In order to identify the clubs' volunteer strengths and weaknesses it is important to speak to your members and your volunteers:
- Do they feel well supported?
- Do your volunteers feel valued?
- Are they overworked?
- Do they have too much responsibility?
- Would they like to become more involved?
- Are they offered any/ suitable training?
Use the feedback constructively and be receptive to the ideas volunteers may have for improvements. Support is fundamental to retaining your club’s volunteers and ensuring that they remain interested and motivated. There are many simple ways to support your volunteers:
- Be approachable, open and honest
- Have a named person available who the volunteer knows they can go to with any problems or queries
- Find out what the volunteer wants from the club
- Ensure good communications
- Recruit many volunteers to spread the workload
- Provide opportunities for fun and socialising
- Provide feedback and review training and support needs
- Recognise other commitments, families, jobs etc
- Make all volunteers feel part of the team
- Recognise concerns and discuss ways to get around problem areas.
Training for volunteers
Training is an integral part of the support and recognition that all clubs should give their volunteers. By providing external or internal training for volunteers they should feel more motivated and confident to carry out their tasks effectively. Training for volunteers ranges from NVQ qualifications in coaching provided by the National Governing Bodies (NGB), through to generic workshops such as those provided by the sports coach UK (scUK) or sportscotland where a certificate of attendance is issued.
sportscotland offer a regular series of Running Sport workshop and training courses
Internal club training
"Remember volunteers will not continue in the same role forever."
The Club can provide its own training and support for volunteers by implementing some of the following:
- Provide a proper club Induction and Club Information pack
- Explain the aims of the club and their rights and responsibilities as a volunteer
- Inform them of all club policies and handbook: Constitution, Code of Conduct, Fair Play, Ethics, Child Protection, Equal Opportunities, Health & Safety, Emergency & Accident Procedures
- Encourage new volunteers to 'shadow' committee officers, administrators or coaches
- Introduce new volunteers to current club staff
- Review volunteers' training needs on a regular basis
- Involve volunteers in external training opportunitiesi.e. NGB awards, scUK & Running Sport workshops.
Sources of external training
National Governing Body Awards: NGB Awards are sport specific coaching courses. The majority of NGB Awards are equivalent to the National Vocation Qualification (NVQ) Levels 1, 2 or 3. These awards vary in length depending on the level and usually contain both theoretical and practical work.
sports coach UK Workshops: sports coach UK offers a programme of generic coaching workshops targeted at coaches of any level. All workshops are up to three hours long and are mainly theory based. Each workshop is supported by comprehensive resources and certificate of attendance. There are a range of workshops at each of three levels: introductory; coach; and performance.
runningsports workshops: The runningsports programme is designed to improve the knowledge and skills of everybody working in sport, both voluntary and professional. It provides booklets for home study and workshops offering practical support. There are 10 workshops to choose from in this programme including some of the following;
- Valuaing your sports volunteers
- Funding for your club
- A club for all
- Developing partnerships with clubs and schools
For more information of forthcoming runningsports workshops, contact sportscotland on 0131 317 7200.
Youth Sport Trust (YST) - Community TOPS Training: To support the Top Sport programme for 7 – 11 year olds, the YST run a series of curriculum and community training, the latter being aimed at after school clubs or organisations. The training takes approximately 4 hours and consists of some theory but is mainly practical. Community training is organised locally and facilitated by local sports development officers.
The YST have recently introduced the ‘Sports Parent’ programme which offers excellent resources and training for clubs on how to involve parents in youth sport.
For further information contact: The YST on 01509 228293
British Sports Trust - Sports Leader Awards: Training for young people in communication skills, planning and organisation and motivation.
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Junior Sports Leader - for 14 years and over, taught mainly within the school national curriculum.
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Community Sports Leader - for 15 years and over, taught in schools, colleges and youth clubs etc.
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Higher Sports Leader - for 17-18 years and over, teaching advanced leadership skills.
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Basic Expedition Leader - for 17-18 years and over interested in the outdoors, developing the ability to organise safe expeditions and overnight camping trips.
For further information contact: The British Sports Trust on 020 7828 3163
