Australian Sports Commission Chief Executive Officer Simon Hollingsworth attended the presentation of the National 5 Star Community Coach Award on 27 February, at Grahamvale Primary School in Shepparton, Victoria.

The national award is part of the Australian Government’s Active After-school Communities (AASC) program and  and recognises the community coaches that deliver sport and physical activities to school age children around Australia.

Mr Hollingsworth presented the award to AASC coach, Therese Nicholson, who was selected from a field of more than 9,000 coaches to be named Best Community Coach in Australia for 2011.

’High quality coaching is essential for the success of the AASC program and this award is one way of recognising coaches like Therese who excel in this area,’ Mr Hollingsworth said.

Already recognised as a 5 Star Community Coach, Therese was delighted to win the 2011 national award.

The National 5 Star Community Coach Award is presented annually to one community coach around Australia for outstanding achievements in the AASC program.

The AASC program aims to enhance the physical activity levels of Australian primary school-aged children by helping them to develop a love of sport that inspires them to join a local sporting club.

'Through the AASC program, children are provided with an opportunity to develop a love of sport at a young age, allowing them to reap the benefits of healthy and active lifestyles for years to come,' Hollingsworth said.

The AASC program is an Australian Government initiative delivered by the Australian Sports Commission across 3,270 schools and outside school hours care services in Australia.  Each term, up to 190,000 children participate in up to 70 different sports and 20 structured physical activities after school.