11-08-2025
Grassroots sport volunteering becoming complex
Measures and policies put in place to safeguard children from harm, abuse and exploitation during sport are confusing and turning people off volunteering, according to an Auckland University researcher.
Blake Bennett is a senior lecturer in Sport Coaching and Pedagogy and researched more than 200 coaches on their perceptions of child safeguarding rules, and the changes they deemed necessary to comply. It found most coaches were misinterpreting the procedures - and were often overly cautious - which could be unhelpful and detrimental to the development of children through sport. It comes as grassroots sports clubs increasingly struggle for volunteer numbers.
The most recent survey from the New Zealand Amateur Sport Association, reports the number of active volunteers in sport clubs has dropped from 31 to just 18 per club over the past five years. And that coaching roles, so often filled by volunteers, are increasingly vacant or stretched.
Photo:
Photosport
