Volunteering in Community Sports Associations: A Literature Review

Abstract

This review paper focuses on volunteers in community sports associations (CSAs). Such associations are a major context of sports volunteering across Europe, Canada and Australia—the countries in which a multitude of sports clubs are represented by governing bodies of sport. Their importance is not only in the large numbers of volunteers involved but also in the benefits of such associations to society. The clearest of these is the provision of opportunities to take part in sport, at a cost subsidized by the efforts of volunteers and thus contributing to physical health. However, the benefits extend more broadly to the quality of life and the rewards the volunteers themselves receive from association. Many community sports associations have a significant number of members who, while they do not actually play sport themselves, provide opportunities for others and also enjoy the social rewards of membership. The review is structured in the following sections: 1. Introduction. 2. The number of sports clubs, club membership, and volunteering. 3. Explaining a trend toward individual participation in sport and volunteering, and a reduction in the number of CSAs. 4. Conceptualizing community sports associations and volunteering. 5. Motivations of sports volunteers. 6. Challenges facing community sports clubs’ volunteers and leaders. 7. Management and leadership of volunteers in CSAs: Applying a rational systems approach, and the pros and cons of formality. 8. Community sports associations and social capital. 9. The relationship between CSAs and event volunteering. 10. Conclusions