Sport

GIVERS – Using behavioural science to recruit and retain volunteers more effectively

Fujiwara, Daniel; Lawton, Ricky; Watt, Will. Sport + Recreation Alliance, June 2018.

This research report provides an evidence-based guide for organisations working with volunteers. It explores the benefits associated with volunteering, the reasons and motivations that compel people to volunteer and the barriers and obstacles that prevent organisations from attracting more volunteers. It also offers messaging techniques that can be used to help recruit and retain volunteers, effectively.

Sport New Zealand: Volunteering Insights Report

Sport New Zealand & Gemba, November 2015.

This research studies the motivations and behaviours of over 1,600 sport volunteers in New Zealand. The report contains relevant information for club development officers, school sports coordinators and staff who have responsibility for volunteers (including referees and coaches).

Volunteering insights report
GEMBA. Sport New Zealand, 2015.

This report employs data collected via the GEMBA sports and entertainment report (GSER) to provide insights about New Zealand sport and recreation volunteers. A range of topics are explored including volunteering roles, frequency and length of volunteering, intention to continue volunteering, motivations, and volunteer development. 

Sport and active recreation in the lives of New Zealand adults: 2013/14 Active New Zealand Survey results
Haughey, Kay. Sport New Zealand, 2015.

This survey report provides an up-to-date snapshot on how, when and where adults are engaging in sport and active recreation as participants and volunteers. It includes results about levels of volunteering and volunteer roles and changes in participation (including in popular activities) and volunteering between 2007-08 and 2013-14. 

Enthusiasm expected; experience not essential: New Zealand sporting event organisers and the volunteer workforce
Grima, Joany. Massey University (Wellington), 2014.

This research report shows that volunteers are highly valued by event organisers, are treated considerately and are central to the successful delivery of sporting events in New Zealand, regardless of size or scope. The impact of volunteers on the delivery of sporting events was found to be significant, highlighting the possibility that many events would be at risk of not being staged without the volunteer support they have come to depend on. 

Sports volunteers’ experiences survey
Department of Internal Affairs & Sport New Zealand, 2011.

This report details the findings from the Sports Volunteers’ Experiences Survey conducted on behalf of Sports and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC) in 2007. In the survey, sports volunteers report many positive experiences but also identify some challenges and barriers to successful volunteering. Findings from the survey cover demographics, level of participation, level of commitment, hours of volunteering, other volunteering commitments, motivations, experiences and attitudes, and satisfaction with volunteering. This report includes recommendations on ways to improve the sports volunteer experience.

What works? A systematic review of research and evaluation literature on encouragement and support of volunteering
Department of Internal Affairs, June 2010.

In this survey, sports volunteers report many positive experiences but also identify some challenges and barriers to successful volunteering. This report includes recommendations on ways to improve the sports volunteer experience. 

Social capital production: sport event volunteer perceptions and impacts
Tidey, Ann. Auckland University of Technology, 2010.

This report aims to investigate the under researched topic of the perceptions of sport event volunteers on the presence of social capital in their social interactions and its impact on the production of social capital in their locality. 

Volunteers: The heart of sport: The experiences and motivations of sports volunteers
SPARC (Wellington), 2008.

This document provides findings from the Sports Volunteers’ Experiences Survey conducted on behalf of Sports and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC). In the survey, sports volunteers report many positive experiences but also identify some challenges and barriers to successful volunteering. The Sport and Recreation Knowledge Library where this is found is another excellent source.

Government involvement in New Zealand Sport – sport policy: a cautionary tale.
Lawrence, H. D. V. The University of Waikato, 2008.

This thesis examines the impact of government intervention on the sport sector, its funding paradigms and the extent of sector engagement in a policy for sport. It also provides a rationale for revitalising the engagement between government and the New Zealand sport sector to meet the expectations of a modern state sector to meaningfully engage citizens and the non-government sector in the formation of policy and planning.

Valuing your sports volunteers: How to recruit, retain, recognise and reward your volunteers
Kirkland, Simon. Sport England by Coachwise Business Solutions, 2006.

[Summary not available]

An online copy of this document is currently unavailable.

Finding and keeping volunteers: what the research tells us
Department of Internal Affairs & Sport New Zealand, 2006.

The aim of this study was to conduct social marketing, qualitative research to provide greater understanding of what motivates people to volunteer in sport and recreation and identify factors that prevent them from volunteering. Understanding volunteering from the perspective of those who volunteer was the central theme of the study. This research provides one of the first New Zealand-based studies on volunteering in sport from the volunteer perspective and considered three volunteer dispositions: existing volunteers, potential volunteers and lapsed volunteers.