Great ideas to get you started

16 Great Ideas to Start Adapting NowThe Action Plan has been designed to address broader challenges across the sport system over time. The ideas below have been designed to help people take practical steps right now.
You may already be doing some of these at your club. You can choose the ideas that best suit your sport, club, community or context.
The "what this could look like" examples are intended to as inspiration rather than instruction. 
All 16 ideas below came directly through the co-design process from those who were involved and directly reflect what clubs and their volunteers told us. We have then aligned each idea to our Sport Volunteer Experience Framework.
Make it easy to get involved
Idea
What this could look like
Make one role easier to say yes to
Break a big role into two smaller ones (opening and closing canteen, grant research and grant writing). Identify 'tiny tasks' that take 10 minutes or less for people to opt in for.
Make volunteering visible
Help volunteer effort be visible on social media by sharing a "day in the life" posts on volunteer experiences.
Ask for help through trusted channels
Send someone a voice note as a more personal ask rather than text. Write a series of ready-to-send messages that coaches, parents, players etc. can copy into their own group chats.
Make it feel like I belong
Idea
What this could look like
Pay attention to the first experience
Have new volunteers start a little earlier than needed, so there is time to provide a warm welcome and answer any questions. Allow the new volunteer choice in the role they take on, and how it is performed.
Back young & new volunteers with a "buddy"
Title 'tag team' roles so new volunteers don't feel they'll be left on their own. Introduce the "buddy" in the volunteering opportunity - "You'll be paired with Sarah, she loves bushwalking and tennis".
Set behaviour expectations early
Place a sign near scoring or common areas: "This job is done by a volunteer. Please be respectful. We cannot do this without them".
Tailor roles to suit my needs
Idea
What this could look like
Separate what is essential from what is nice to have
Organise tasks by 'today, this week, next week' to help prioritise necessities and identify what can be removed. Also ask volunteers what is one part of their role that could be changed?
Make game day roles visible before the day starts
Share gameday 'tiny tasks' in group chats and have people react or vote for which one they will do.
Show more than one way to contribute
Offer different types of help to choose from, and share roles based on skills needed, not the tasks to be completed.
Support me
Idea
What this could look like
Use ASC's Game Plan as a health check
Have mini-teams complete one module per week to support club planning. Utilise the results to choose one improvement, rather than a laundry list.
Make handover/succession planning easier before people leave
Leave voice notes of main do's / don'ts / need to know's of your role. Identify tasks only one person knows how to do and build backups.
Use existing resources before creating your own
Start an email chain / group chat for keeping templates. Adapt your existing templates by removing anything too large, formal or irrelevant
Use commercial AI tools carefully to support admin
Use AI for low-risk admin, such as drafting volunteer callouts, thankyou posts, simple role descriptions, meeting summaries. Be clear on your internal guardrails for use.
Brief volunteers before they are in the thick of their roles
Send a short text so the volunteer can refer back during their shift e.g. what to do, who to ask and what does not need to be perfect.
Create value for me, my club and my community
Idea
What this could look like
Invite people through the things they care about
Position opportunities as beyond sport (especially for youth) e.g. Want to learn cooking skills for free? come and support our BBQ / canteen. Want finance and admin experience? Speak to our committee.
Creating a positive environment
Consider where experience can be made more enjoyable e.g. music whilst you work, players shake hands and acknowledge all volunteers post game, ask them what they would do. Make selecting your tiny tasks fun e.g. throw a dart or run a lucky dip!
Stay updatedKeep connected to the ASC for all things sport volunteering such as resources, case studies, news and events.

Great ideas to get you started

16 Great Ideas to Start Adapting Now

Make it easy to get involved

Make it feel like I belong

Tailor roles to suit my needs

Support me

Create value for me, my club and my community

Stay updated

Services

Guidance and resources

News and events

About Us

Follow us

Idea	What this could look like
Make one role easier to say yes to	Break a big role into two smaller ones (opening and closing canteen, grant research and grant writing). Identify 'tiny tasks' that take 10 minutes or less for people to opt in for.
Make volunteering visible	Help volunteer effort be visible on social media by sharing a "day in the life" posts on volunteer experiences.
Ask for help through trusted channels	Send someone a voice note as a more personal ask rather than text. Write a series of ready-to-send messages that coaches, parents, players etc. can copy into their own group chats.

Idea	What this could look like
Pay attention to the first experience	Have new volunteers start a little earlier than needed, so there is time to provide a warm welcome and answer any questions. Allow the new volunteer choice in the role they take on, and how it is performed.
Back young & new volunteers with a "buddy"	Title 'tag team' roles so new volunteers don't feel they'll be left on their own. Introduce the "buddy" in the volunteering opportunity - "You'll be paired with Sarah, she loves bushwalking and tennis".
Set behaviour expectations early	Place a sign near scoring or common areas: "This job is done by a volunteer. Please be respectful. We cannot do this without them".

Idea	What this could look like
Separate what is essential from what is nice to have	Organise tasks by 'today, this week, next week' to help prioritise necessities and identify what can be removed. Also ask volunteers what is one part of their role that could be changed?
Make game day roles visible before the day starts	Share gameday 'tiny tasks' in group chats and have people react or vote for which one they will do.
Show more than one way to contribute	Offer different types of help to choose from, and share roles based on skills needed, not the tasks to be completed.

Idea	What this could look like
Use ASC's Game Plan as a health check	Have mini-teams complete one module per week to support club planning. Utilise the results to choose one improvement, rather than a laundry list.
Make handover/succession planning easier before people leave	Leave voice notes of main do's / don'ts / need to know's of your role. Identify tasks only one person knows how to do and build backups.
Use existing resources before creating your own	Start an email chain / group chat for keeping templates. Adapt your existing templates by removing anything too large, formal or irrelevant
Use commercial AI tools carefully to support admin	Use AI for low-risk admin, such as drafting volunteer callouts, thankyou posts, simple role descriptions, meeting summaries. Be clear on your internal guardrails for use.
Brief volunteers before they are in the thick of their roles	Send a short text so the volunteer can refer back during their shift e.g. what to do, who to ask and what does not need to be perfect.

Idea	What this could look like
Invite people through the things they care about	Position opportunities as beyond sport (especially for youth) e.g. Want to learn cooking skills for free? come and support our BBQ / canteen. Want finance and admin experience? Speak to our committee.
Creating a positive environment	Consider where experience can be made more enjoyable e.g. music whilst you work, players shake hands and acknowledge all volunteers post game, ask them what they would do. Make selecting your tiny tasks fun e.g. throw a dart or run a lucky dip!