The summer youth sports season is fast approaching, and your organization no doubt is in need of volunteer coaches. Not to add any pressure to the task, but your effectiveness at securing quality individuals will ultimately speak volumes about your organization's reputation — good or bad — within the community.
Volunteer recruitment is an ongoinig process at all levels of recreation and athletics programming, but it's especially difficult to find qualified adults to coach kids. After all, as children get older, their parents typically move on too, creating an on-field void that must be filled.
Here are four ideas for successfully persuading more moms and dads to grab that whistle and clipboard and take charge of your teams.
- Take advantage of local media opportunities. A news release announcing that your organization is seeking volunteer coaches for the upcoming season can be placed in newspapers in and around your community. These often are free of charge when printed in the events section. Another free form of advertising can be had by posting the need for coaches on your organization's web site.
- Tap into area colleges and universities. Reach out to local institutions of higher learning, particularly ones that offer recreation, sports management and youth development curriculums. Students in those programs are always looking for job-related experience and opportunities to network. Even though they may not have children of their own, college students often are among the best candidates to work with young people.
- Provide coaching clinics. One of the biggest reasons people don't volunteer to coach is a fear of being unqualified to handle the responsibilities. No one wants to embarrass him- or herself, especially in front of both kids and fellow adults. Concerns about how best to teach fundamentals, organize a practice and manage a team on game day can be daunting, but a coaches' training program held at a recreation facility or ball field — or taken online — can help| ease those fears and lead to a fun and rewarding experience.
- Let them know they are appreciated. Notify potential volunteers in advance that your organization will host an end-of-the-season coaches-appreciation night. Acknowledge their contributions and hand out gas cards or some other token of appreciation (which often can be donated by a sponsor). Small gestures can make big statements about how important and valued volunteers are to your programs.
Greg Bach (gbach@nays.org) is Vice president of communications at the National Alliance for Youth Sports (www.nays.org).
______________________________________________________________________________
| Title |
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED. |
| Source |
Athletic Business |
| Vol (iss) |
Vol. 33 Issue 5 |
| Date |
May 2009 |
| Page |
p.19 |
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