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Factors influencing participation

Different people will volunteer, or not, for various personal or societal reasons that will change across their individual life course. 1, 2

The term 'volunteering' covers a diverse range of activities and includes formal volunteering (which takes place within organisations in a structured way), informal volunteering (self-directed acts, outside of a formal organisation), and online volunteering, which may be formal or informal. Volunteering may be private or corporate (organised or endorsed by a person's workplace), regular, or singular, e.g., at sports events. 1, 3, 4, 5, 34

Participant experience research can help clubs and organisations understand the attributes of broad categories of people and how different types of participants (both existing and potential) can be encouraged to start, continue, or increase their volunteering. Examples of these types of studies include the Australian Sports Commission’s 2014 ‘Market Segmentation for Sport’ research and the Archetypes included in the 2021 ‘Future of sport volunteering’ report. 2, 6, 7

Motivators

Motivations for all volunteers (not specific to sport) 8

  • Personal satisfaction / to do something worthwhile
  • Help others / community
  • Personal / family involvement
  • Social contact
  • To be active
  • Use skills / experience
  • To learn new skills / gain work experience
  • Religious beliefs
  • Just happened
  • Felt obliged
C4S-image-Female tennis trainer coaching a Down syndrome child

Facilitators and Barriers

Australian and international research and reports have identified multiple factors that can facilitate or provide barriers to volunteering in sport.

Factors that Impact

Understanding the potential barriers and facilitators to participation in specific contexts can help to grow the number of volunteers who engage and participate regularly in sport. This has flow on effects for the long-term sustainability of individual sports, organisations, and the sport sector more broadly. 6

Although what motivates people to volunteer for sport will be influenced by each person’s unique individual, cultural, and social factors, there are some general factors that may have a high impact on volunteer participation. 10, 22, 32

  • Affiliation

    Affiliation

    Many sports volunteers have a strong personal connection to the sport, often being players or parents of players.
  • Age

    Age

    Age can have a significant effect on the motivations, facilitators, and barriers to volunteering.
  • Culture

    Culture

    Increasing the diversity of volunteers in sport can have positive benefits for sports organisations, communities, and individuals.
  • Investment

    Investment

    A lack of flexibility, personal expenses, and administrative demands may discourage volunteers.
  • Location

    Location

    Volunteer participation can vary based on geographical location.
  • Other population groups

    Other population groups

    Everyone in the community should have the opportunity to be involved in sport regardless of their individual characteristics.

REFERENCES
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ASC’s First Nations artwork titled KINSHIP. An indigenous painting by Brad Hore OLY encompassing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural elements to represent the ASC.
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