26 Feb 2025
Meet your first four Annual Awards 2025 judges...
Nominations remain open until Sunday 9th March (see nominations details below), after which the judging panel – drawn from across the Volleyball and sports community – will meet to draw up a three-person shortlist for each of the categories in which nominations are being received.
Those shortlists will be announced towards the end of March or in early April before the presentation ceremony takes place on the Saturday (26th April) of Cup Finals Weekend at the National Volleyball Centre in Kettering.
All those shortlisted across the award categories will be invited along to the ceremony, where the winners will then be revealed.
Details of the other three judges will be announced next week.
Domenico De Mattia
Winner of the Referee of the Year award in 2024, Domenico has been a volleyball Referee since 2011, both in Italy and England.
In England, he has been a part of several major events including NEVZA 2023, Cup Finals 2022 and 2023 and Final 4 2024. He has experience as a volunteer in football at Men's Euro 2020, Women's Euro 2022 and the Champions League final 2024.
"I like recognising people when they carry out a job that is above their expectations. I am a manager in my worklife, so I know the importance of recognising someone to build a strong team."
Jeremy Harris
In 1984, as a 'non-sporty' young person, Jeremy found Volleyball and loved it, but was 'never going to be amazing at it!' It has been the constant in his life ever since.
Recognising the lack of youth provision in Bristol, he set about founding a youth section within Bristol Voleyball Club.
"My ethos as a coach is to recognise those that will not only become elite, but those, like me, that will struggle but want to learn and play the best they can."
Yaegan Gore
Yaegan is currently a part of Sporting Equals as their Development and Partnerships officer, focusing on increasing income generation and exploring further partnerships.
He has previously been a part of the Youth Sport Trust and is passionate about improving race equality through the sport sector and within sports itself.
"It's an honour to be part of the Volleyball England Annual Awards judging panel, to help celebrate excellence within the sport.
"As a champion of diversity and inclusion, I'm proud to bring my experience and passion for equal opportunities within sport and physical activity.
"Throughout my roles within the sports sector and currently at Sporting Equals, it is a great opportunity to help shine a spotlight on volleyball's communities."
Kerry Snuggs
Kerry is a Retired Police Officer of 20 years' service. Having retired because of a serious injury, she became a sitting volleyball player for Hampshire.
Additionally, she is a a successful charity founder (Acts of Kindness), achieving the British Empire Medal and a Queen's Award for Voluntary Service for the organisation, which is currently in the process of setting up the Intrepid Games for the emergency services who are disabled or injured on duty.
"Throughout my experiences, the impact of appreciation cannot be underestimated.
"It will be my great pleasure to be able to give back to Volleyball England the same compassion I was shown throughout my journey thus far, by being a part of a judging panel that celebrates those who have made an impact on others."'
Still time to nominate...
You can still nominate in one of 12 different categories detailed below:
- Universal Services Coach of the Year for Adults
- Coach of the Year for Children and Young People
- Young Coach of the Year
- Referee of the Year
- Young Referee of the Year
- Volunteer of the Year
- Young Volunteer of the Year
- Deep Dish HEVO of the Year
- Huck Nets Club of the Year
- Contribution to Volleyball
- Serena Morten Inclusion Award
- Unsung Hero
Before nominating someone, you are advised to consult the criteria, which can be found here. You can nominate here.
A list of previous winners, and interviews with the 2024 winners can be found on the Annual Awards webpage.
