Being fair, consistent, and courteous goes a long way in attracting the right people
For most kids and parents, volunteers are “the face” of a sports league. Most programs cannot happen without them. Recruiting and retaining great volunteers will not only make a league better but also make your job as an administrator much easier. Larger programs may have hundreds of volunteers to manage, so it is important to stay organized while putting in the extra effort to retain them. While leagues have volunteer coaches, who account for much of a volunteer group, there may be volunteer referees and scorekeepers as well. Here are some tips to manage volunteers and keep them coming back season after season:
1. Background screening. This is a must for any youth program and paramount for the safety of participants. Make sure to follow your state’s guidelines on volunteer screening. If state statutes do not clearly define volunteer requirements, screen all volunteers once annually at a minimum.
2. Volunteer policies. Have written policies for volunteers, such as screening requirements, job descriptions, waivers, and a code of conduct. Have forms available for detailed contact information and require volunteers to sign off on policies annually.