Turnstone and USABA Now Accepting Nominations for 2023 Ronald W. Plassman Gold Standard Award

Fort Wayne, Ind. (August 2, 2023) – Turnstone Center and the United States Association for Blind Athletes (USABA) are now accepting nominations for the Ronald Plassman Gold Standard Award. Established in 2021, this prestigious award will be presented annually each fall to deserving athletes, coaches, and program supporters who demonstrate gold standard values lived out by the actions and support of Ron Plassman (1940-2022). These include excellence on the field of play, sportsmanship, leadership, and championing the sport of goalball.

Ron Plassman was a passionate champion of goalball, adaptive sports, and the Paralympic movement. Ron’s passionate support, specifically for goalball athletes, led to the creation of the Goalball Center of Excellence in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the first training site of its kind in the United States and now the home of the USA Men’s and Women’s Goalball resident training program.

Criteria for this award require nominees to be an athlete, coach, or program supporter who recognizes values of sportsmanship and leadership on and off the court. Nominees must demonstrate significant contributions to the sport of goalball and support education and increase awareness of the Paralympic Movement.

Those interested in submitting a nomination should do so using the online form before September 30. A selection committee will review all nominations after the deadline and select a winner in October to be publicly honored by Turnstone and USABA.