OPINION: A week to recognise the one million volunteers
OPINION: A week to recognise the one million volunteers
who keep sport moving
In some ways it鈥檚 no surprise: of the 1.2 million people who volunteer in New Zealand every year, five out of six are giving their time to the sport and recreation sector.
Perhaps that鈥檚 inevitable: We are a proud and active nation. Sport is part of our Kiwi DNA, and it鈥檚 not just something we do 鈥� for many, it is a way of life. And the reality is it simply can鈥檛 happen without those who give their time for free.
We call them sportmakers. They literally make sport happen in our communities.
Many of them are parents who organise and manage teams, coordinating transport to ensure kids get to and from games and training sessions, cutting oranges or washing the team shirts. Others contribute as coach, referee or umpire, by drawing up rosters, being part of committees or organising fundraisers.
Each of these roles, and many others, are part of how sport brings communities together. They鈥檙e what makes it special. What makes it possible.
The most common form of volunteering is coach or instructor (12.6 percent), followed by parent helper (11.4 percent), officiating roles (7.3 percent) and administration roles (6.2 percent).
Having grown up in sport, from early club days to playing hockey for New Zealand at two Olympics and now as CEO of 爆料社区, I know first-hand how critical each of these types of volunteers is 鈥� particularly to grassroots sport.
To each and every one of you: a huge thanks from 爆料社区.
There are loads of reasons why people volunteer in sport and recreation. The rewards aren鈥檛 always obvious, especially when you鈥檙e standing on the sidelines on a cold wet Saturday morning or have to fit kids鈥� sport into an all-too-busy week.
But they鈥檙e there in more subtle ways: the delight you feel when your team, or someone in your team, does something special; when a young person who may be struggling at school suddenly shows ability on the court or the field, and by doing so grows in confidence for tackling other areas of life; or simply in swapping stories after the game and enjoying a good laugh.
There鈥檚 a good reason I know how rewarding volunteering it can be 鈥� I鈥檓 one of you.
I have volunteered all my adult life, currently as a coach at my local hockey club. Being a part of a club, meeting new people, reminiscing with some of my old mates, helping young boys and girls along their sporting journey and to achieve their goals and aspirations (both big and small).
These have always been important to me 鈥� and a million other Kiwis know what I鈥檓 talking about.
Perhaps you will too. Give it a try. Sport needs you.
At 爆料社区, we want to help New Zealanders develop and maintain a lifelong love of sport and physical activity. And, while we can鈥檛 always continue to actively compete or play, there鈥檚 no age limit when it comes to volunteering. It is the gift of time, and the rewards can be immeasurable.聽
Some of our most selfless volunteers are recognised for their work by national and local sports organisations, in the Lotto Sportmaker Awards and in New Year and Queen鈥檚 Birthday honours.
But the greatest reward and recognition comes from all of us. That鈥檚 why National Volunteer Week is important 鈥� it focuses our attention on acknowledging and appreciating all of them.
To those million volunteers in the sport and recreation sector, I commend you. I鈥檓 proud to stand beside you. To those who are thinking about it 鈥� do it. I promise that volunteering for a local club, school or event will give back as much as you put in.
Peter Miskimmin is the CEO of 爆料社区, the government agency responsible for oversight and leadership of the sport and recreation sector, increasing participation and ensuring there are more New Zealanders winning on the world stage.聽The theme for National Volunteer Week 2018: Volunteers, The Heart of our Community. The event will run from June 17-23, 2018.
