TEMPLATE DESIGN © Women in Community Sport Leadership Roles A survey of women sport volunteers in Kitchener-Waterloo, Canada John Cooper, Sport Leader & Nadina Ayer, PhD Candidate Introduction Methods Results OPTIONAL LOGO HERE Motivation to Volunteer The purpose of this study is to examine the roles, challenges and experiences of women volunteers and employees in sport in the twin Cites of Kitchener and Waterloo (pop. 400,000) in southern Ontario, Canada. Volunteers are a core component of sport service delivery in Canada. Most of the 50+ KW Community Sport clubs rely on volunteers to operate programmes. About 10 clubs have administrative and/or coach employees. All not-for-profit clubs have elected an volunteer Board of Directors. People volunteer for a variety of reasons including to attain Life Satisfaction and Leisure Motivation. Most sport volunteers are involved with more than one voluntary organization (sport and non-sport); most other volunteers are involved in only one organization. Female sport volunteers are more likely than males to be involved in several organizations. Women are involved in organizing activities, fundraising, and committee/board work, fewer in coaching. Older volunteers are involved in more activities than younger ones. Non-profit employees volunteer in social/community and religious organizations. Public workers volunteer in educational organizations. Non-profit employees have highest rate of volunteering followed by public employees and for-profit employees. Women volunteers encounter different constraints and experiences than men who volunteer. Rationale for the survey The results of this study might help KW Sport clubs, volunteer recruitment agencies and municipal recreation managers better understand the contributions of women volunteers, the reasons they volunteer, the benefits, supports and constraints they experience. There are no similar local studies or information. Compare results to theories and national surveys of women volunteers. Study Participants  Women ages 18 to 65+ yrs. who have volunteered or are volunteering or working in KW youth sports clubs.  On-line survey (Survey Monkey ® ) distributed by in April and May 2014 to 150 selected women volunteers and to presidents of 50+ youth sport clubs in Kitchener-Waterloo.  Survey included questions on demographics, participation in sport, Life Satisfaction and Leisure Motivation, constraints, supports and benefits in volunteering. Sixty-one women ages 20 to 65+ yrs. completed the survey. More than half are 40 to 69 yrs., university educated, married (77%), own their residence (80%), employed full-time (59%), professionals, working at not-for-profit or public agency or in education, have children who are living at home, participated in sport as a child/youth, had parental support as a child athlete, had a female coach, are or have been a coach, and serve on a sport club Board of Directors now. Just 3 of the women have only a secondary school education; 10 are single; 14 work part-time (less than 30 hrs. per week); 10 are self-employed and 14 work at a private business; just 18 do not have children. Most are involved in organizing activities, fundraising or member of Board of Directors (27) or a committee; only 5 are coaches. Older volunteers involved in more activities than younger ones. Discussion Women volunteer in sport for various reasons and build the capacity of organizations. Volunteer involvement is personal. Volunteering is about building relationships. Research suggests that having children increases people’s likelihood for volunteering. Parents with school-aged children experience an increase in their social capital through participation in organizations and involvement in their children’s activities. More women than men identify high levels of life stress. Women living in Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo record the highest stress levels. The community ranks 16th out of the 20 largest metropolitan areas in Canada. Volunteers by Categories Difference in volunteering habits among baby boomers (born between 1945 and 1964). A higher proportion of boomers aged 45 to 54 volunteer than those aged 55 to 64 (45.4 per cent versus 40.8 per cent, respectively). Results concur with Volunteer Canada study: “contribute to my community”; and “having opportunity to gain or apply skills and knowledge to a volunteer task”. The majority of the KW women respondents have or did have children participating in their sport club. Benefits of Volunteering in Sport Constraints Experienced Volunteering in Sport Family, work, societal, moral or organizational. 44 responded to this question: 5 expressed no constraints, 26 cited ‘time’, “Having to balance personal life and volunteer life” or “conflicts in family schedule” or ‘work’. Individual comments: sport club organization issues, coach duties, personal expectations, conflict with parents of athletes. Frustrations or Problems Issues with parents – harassment, lack of support & appreciation; Sport club organizational issues – “BOARD POLITICS IS NOT FUN” Lack of commitment by members Long meetings Personal agendas Coach issues – control, male-female conflict Costs of sport “Kids lack motivation to improve” These conditions cause stress for volunteers that they did not expect and that interfere with the performance of their role. Conclusions The majority of women volunteering in sport in Kitchener- Waterloo are college or university graduates working in professional employment in the public, not-for-profit or government sectors more than the private sector. The majority are married, have children and own their residence. They volunteer to have “Social contact” for “Personal satisfaction” to “Help others or community” to “Do something worthwhile” Because “Their children participate in the sport.” Lack of time is the most commonly reported barrier. The results are similar to studies of Canadian women volunteers by Volunteer Canada and Statistics Canada. Supports Respondents cited family, work, societal, moral or organizational supports (37 responses). Family support was mentioned by 14 women, parents of athletes by 5 and only 3 from their ‘Work’. Theoretical and/or Practical Implications Our study results support other research regarding which women volunteer, motivations to volunteer and the satisfaction that women experience from their contributions to helping youth and not-for-profit organizations. Sport clubs can increase and improve the experiences of women volunteers in their organizations by: Informing potential member families that they are a volunteer operated organization; providing regular, personal recognition of each volunteer’s efforts; recognizing and acknowledging the constraints that women volunteers encounter, assisting mothers with child care to enable them to volunteer; scheduling Board meetings at times convenient for volunteer mothers. Utilizing recommendations from the Volunteer Recognition Study conducted by Volunteer Canada. Learning about their volunteers’ skills, knowledge and motivations, and finding ways to foster or develop them to ensure effective placement of volunteers into activities that meet their needs. Talking with each volunteer to learn what they need to feel satisfied by their work, and feel valued and appreciated for their time and efforts to ensure motivations are fulfilled. Recruiting volunteers among ‘baby boomers’ and employees of the three sectors to involve female citizens of different backgrounds, experiences, skills and knowledge. Special thanks to Adam Cooper, Professor Glenda Wall (Wilfrid Laurier University), Kitchener-Waterloo Sport Clubs. A list of reference sources is available separately. Volunteer Employment/Background For further information please contact : or Figure 1: Volunteers by Employment Type Figure 2: Benefits of Volunteering in Sport Figure 3: Reasons for Volunteering Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Kitchener, Ontario, Canada Rank order of employment type for KW women volunteers in sport: private business, education, government, not-for-profit organizations, and self-employed Every sport volunteer in the survey received personal satisfaction and altruistic benefits.