By Marty Mankemyer
Just as the automotive industry has responded to the need for more fuel-efficiency and produced hybrid cars, youth soccer is facing a similar adjustment. Reports from many parts of the country indicate soccer programs and clubs are, of necessity, shifting into “hybrid” models.
Many teams now have paid coaches with varying stipends. Club offices have paid staff augmented with volunteers, and more recently soccer tournaments are turning to a more businesslike model with directors and supervisors of key areas receiving compensation.
So where have the volunteers gone?
In order to maintain lifestyles and provide added benefit for their children, there are far more two-income families than ever before. Two parents as wage-earners usually results in leisure time hours suffering a significant decrease as daily chores have to be sandwiched between work schedules. In order to devote time to children and their activities, many families simply don’t have any time left to volunteer.
The people are still there. They still have kids who play, but they no longer have the time to volunteer!
Secondly, the evolution of youth soccer in the United States has produced business models for the management of soccer operations. Although there is still a spirit of volunteerism to be found in public arenas such as hospitals, zoos, libraries and museums, no one would expect to have businesses with six- and seven-figure budgets being run by volunteers. Most soccer clubs now consider themselves businesses. Marketing and database management, to name a couple of areas, are now a part of daily soccer activities. Cutting edge technology requires special skill sets. Few of these people are available as volunteers.
The dawn of a new era is now, with compensated positions replacing volunteers
The volunteer will always remain a valuable commodity, but total reliance on them is now becoming a thing of the past. Budgets must be prepared acknowledging this fact.
Not all compensation will be cash. Many people would like to work using a formula which will offset their club and coaching fees, and of course there could always be a combination of cash and fees, dependent upon the situation. For those who are unable to volunteer, many clubs offer the opportunity to donate cash in lieu of time.
The most important lesson is to evaluate needs and services and determine the most efficient method to accomplish the goals of the organization.
Marty Mankamyer lives in Colorado Springs and is former president of the U.S. Olympic Committee. She has an extensive background in soccer spanning three decades with volunteer service as chairman of U. S. Youth Soccer, soccer tournament director, and long-time activist for the advancement of women in the sport. She is a life member of U.S. Soccer Federation.