Be the change you want to see – giving back through sports

According to True Sport - Canada's national movement for sport and community - Canadian-based research suggests that 73% of sport organizations are volunteer driven.  From their report titled What Sport Can Do, 92% of these same organizations believe that community-based sport can be a positive influence in the lives of children and youth but less than 20% believe that sport is living up to its full potential.  Not surprisingly, the research also found that the only stronger positive influence on children and youth were families

             Sports are powerful.  However, sport (soccer included) is not performing to its potential.  What can be done to change this?  Simple - give back.  As a lifelong soccer player/supporter, I have long since crossed over from community volunteer status to paid professional. The single thing I have noticed throughout the years, as both volunteer and professional, is that a handful of very hard working volunteers seem to do the majority of the work to be done within the soccer club.  Moreover, you also tend to find that those are the very same people attending PTA meetings or volunteering in other aspects of their community.  If you are chuckling in acknowledgement, chances are I'm preaching to to the converted.    The current volunteer pool is what it is but what can be done to strengthen it for the future?  I suggest we look to the children and youth who play the game in droves in our communities.  Parents need to encourage their kids to give back to their community by donating their time.  Coaches and administrators must realize that they have a fantastic opportunity to shape impressionable minds.  As part of community-based soccer programs, we have a responsibility to be a steward to our community.  We are the leaders for the soccer (and sport) that we all want.  There are hundreds of things we can do to help this generation understand the importance of community.  Players between six and ten can learn to give back by picking up equipment during training and  cleaning up the bench area after a game.  Players between eleven and fourteen can fund-raise for a charity.  Older players (fourteen +) can certainly get involved with coaching the younger players in the club.  And please, do not leave it to just happen on its own.  Make volunteering a part of your club's curriculum or your team's seasonal program.  People involved will know that giving back is just what you do within your organization.  It will become the expectation and the norm.  When community sport is done well, it makes a significant difference to the community overall. 

Note: The True Sport organization is a great place to start learning about how we can all help soccer (and sport) live up to its full potential.  You can find them at www.truesportpur.ca.