• Must be a New Zealand Citizen, or hold a Resident or Permanent Resident Visa
• Must be an individual athlete or athlete in a team
• Must be under 20 years of age by nominations deadline
• Must not have achieved success at elite international level. Success at an elite international level is defined as having medalled at the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games or Senior World Championships (or that sports pinnacle competition). Dispensation can be sought in special circumstances e.g. a non- playing reserve
• Nominee personal statement needs to include their aspirations as an athlete and their qualities as a person, including but not limited to:
  • What their sporting goals are
  • What they are doing to achieve their aspirations and/or goals
  • How they have shown their commitment to the sport

Regarding the criteria, the Emerging Talent Voting Academy consider:

• Past performance and achievement, including;
• Significance of the athletes highest level performance or achievement
• Significance of the competition or event where the highest level performance was achieved
• Other performances or achievements of significance
• Global nature of the sport

• Past winners of the Award are ineligible

The Sky Sport Emerging Talent Voting Academy comprises of: DJ Forbes, Mary Fisher, Megan Compain, Paul Allison, Rebecca Dubber, Ron Cheatley, Ruth Aitken, Sarah Walker