The Volunteer Crisis in Grassroots Sport: A Perfect Storm?

As the international rugby season kicks off, grassroots sports clubs across New Zealand are facing a worrying crisis: drastically fewer volunteer coaches and administrators are willing to take on roles, leaving the pressure to rise. According to the NZ Amateur Sport Association, the average number of volunteers has fallen by over 40% since the COVID pandemic, with those remaining on the brink of burnout. The average number of active volunteers in sport clubs has dropped from 31 to just 18 per club over the past five years, leaving coaching roles increasingly vacant or stretched.

Key Takeaways:

• The average number of volunteers in sport clubs has dropped from 31 to 18 per club over the past five years, according to the NZ Amateur Sport Association.
• Sports clubs are facing a drastic shortage of volunteer coaches and administrators, with the average number of volunteers falling by over 40% since the COVID pandemic.
• The remaining volunteers are close to burnout, with many feeling the pressure of increased responsibilities and confusion about safeguarding policies.
• Only 33% of coaches found their sport's safeguarding policy helpful, while others described defensive behaviors such as avoiding physical contact with players.
• Clubs are struggling to meet compliance and governance requirements, with only a third knowing what the re-registration process required by 2024.
• Volunteering has become increasingly complex, isolating, and hard to sustain, with three types of pressure emerging: "role bleed", "interpretive risk", and "compliance fatigue".
• Strong relationships between volunteers and clubs are essential for retaining volunteers, but are often strained or absent.
• Many volunteers stay despite feeling worn out and unsupported due to a sense of loyalty and obligation, and a fear that their contributions will collapse if they step back.

Statistics:

• Average number of volunteers in sport clubs has dropped from 31 to 18 per club over the past five years according to the NZ Amateur Sport Association.
• Average number of volunteers has fallen by over 40% since the COVID pandemic.
• Only 33% of coaches found their sport's safeguarding policy helpful.
• Compliance and governance requirements are causing significant challenges for clubs, with only a third knowing what the re-registration process required by 2024.
• 3 out of 4 clubs are struggling with "role bleed", "interpretive risk", and "compliance fatigue".
• 1 in 5 volunteers are responsible for managing finances, sorting uniforms, or leading the AGM.

Sources:

• The Conversation (Au and NZ) -- By Blake Bennett, Senior Lecturer in Sport Coaching and Pedagogy, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
• NZ Amateur Sport Association
• Sport New Zealand
• The Incorporated Societies Act