Part Of The Team
Recognizing, retaining, and rewarding volunteers
By John Engh
Photos: NAYS
One of my most vivid memories of being a volunteer coach came on the last day of coaching my daughter’s 5- and 6-year-old soccer team years ago. I had never played soccer, but the team needed coaches, and I was really interested in applying some of the things I had learned in working almost 10 years for an organization dedicated to improving the volunteer youth-sports coaching experience.
The season was amazing. I finally was able to feel first-hand the stress and emotion of watching a young child play sports. What a ride. I distinctly remember wondering how well I was doing in this new role. Further, I wondered what the parents thought. Our team had a rule for the parents that I had taken from the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) in which they (and coaches) were not allowed to coach the players on the field during play. So, instead of 20 adults yelling instructions to players, all that was heard were cheering, applause, and the occasional “good shot!” At first, both parents and coaches didn’t like it, but it was amazing to see the kids work out their own problems and make their own decisions—no matter how crazy the games ended. Just as important, the parents soon realized that the players learned a valuable lesson by relying on themselves.
Above And Beyond
I recalled that incident recently when staff members at the National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS) had the pleasure of reviewing applications for the Excellence in Youth Sports Awards. Every year, we honor organizations that go above and beyond administering programs. Emerging from the pandemic, we decided to focus on specific ideas that brought not only kids back to the games but also the volunteers who are so important in youth-sports programs. In addition to the Excellence Awards, we also selected a national volunteer coach and parent of the year. These individuals were both great representatives, but I always wonder why there aren’t even more applications. Forget winning the national award. Being recognized on a local level and knowing that one is nominated for a national award is more than enough motivation for people to help.
One of the winners was the youth services staff at RAF Mildenhall, a U.S. Air Base in England. Its programs are like those of a typical American community with lots of kids, lots of sports, and, of course, the need for lots of volunteers!
One of the challenges was recruiting and retaining volunteers. One day, staff members recognized that most people involved in youth sports had something in common—they loved being part of a team. So, instead of doing normal volunteer recognition, the staff created an entire brand around the concept of being a team. For inspiration the members looked no further than their own experience within the Air Force and the tradition of creating team names and mascots for the air squadrons. From that idea and paying homage to their British neighbors, staff members used a tough-looking English bulldog to create the team name, Mad Dawgs. Logos, shirts, and coins, you name it, were made; the Mad Dawgs were everywhere, and people wanted to be part of it.
Ideas like this one seem simple, but they are usually the ones that work. Create something positive, and people will want to be involved. A great message and worthy of an award every time!
John Engh is executive director of the National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS) in West Palm Beach, Fla. He can be reached via email at jengh@nays.org. To join more than 3,000 communities by starting a NAYS Member Organization, visit www.nays.org, email nays@nays.org or call (800) 729-2057.