has made enormous contributions to grass roots tennis and participation at club level and/or or have produced state, nationally, or internationally ranked players
•  Has observed and upheld the TCAV code of ethics at all times
•  Has made tennis coaching their principal or full time occupation
•  Has played a significant role in mentoring other TCAV coaches in developing their careers
•  Has made contributions to their sport beyond their commercial enterprises
•  Has made a significant contribution by serving on the TCAV Board of Management
•  Has coached the sport of tennis with energy and enthusiasm
•  Has coached the sport of tennis without prejudice
•  Has shown exceptional commitment to the sport of tennis
•  Has shown respect for the best traditions of tennis
•  Has brought credit to the sport of tennis
•  Has represented the sport of tennis as a competitor, administrator or volunteer with pride
•  Has remained up to date with current coaching knowledge and teaching practices.

TCAV Legends

Legend status will be bestowed upon a Coach who: 

•  Holds or has held a PTAV / TCAV qualification of Advanced or equivalent (Diploma of Tennis Coaching, Certificate of Qualification, Club Professional) or higher
•  Has made significant contributions to the TCAV and tennis coaching for a period in general of 40 years or more
•  Has been previously inducted into the TCAV Hall Of Fame
•  Has fulfilled a broad spectrum of requirements, including having made significant achievements in areas such as tennis teaching and coaching, business, education and volunteer work
•  Lives in the memories of, and are revered and respected by their students, peers, and colleagues alike as true legends of the TCAV and tennis coaching
•  Has shown respect for the best traditions of the TCAV
•  Has brought credit to the TCAV
•  Has represented the TCAV as a coach, player, or volunteer with pride
•  Has served the needs of TCAV Coaches with energy and enthusiasm

TCAV Legend status together with Life Membership represents the ultimate recognition by our Association for a lifetime contribution to coaching tennis and to administering our Association respectively.

Ian Occleshaw award

The prestigious Ian Occleshaw award was struck in memory of our inaugural TCAV Legend. The award will be presented to a person, coach or otherwise, who has committed an outstanding act or made a significant contribution to tennis coaching or to the game of tennis in the spirit and to the standard of the late great Ian Occleshaw.

TCAV Club Coach of the Year 

(George Gilmour Memorial Trophy)

The coach:

•  Must be a TCAV Club Professional
•  Provides successful coaching programs and pathways which cater for the needs of the players within their community
•  Demonstrates great loyalty to his/her club or facility
•  Actively seeks and fosters positive relationships with local schools and general community
•  Actively involved with the club / facility to assist in growing the game of tennis
•  Implements innovative programs and activities which encourage all individuals to participate in tennis and club life
•  Executes a clear a marketing plan to assist growing the game of tennis within the community and developing the tennis facility 

TCAV Rising Star Award

TCAV Rising Star Award This award recognizes the achievement of a young coach 30 years and under for their outstanding, innovative, and industrious approach to tennis coaching and the tennis industry. We strongly encourage members to nominate their colleagues and/or employees for their dedication and achievements thus far in their coaching endeavours and career.

Eligible Candidates
All financial TCAV / TACM Junior Development, Club Professional, and High Performance or Level 3 Elite members are eligible to nominate or to be nominated by a TACM / TCAV member. Nominees may self nominate.

TCAV Rookie Coach of the Year Award

TCAV Rookie of the Year Award- Best Assistant (New) This is a relatively new award struck in 2011 and is for an employer (Head Coach) to nominate an outstanding assistant 25 years or under holding a Junior Development or Club Pro level qualification OR currently actively involved in either course. The assistant must have worked for the Head Coach for a minimum period of one year.

TCAV Coach of the Year

TCAV Coach of the Year – Player Development This award up until 2009 had been presented every second year by the TCAV. Congratulations to Chris Kachel who was the last recipient of this award presented at Royal South Yarra. It has been decided that Tennis Australia will now manage this award and open it to all TACM members.