There are lots of good reasons to volunteer in the sports sector. Whether you’re interested in a sporting career and are looking for more experience or would just like to make it easier for other people to get involved in sports there are lots of opportunities to make a difference.

Some of the different ways to get involved are:

• Active Schools - Active Schools Coordinators are always on the lookout for willing bodies to volunteer as Leaders and coaches, Assistant leaders and coaches or even helpers of all kinds – from kit-washers to bus drivers.
• Coaching – one of the most common voluntary opportunities within the field of sports is coaching. By offering your services as a coach you can help introduce new people to a sport you enjoy. By offering your advice and experience you can helping the next generation of young sportspeople develop their abilities and reach their full potential.
• Helping people with disabilities access sport and leisure facilities – it can be incredibly rewarding providing additional support to people of all ages who have disabilities or special needs that can make participating in sport and leisure activities difficult.
• Helping to manage or coordinate sport and leisure facilities – in many instances local sport or leisure facilities struggle to provide their services with the levels of funding available to them. By devoting your time for free you can help these facilities stay open and even improve the standards of the services they provide which can make a huge difference to everyone in your community.
• Refereeing – most competitive sports need the help of referees, umpires and marshals to make sure people are following the rules! Although it can be a difficult job it can often prove to be a character building experience and improve your decision making and conflict resolution skills!
• Providing support for sports medicine or physiotherapy – if you are in the process of training or already have experience in medicine of physiotherapy you might be able to apply your skills to local sports teams. This can be a particularly good way of enhancing your employability in related fields sectors when you’ve completed your training.

There are lots of benefits to volunteering in sport by getting involved you can:

• Help promote a healthy lifestyle
• Help young people engage in a positive activity
• Help others fulfil/realise their potential
• Develop new skills and attributes
• Enhance your prospects and improve your chances of employment in a related field
• Become part of a club or community sports organisation

Getting Involved

If you’re looking for a way into volunteering in the sports sector then a good way to start is to talk to the people at your local Volunteer Centre. You can arrange to make an appointment with one of their advisors who will be able to talk to you about the different kinds of opportunity that’s available. You can discuss with them what you’re looking to get out of the placement and they will be able to help you find something that matches your particular skills and abilities.