End-of-season awards are both a time to celebrate your team as a collective and to highlight individual successes.

Here, we share some ideas for awards you can consider giving your players...

Player of the season

This is probably the most common, and most sought after, end-of-season award.

The beauty of it is you can make it mean whatever you want it to. It can be based on performance, effort, attitude, character – whatever your team or club places most value on.

You can also do a number of different player of the season awards, chosen by different people. 

For example, there could be coach’s player of the season, players’ player of the season and parents’ player of the season.

Top scorer

Another commonly distributed award, this one does what it says on the tin – which player put the ball in the back of the net the most times over the course of the campaign?

Most assists

Much like the top scorer award, this one is pretty simple, too.

In this case, which player directly created the most goals for your team during the season? You may have to keep track of them yourself through the season.

Team spirit award

This could also be called something like ’Best attitude award’, ’or ’Best team role model’.

In essence, which player best exemplified the behaviours and approach you want to see?

Team leader

Who steps up to lead the team, on or off the pitch? Who sets an example? Who encourages, lifts up and challenges their team-mates when they need it?

Moment of magic award

Is there a specific moment of the season that really stands out and deserves celebrating?  

It could be a big on-pitch moment – a season-defining goal, or save, for example – or something that happened off the pitch, like a real show of support for a team-mate when they needed it most.

Most versatile player

Is there a player that has played in various positions across the team this season?

Have they been open to trying out new challenges? Do they give it their all wherever they are on the pitch?

Most consistent player

Is there a player that you have been able to rely on all season?

Have they put in consistently solid performances, but don’t necessarily do the things that get the most attention on the team? They might be worth giving something to!

Driven to learn

Is there, in your view, a player that is always eager to improve?

Do they take feedback on board and aim to weave it into their practice? Are they willing to put in the work to make themselves better?

Position-specific awards

Often, as illustrated with our inclusion of the ‘top scorer’ and ‘most assists’ awards, a lot of awards disproportionately reward play in the final third of the pitch.

But what about elsewhere? This is where position-specific awards can come in handy. 

You could consider giving an award to a unit (defenders, midfielders, attackers), or be a bit more generic, offering awards for things like ‘Best defensive play’, which doesn’t necessarily need to be given to a defender.

Skill-specific awards

Along the same lines as position-specific awards, these could link to core skills – ’Best passer’, ’Best dribbler’, ’Best tackler’, for example.

Or, more specifically, they could be related to the way you ask your team to play, and reward, say, the ‘Best at breaking lines’.

Parent or guardian award

This one is a bit different, given that it is not for a player – but awards ceremonies aren’t just a chance to recognise them.

Parents and guardians play such a huge role in supporting their children and the team as a whole. 

If there are one or two that have been particularly helpful, consider giving them some form of recognition.