The Irish Sports Council published new research which was commissioned to provide insight into issues surrounding volunteering in sports and activity clubs in a child and youth context. It is part of the Children's Sport Participation and Physical Activity Study (CSPPA), a unique multi-centre study undertaken by University College Cork, University of Limerick and Dublin City University.
A total of 1186 volunteers and 210 volunteer administrators participated in the study. The study shows that the typical volunteer was a parent, aged between 35-54 years, working in a medium sized club. They commit one day per week to volunteering and remain in the role for between 3 to 10 years. Gender representation was balanced across volunteering. Volunteers have multiple roles, some of which stretch their skill set and act as a barrier to volunteer retention.
The study discovered that pathways into volunteering are localised to personal connections, previous participation in sport and/or previous volunteer activity. Clubs require support in developing recruitment, especially for young people, and must invest in volunteer development if they are to retain them. People volunteer because they gain personal, social and health benefits and enjoy working with young people and/or family. Volunteers emphasise the need to embed a "child centred" approach when working with children and youth, that is "child first, sport second". Coaching in junior sport should be underpinned by fun, fundamentals (motor and sport specific) and social connection.
The Volunteer Study was published to coincide with the 'National Awards to Volunteers in Irish Sports', which celebrate the contributions of volunteers to Irish sport. There are over 400,000 people throughout the country who voluntarily dedicate their time every year through the involvement with sports clubs and organisations. The awards are an initiative of the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport and the Federation of Irish Sports with the supported of the Community Foundation of Ireland and the Irish Sports Council.
The EU has designated 2011 as the "European Year of Volunteering". Its purpose is to celebrate the 'almost 100 million citizens of ages who invest their time, talents and money to make a positive contribution to their community by volunteering'. Something the EU Commission cites as 'especially important in this time of economic crisis'. The focus of this year is on improving the quality of volunteering while also recognising rewarding and raising awareness of the immense contribution volunteering makes to society.
The one recommendation of this study is to invest in sport club development and the retention of their volunteer workforce. This could be achieved through the establishment of a key stakeholder group whose purpose is to investigate how to strategically develop and deliver educational resources and programmes for sport club development in Ireland.
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