Volunteers - Find Them, Keep Them, Back Them
Find Them
Keep Them
Back Them
Welcome and Induction
First impressions are important – even in a club. For some volunteers, an induction could be their first introduction to the club. If your club has a number of people starting volunteer work at the same time, consider running a group induction (such as at the beginning of each season).
Inductions help volunteers:
- feel welcomed and valued
- understand the club
- understand their role and what is expected of them.
Inductions help clubs:
- reduce risk
- demonstrate professionalism in their approach to volunteering
- provide a safe environment for volunteers
- support volunteers.
- When inducting new volunteers:
- provide a welcoming letter from the Volunteer Coordinator or club president
- create a generic or adaptable induction manual for each new volunteer (see Induction Manual template in the next section)
- ensure that your existing volunteers and key people know that a new volunteer is starting prior to their arrival
- have the president of the club make a personal phone call
- hold a welcome function (may be cost effective if several volunteers join around the same time)
- ensure they are aware of their rights and responsibilities
- ask someone from the club to introduce the volunteer to other key members (create a checklist to ensure everyone is covered).
- give guided tours of the clubrooms and facilities.
- discuss how they will access facilities and equipment.
- issue keys if appropriate.
- provide them with relevant merchandise (e.g. this could be a specific volunteer shirt or club uniform).
- provide a list of the names of players.
- provide necessary information regarding any medical or other conditions of the players.
- connect them with a buddy.
- stagger the induction so that they are not overloaded with too much information all at once.
