Tips for writing a standout nomination

Each year, we receive amazing nominations from clubs entering the Good Sports Awards.

We love reading about the pride people have for their clubs and the passion they have for their communities.

There’s always a few that really stand out though. They’re the ones that tell us a story.

They’re the ones that tell us about the impact they have in reducing harms from alcohol and other drugs, the ways in which they make their clubs healthier and safer, and the things that make their club so special.

Writing a spectacular nomination doesn’t have to be a daunting process. You just need a game-plan, which is why we’ve written some pointers for you.

Tips for submitting your nomination

  1. Check your eligibility: Take the time to check that your nomination meets the eligibility criteria. You can find eligibility criteria on the Good Sports Awards web page.
  2. Log in to the Good Sports portal. If you don’t have a log in, or you aren’t sure if you have one, click through to the sign up page. If your club is already in the system, you’ll be able to link your account here.

    Once logged in, click through to the Awards page in the portal and you’ll find the ‘Nominate’ button that will take you to the nomination form.

    Note: Your nomination form can’t be saved once you’ve started, so we recommend writing your nomination in Word or another text app and copying and pasting your responses into the form when you’re ready to finalise it.
  3. Start with the important stuff: Tell us why your nomination deserves to win!
    1. What activities or actions has your club done that makes you stand out
    2. How do you go above and beyond for your members?
    3. What impact has your club had on your community?
    4. How has your club demonstrated a commitment to reducing harm from alcohol and other drugs?
  4. Use real life examples: Demonstrate why your nomination deserves to win with proof. We want to know the back stories and the impact these actions have had.
    1. How is your club creating positive change within your community, including reducing harm from alcohol and other drugs? (For example, organising dry events, running or hiring a club bus to reduce drink driving, removing alcohol sponsorship from juniors’ jerseys?)
    2. Has your club come up with any new or inventive ways to raise awareness of the harms from alcohol and other drugs, educate about smoking/vaping, promote safe transport or support members’ mental health?
    3. Tell us about the outcome of these changes, events or programs at your club.
    4. Do you have any evidence to include?
  5. Fill out all the relevant fields within the form. Make sure to include as much detail as possible while sticking to the word limits. 
  6. Add ‘Supporting documents’ (if you’re uploading multiple documents, please add them into a compressed zip folder* before uploading).
    1. You can include images, videos, photos or references to strengthen your application. These may be used in the media if your club is a finalist or winner of a Good Sports Award.
    2. You may like to include letters of support from your league/association, state sporting organisation, local council’s sport and rec officer, or even your local Member of Parliament just to name a few. The more, the better!
    3. Feel free to include a quote or testimonial which may also be used if your club is a finalist or winner of a Good Sports Award.

      *To create a compressed zip folder on Windows: 
      1. Create a folder and add photos/files to include in submission
      2. Right click folder and scroll down to ‘send to’
      3. Select ‘compressed zip folder’
      4. Attach ‘compressed zip folder’ to nomination.
  7. Fill out and sign the ‘Agreement and Statement’.
  8. Click ‘Send’ to submit your form.

Now that you have the basics covered, here are specific suggestions on what to include for each question – below you can find an outline of each of the questions with some tips of what to add into your answer.

Writing tips

Why did your club join Good Sports?  (150 words max)

  • What inspired your club to join the Good Sports program?
  • What did you identify that could be improved at your club?

How does your club make a positive impact on members and the wider local community?  (200 words max)

  • If you were telling a friend about your club, what would you say makes your club stand out?

What benefits or changes to your club have you seen since joining Good Sports? (200 words max)

  • How has being part of the Good Sports program impacted your club?
  • Can provide an example of how the program has helped your club address or prevent issues related to alcohol and/or drug use?
  • How has your club’s culture around alcohol and/or other drug use changed since becoming involved in Good Sports?
  • If you’ve got evidence, include it in your supporting documents.

If your club wins, what will you spend the prize money on?  (100 words max)

  • Does your club need new equipment, uniforms or help to upgrade facilities?
  • Tell us how this prize money might benefit your club!

How does your club go above and beyond the requirements of the Good Sports program in demonstrating its commitment to reducing harm from alcohol and other drugs and providing a safe, inclusive, and healthy environment?  (300 words max)

  • Why does your club deserve to be recognised as the Good Sports Club of the Year? How has your club gone above and beyond the core requirements of Good Sports?
  • Have you engaged with the wider community on alcohol management, smoking/vaping prevention, mental health awareness or road safety? Have you hosted an educational event for the community?
  • What initiatives has your club implemented to promote community health and wellbeing, and minimise harms from alcohol and other drugs, that extend beyond the core requirements of Good Sports?
  • How does your club demonstrate community leadership around safe alcohol practices and cultures? For example, do you have strategies for increasing road safety after club celebrations, reducing juniors’ exposure to alcohol sale and consumption, or reducing reliance on alcohol sponsorship?
  • What alcohol and/or other drug practices and policies has your club introduced or strengthened since joining the program?

