How To Recruit and Keep Volunteers for Your Sports Organization
Sierra Swigert Last updated: September 3, 2025
If you’re involved with a youth or community sports club, you already know how essential volunteers are. They keep events organized, kids supported, and day-to-day operations running smoothly, all without getting paid, which is critical for nonprofit youth sports organizations.
But here’s the challenge: Good volunteers are hard to find, and even harder to hold onto. Between busy family schedules, burnout, and competing commitments like work or school, maintaining a strong volunteer base takes consistent effort and the right approach.
This guide shares practical ways to attract new volunteers and keep them engaged for the long haul.
7 ways to attract volunteers to your sports organization
Most youth sports organizations could use more helping hands. These seven tactics will help you spread the word and bring in new volunteers ahead of your next season.
1. Engage schools in your community to expand your volunteer base
Start by partnering with local elementary, middle, and high schools, especially the ones your players already attend. These schools can help you reach parents, teachers, and even other students who may be interested in supporting your program. Some families might enroll their kids and become part of your league. Others could step up as potential volunteers or mentors for younger athletes.
High school students often need volunteer hours, and some may have played in your sports league when they were younger, giving them even more reason to give back. Compile a list of nearby schools, then reach out to athletic directors or coaches of the same sport. They can pass your info along to families or suggest standout students who would be a good fit.
College campuses are another smart place to find volunteers. Many college students are looking for internships or volunteer experience, especially those studying sports management or education, or who played in high school and want to stay connected to the game.
Some specific college outreach ideas:
- Post flyers in athletic and recreation facilities to reach active young people who can bring energy and enthusiasm to your youth sports program.
- Email coaching staff to ask if graduate assistants or student workers might be interested in helping. One of the coaches might even pitch in themselves.
- Contact sport-related academic programs like sports management. Professors are often happy to share volunteer opportunities with students looking to build their resumes.
Located near a college? Tap into internship programs. Coaching or supporting a youth sports program is a great opportunity for college students to gain hands-on volunteer experience.
2. Use your website and social media to promote opportunities
Most people won’t reach out on their own about volunteering unless they’re already one of your devoted supporters. For everyone else, it usually takes a clear ask to spark action.
That’s where your digital presence comes in. Use your website and social media channels to highlight current volunteer needs and make it easy for people to help. A quick post or homepage banner can increase visibility and reach people you might not otherwise connect with.
Just as important: Online promotion gives prospects a clear next step. Add a link or form they can fill out to express interest or sign up on the spot.
Don’t have a website yet? Jersey Watch gives you the tools to create one fast. Check out our Sports Website Builder.
3. Reach out to people best suited for each volunteer role
People are more likely to volunteer when someone takes the time to personally invite them.
If you have a specific role to fill, especially one that requires a certain skill set, don’t wait for someone to find it on your website. Reach out directly to individuals who are a strong match. That extra effort can turn a hesitant “maybe” into an enthusiastic “yes.”
This approach matters even more for specialized roles (like equipment managers, fundraising leads, or coaches) where a general call for help won’t do the trick.
Think about the difference between stumbling on a generic post versus getting a message that says, “We’d love your help with this specific volunteer opportunity because of your background.” That kind of connection sticks and makes it much harder to turn down.
4. Utilize your current volunteers to find new ones
Word-of-mouth travels faster than any email blast or flyer. That’s why your existing volunteers can be some of your best assets when it comes to growing your team.
Encourage them to reach out. Call, email, or text friends and colleagues who might be interested. Many volunteers are happy to help spread the word, especially since bringing in more help is one of the best ways to reduce volunteer stress levels.
Coaches from last season can talk about their experience and the benefits of volunteering in youth sports, and longtime volunteers can be powerful advocates. Their personal connections make your recruitment efforts feel more human and trustworthy.
If you have a website, make sure your volunteers know to direct people there for details. New visitors can learn more, subscribe for updates, and fill out a volunteer form (especially if you make one available using a simple template).
