Affiliation

More than a third, (37%) of Australians aged 15 years and over who had undertaken voluntary work through an organisation in last 12 months (in any sector) did so because of a personal or family involvement. The third highest motivation, after personal satisfaction/do something worthwhile, and to help others/community. ^{8, 49}

This is even more important in sport volunteering. Having a direct relationship or involvement in sport, i.e., being an existing or former player, volunteer, or supporting a family member (especially children) is the most reported motivation in the literature. ^{9, 12, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 51}

• 55% of Australian sport volunteers are involved as both a player and a volunteer in at least one sport. The proportion of male volunteers who also play the same sport is higher than for female volunteers – 60% for men, 51% for women. ²⁰
• Research for Sport New Zealand found that, on average, 54% of sports volunteers had participated in that sport in the last 12 months. Rates were higher for certain sports, e.g., 71% of badminton volunteers had also played badminton in the previous 12 months, while for triathlon only 20% of volunteers also competed in triathlon. ¹⁵
• Players or ex-players get involved in sport because sport is part of their life, they know sport doesn’t just run itself, and because they want to give something back. ^{20, 49}

On the flip side, not having such a connection (i.e., no interest in sport or children/family no longer participating) is the main barrier for those not currently volunteering, or most likely to stop volunteering. ^{12, 31, 51}

Parents and children

Sport volunteering is often highly correlated with life stage. Overall, families with children are most likely to volunteer in organised sport. Previous research for the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) found that 51% of those likely to volunteer in club sport in the next 12 months had children at home under 21 years. ⁵¹

While parents are much more likely to volunteer when their children are playing, the reverse is also true. Children of parents who are actively engaged in sport, especially when they both play and volunteer, are much more likely to play and volunteer themselves – giving them a much higher likelihood of reaping the lifetime benefits of sport for physical, social, and mental wellbeing. ^{13, 20, 25}

Future volunteers

Those already participating in sport will generally be most effective and can help drive sustainable levels of volunteers. ¹⁵

Research for the Australian Sports Commission’s Market Segmentation for Sport Participation project found that one in three (30%) of Australians aged 14-75 who were not currently volunteering in club sport would volunteer if they were simply asked to do so. ¹²

This is consistent with other research that has found that non-volunteers may be unaware the club needs volunteers. ^{7, 11, 12, 37, 38} It also reinforces that a key facilitator of being a volunteer is feeling like they are making a difference and having a sense of meaning or purpose. ^{11, 12, 13, 15, 18}

Getting people outside of sport to volunteer is significantly harder, so organisations should primarily focus on people who already play, volunteer, watch (fans), or support sport to engage/further engage them as volunteers. ^{12, 15, 51}

Resources and reading