Volunteers: The Lifeblood of Country Football
It has been said a million times and it will be said a million times more that volunteers are the lifeblood of country football and netball.
As much as we all go to the football to see the work of the players and the coaches, or maybe the umpires, none of this would be possible without the countless hours of service that volunteers give to the game.
Think of your day at the footy today – the guys you met at at the gate, the service you got at the canteen, the umpire escorts and the timekeepers, the young lads in the scoreboard and the committee member walking around with their clipboard – all volunteers, and all dedicated to providing you with a game of football and netball to watch and enjoy.
Volunteers are the backbone of football clubs. The number of sport and recreation volunteers in country football has remained steady over the past five years, but the way they volunteer has changed.
With today’s busy lifestyles, people prefer to volunteer for shorter periods on single or limited projects. They want a fulfilling experience and for someone to thank them for their efforts.
Now that we are in the middle of our seasons and we have a routine for home and away matches there is no better time to think about how we are engaging with our volunteers.
Most football clubs appoint people to key positions such as president, treasurer or secretary to provide direction to the club and to manage its finances and administration. Only a few have considered the way they manage one of their most important resources - Volunteers!
One of the most valuable roles that successful football clubs have instituted is the Volunteer Co-ordinator. This is the person that rallies the troops, that has an intimate knowledge of what needs to be done and how they are done, and that can provide support to your club volunteers.
We all want to feel appreciated in the work that we do, volunteers are no different. While club volunteers do what they do out of the goodness of their heart and with passion for your club – retaining your current volunteers should be a clear priority in the planning of your club.
Be clear and honest about what you need your volunteers to do. Many volunteers will shy away from putting their hands up because they have been burnt out by volunteer roles before. A personal interest has quickly turned into a full time occupation and the love has quickly disappeared.
It is important that we have the right people in the right jobs. We all have different skills that are better suited to some jobs and getting the right person into the right job is the most important thing a volunteer co-ordinator can achieve at your club. It is about value.
To be able to say to a person “this is your job, this is the outcome we are after and this is the amount of time required by you to do the job” means that all parties are on the same page.
Many clubs across the state have drafted up job descriptions before the season starts and conduct an orientation for all their volunteer roles. Templates can be found on the VCFL website.
If you are on the other side of the fence, there is no better time than now to put your hand up to volunteer at your local footy and netball club.
As you sit in your car or around the boundary today, think of the skills that you have and how they might be utilised by your club. Think about how much time you have to contribute.
Maybe you like to write and know a bit about websites, maybe you are good with numbers, maybe you like to manage events and functions, maybe you are handy with a hammer or a paintbrush, maybe you have worked behind bars before and have the appropriate accreditation – or maybe you just have the biggest washing machine in the district.
Make the first step.
I know you will get a lot from the experience and your footy club will thank you for your efforts.
** The WorkSafe VCFL has launched our ‘2011 Volunteer of the Year’ program this week.
We want to celebrate the people that make a difference to your club and your community. Each club, league and association in the WorkSafe VCFL is invited to nominate outstanding volunteers.
Please go to www.worksafefooty.com to nominate your outstanding volunteers today.
Dean Rice
WorkSafe VCFL Training & Education Manager
Last Modified on 04/07/2011 17:52