5. Make signing up simple and hassle-free
Once someone agrees to volunteer, the last thing you want is for a clunky sign-up process to change their mind. Keep things clear, quick, and friction-free.
Use forms that are easy to read with straightforward instructions on next steps. Skip anything overwhelming. Five screens of intake info is too much. Instead, collect only what you truly need right now. You can always follow up for more details later.
Many organizations conduct background checks on youth volunteers, and some national groups (like USA Gymnastics and USASF) require them for all adult staff and volunteers. It’s a smart way to limit risk and increase safety, but it can slow things down if it isn’t handled well.
Jersey Watch makes running background checks easy, seamless and secure. Background checks start at $10 and most are ready within 24 hours.
6. Encourage parents to volunteer during registration
When it comes to sports parents, it’s tempting to assume they’ll step up after seeing your volunteer requests. But that’s not always the case.
Parents naturally show different levels of engagement. Some are front-row fans at every sporting event, while others stay in the background. But regardless of how involved they are, every parent interacts during the player registration process, and that’s the perfect time to ask for help.
Include a question in your online registration form that lists specific volunteer roles. Many parents may not want to coach, but they’ll often be open to helping in other ways once they see the options.
Watch how Westcreek collects volunteer info during registration.
7. Offer benefits or incentives for volunteering
You can’t pay your volunteers, but you can offer small perks to show appreciation and boost interest. Things like waived registration fees, free team swag, or extra equipment are simple, low-cost ways to encourage participation.
Some organizations even offer discounted rates for parents who commit to specific volunteer positions, making it easier for families to say yes.
Tips for retaining sports volunteers
Recruiting volunteer coaches is one challenge. Keeping them engaged season after season is another. How do you make sure they stay involved even after their own kids move on?
These five strategies can help you build stronger connections with current volunteers and encourage them to stick around.
Make key info easy to find
Start by putting everything your volunteers might need on your website. That includes schedules, phone numbers, contact details, forms, waivers, team resources — all of it.
When essentials are easy to access, you’ll reduce confusion and frustration, and minimize the number of texts asking where to find things. Volunteers can quickly get what they need without tracking someone down.
Provide training and support throughout the season
Volunteers can get frustrated when they’re unsure what’s expected of them or how to handle certain tasks. Set your organization apart by supporting not just players and staff, but volunteers too.
Here are a few ways to help:
- Host training sessions for common volunteer roles.
- Post how-to guides and FAQs on your website.
- Ask for feedback on how you can better support them throughout the season.
Show appreciation and recognize their contributions
It’s tough to do a thankless job, and even tougher to do it for free.
Your volunteers don’t show up for the glory, but a little recognition goes a long way. Most people want to know their efforts matter. Thank your volunteers often, and be specific. Call out exactly how their work is making a difference and show them what it means to your sports team or league.
Keep communication open and listen to feedback
Volunteers need to feel heard and supported — not just thanked. If they don’t, even well-meant praise can fall flat or lead to burnout.
One of the best ways to build trust is to check in regularly and ask for input. Find out what volunteers are thinking and what ideas they have for making things run more smoothly. And when possible, act on their suggestions so they know their voices matter.
Create a positive, fun volunteer experience
Volunteers tend to stick around when they feel like part of the team. A strong sense of community makes a big difference. When your organization is welcoming and enjoyable to be around, volunteers find more joy in helping out. They’re also much more likely to return next season.
Grow your volunteer team and stay on top of league management with Jersey Watch
Volunteers are the heartbeat of your sports organization. Recruiting and retaining them takes intentional outreach, clear communication, and a little creativity, but it’s absolutely doable. With the right approach and volunteer management tools, you can build a strong, reliable team that keeps your season running smoothly.
Jersey Watch helps you simplify the recruitment process from start to finish. Build a professional website with dedicated volunteer pages, include sign-up options during player registration, share schedules and contact info in one central place, and keep your community looped in with email and text updates. Everything your volunteers need, without the extra back-and-forth.
Get started with Jersey Watch today and make it easy for your community to step up and support your team.