Tell us about your champion volunteer and how they have a positive impact on your club, including reducing the harm from alcohol and other drugs. (500 words max)

  • Why does this volunteer stand out?
  • What are their roles, service, milestones and achievements at your club?
  • What role has the nominee had in reducing the risk of alcohol and/or other drug harm in your club or community?
  • How does their involvement make your club better?
  • How have they impacted your club, your  members and the club community?
  • What makes them invaluable to the club?
  • How do other members talk about them?
  • What are their silent achievements that nobody else knows about?

Describe the safe transport strategies your club has implemented, especially to reduce the risks of drink or drug driving. What impact have these strategies had on your club and members? (300 words max)

  • Tell us about any risks your club had previously identified regarding alcohol and transport (e.g. members driving home after celebrations) and the strategies you put in place to reduce risk of drink or drug driving.
  • If your members participated in the development of your safe transport strategies, tell us about this experience. Do your members now use these strategies?
  • How did you ensure your members were aware of your safe transport strategies?
  • How did your club overcome any challenges that you faced when developing (or implementing) your safe transport practices? Tell us how you overcame these.

How has your club positively impacted the wider community through its leadership, especially to reduce the harms from alcohol and other drugs? (300 words max)

  • How does your club stand out as a community leader?
  • Please share an example of how your club lends a hand and supports the local community.
  • How has your club used the power of community sport to reduce alcohol and other drug harm, not just in your club but impacting other people in your local area? This could include building a more inclusive and connected local community.

How does your club raise awareness about mental health and encourage your members to seek help if they need it?  (300 words max)

  • How have you created a safe space where your members feel supported to talk about and deal with mental health and/or alcohol and drug issues, if they arise?
  • Can you describe how your club has reduced stigma around mental illness and alcohol and other drug use?
  • Did your club experience any challenges when you started talking about mental health or alcohol and drug issues? How did your club overcome these challenges?

How does your club promote a safe, alcohol and drug-free environment for young people, both during games and at club events? (300 words max)

  • How does your club reduce exposure of junior members to people consuming alcohol and alcohol-related behaviours?
  • What specific initiatives or programs does your club have in place to educate and/or support its junior members to make healthy life choices?
  • How do you encourage your members to lead by example when it comes to alcohol and smoking/vaping?
  • If your club needed to make changes to the club environment for juniors, how did it overcome any challenges that were faced?

What changes has your club made since joining the Good Sports program? How is the Good Sports program going to make a difference at your club?  (300 words max)

  • To be eligible for this award your club must have joined Good Sports in the past 12 months and reached a minimum of ‘Accredited’.
  • What alcohol and other drug issues have you identified that the Good Sports program can support you with?
  • How have you engaged your members in any change you have implemented to date?

Past winner nomination example

This is a real-life excerpt of a nomination from one of last year's winners. 

Our Club joined the Good Sports program to promote a healthier, safer, and more inclusive environment for its players, members, and supporters. By becoming a Good Sports accredited club, our Club aligns with best practices in reducing alcohol-related harm, encouraging healthier lifestyle choices, and ensuring a family-friendly atmosphere. The club was inspired to join the program to build a stronger community focus, set a positive example for young players, and foster a culture of responsibility and respect.

Since joining the GS program, our Club has seen several positive changes. One of the most noticeable benefits has been the improvement in the club’s overall culture, particularly around alcohol use. By implementing the program's guidelines, the club has fostered a more family-friendly and inclusive environment, where the focus is on fun, health, and safety rather than alcohol consumption. We believe that this shift has attracted more families and younger players, boosting membership and participation across all levels.

The club’s commitment to responsible alcohol management has also helped prevent potential issues before they arose. For example, at social events or end-of-season celebrations, clear policies around alcohol have led to more mindful behaviour, removing the risk of alcohol-related incidents. The emphasis on low-risk alcohol consumption and offering non-alcoholic options has made these events more enjoyable and accessible for everyone.

Our Club enforces alcohol-free zones during junior games and events, ensuring that alcohol is not present around young players. At club-wide events, alcohol is served responsibly, away from junior areas, and non-alcoholic options are always made available. This reduces the visibility of alcohol consumption for juniors, creating a space where families can feel comfortable and included.

Ready? Let’s go!

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