Potential volunteer opportunities
There are many different types of activities you could do as a sport and recreation volunteer including:
- Coach (or assistant coach, junior coach, team manager, age group manager)
- Official (umpire, referee, linesman, stewards, scorekeepers, timekeepers)
- Elected member (club president, secretary, treasurer)
- Apparel (uniforms, sewing costumes, jersey washer)
- Catering (cut oranges, help at the BBQ, work in the canteen or kiosk, water runner, bar manager)
- Equipment and grounds (maintenance, set up)
- Committee member or help with committees (fundraising, recruitment, social club, marketing)
- Event volunteer (marshalling, aid or water station)
- Media and communications (newsletters, media releases, game wrap-ups, club photographer, Facebook or website updates)
- Life saver, life guard
- Trail leader, guide
- Statistics, club historian, fixture or draw assistant
- Volunteer coordinator
- Or just helping out around the club wherever it's needed.
There are many other ways you can volunteer in sport and recreation – it is not limited to the above list.
Skills you can offer to a sport and recreation club
Studying media, journalism, public relations
- Write a couple of media releases for your local sport or recreation club or help them get a story in their local paper.
- Write some content for their club website.
Photography
- Offer to take some action photos of your team.
- Offer to take player profile shots or pictures of the current board/management committee.
- You could even re-size images for them to feature on their website.
Graphic design
- See if the club is interested in getting some help designing posters
- Design new templates for newsletters.
- Design something for their website.
Website skills
- Your local club might need some website administration help.
- Work on some new layouts or HTML coding.
An interest in coaching or officiating
- See if you can assist a coach or official during a match or in preparation for an upcoming season.
Access to a washing machine and clothes line
An interest in the sport
- Arrange to turn up early and assist with grounds set-up and safety checks.
- Or if the sport is in the off-season, see if you can help with equipment cleaning or stocktakes.
Studying human movement, physio, sports science, sports management
- This
is a great opportunity to volunteer and get some industry experience
while you're studying. See what skills you can bring to your local club.
General maintenance – trades
- If
you're a tradie or handy with a paint brush, your local sports club
might need some help with general clubhouse maintenance and upkeep.
Admin skills or office support
- Help the admin officers with mail outs, getting ready for registrations or entries.
Cooking or retail
- Help out with the BBQ, canteen or kiosk or cut the oranges.
Financial skills
- You may be able to assist with excel spread sheets or MYOB.
Have completed a Member Protection Information Officer (MPIO) course online
- Assist a club with member protection enquiries and or administration.
Have your Responsible Service of Alcohol (18+)
- Assist at a clubhouse bar for the responsible service of alcohol.
First aid certificate
- You may be able to help out on game day as a first aid volunteer.