In essence, they are the heart and soul of clubs.
But as we exit the cancelled 2020 season, football and netball clubs are entering a pivotal time of their existence.
Volunteers are more important now than ever before.
And it's time to showcase and appreciate the hard work completed by our loyal club servants.
Junior sport is in a unique position heading into the 2021 season.
With restrictions throughout the coronavirus pandemic consistently being stricter on open-age sport, junior footballers and netballers are more likely than anyone to have uninterrupted campaigns on the courts and ovals of the region.
But not if the volunteer shortage continues.
Shepparton District Junior Football League president Mark Lambourn has warned of a "COVID slumber" threat to the competition unless more parents and volunteers are proactive in coming forward to help facilitate the running of the season.
“Last year presented us with enormous challenges, but we see this year as being even greater,” Lambourn said.
“The desire has not dropped off from the kids, but we absolutely must warn against a COVID slumber from the point of view of parents and volunteers helping out.
“Every club in our competition needs parents of players to show their support, it’s not good enough for a team of 20 or 25 players to have just three or four helpers, in reality they need a dozen or more to put their hand up.”
With the season slated to begin on the weekend of April 24, clubs have had little issue finding enthusiastic players to fill teams.
But team managers, score recorders, water bottle attendants, uniform caretakers, goal and sometimes boundary umpires as well as timekeepers, equipment monitors and those needed to organise refreshments have been much harder to come by.
“They aren’t hard jobs, but we need volunteers to respond and be proactive in saying, ‘how can I help out’ to the coaches and managers,” Lambourn said.
“Kids love to see their parents involved and the easy thing is to sit in the car and watch their child play, but it makes a huge difference to the morale to the few left to carry the load.”
AFL Goulburn Murray region general manager Jamie Macri also stressed the importance of volunteers.
“Volunteerism is one of the main factors that ensures clubs not only survive but prosper. Across all levels of community sport there are jobs to be done,” Macri said.
“We strongly encourage players and their families to put their hands up and support their local clubs. Not only does it help a club out, it is also a very rewarding experience to give back.”
Other ways members of the community can help out their local clubs and leagues is to participate in the Toyota Good For Footy raffle, with Shepparton Toyota the naming rights sponsor of the SDJFL for another three years after jumping on board last year.
“It is that community approach — if everybody does a small amount we can create great and lasting memories for kids playing junior footy at all levels,” Lambourn said.
“Our great sponsors like Toyota help that and we look forward to using their programs for clubs to raise much-needed funds.”
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