Colorado Springs, Colo. (April 7, 2020) – USA Ultimate announced today that, despite the 2020 college season being severely disrupted and cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Callahan Award, including nominations, voting and recognition of winners, will still go on as always.
Nominations are now being accepted and must be submitted by Thursday, April 30, for consideration. All college teams, as well as USA Ultimate regional coordinators, are eligible to nominate one player.
Founded by Charles Kerr in 1996, the Callahan Award is named in honor of Henry Callahan, one of the sport’s early players and organizers, and plays an important role each year in recognizing great players from collegiate programs across the country and highlighting the best elements of the sport of ultimate.
This year is no exception. In fact, under these difficult circumstances where safety comes from physical distancing, it is more important than ever to come together as a community to celebrate our sport and stay connected through it.
The Callahan is awarded to the most valuable players in college ultimate. Award nominees display superior skill and athleticism, but the award goes a step further than that. In addition to their on-field success, winners of the Callahan Award also demonstrate outstanding sportspersonship, leadership and dedication to ultimate – personifying Spirit of the Game.
Players are nominated by their teams or by their regional coordinators, and the award is voted on by current college players, meaning Callahan Award winners have also earned the respect of their peers. The online videos and social media conversations about the Callahan Award will provide a vehicle for deserving players to be recognized as leaders for their teams and for the sport.
Voting will be open from Friday, May 1, through Wednesday, May 13. All current college players are eligible to vote online using their USA Ultimate member accounts.
More information about the Callahan Award, including rule changes for 2020, the Callahan nomination form and other nomination and voting details, is available at callahanaward.com.
Winners of the 2020 Callahan Award will be announced on Thursday, May 21.
