Why fewer people volunteer in sport – and what can help

This is shown by the recently published volunteer survey by the federal government. These three million committed people are now missing from sports clubs and associations, for example as trainers or referees. According to the survey, the majority of voluntary work takes place in sport.

“That is striking,” says Jan Holze, board member of the German Foundation for Commitment and Volunteering. “After all, those who are already active get involved more intensively and more often. This creates a certain compensation.”

He attributes the decline in numbers to various factors. Firstly, the long-term consequences of the corona pandemic would play a role. Secondly, the influence of overall economic developments should not be underestimated. “Many people have to concentrate fully on their job.” Thirdly, the hurdles for volunteer work are often too high: those affected report a lack of appreciation, hostility and violence, for example in refereeing.

The fact that people are withdrawing from volunteer work is a problem, particularly in sports, because on the other hand the number of members in clubs and associations is increasing. Just recently, the German Olympic Sports Confederation announced a new membership record of over 29 million people. “There is a lack of people who look after the athletes. Organized sport relies on volunteers.” But what does it take to get more people interested in volunteering – and keep them long-term?

1. Removal of bureaucratic hurdles

The majority of volunteers in Germany describe the bureaucratic hurdles as particularly stressful. The numbers also show this: an average-sized sports club spends six and a half hours per week or 42 days per year on bureaucracy.

“This doesn’t mean internal processes, but rather what comes from outside,” explains Holze. “If a club wants to organize a marathon, for example, it has to deal with at least ten authorities. This leads to frustration. This requires relief and the support of the legislature and public administration.”

2. Promote women

According to Holze, volunteering in sport is strongly influenced by men – unlike, for example, in the area of ​​social work. If he raises this problem with clubs and associations, those responsible usually react in two ways: either they resign – or they launch targeted programs to promote women or introduce a women’s quota.

“A mix is ​​needed. A quota can make sense, particularly in areas where little has been done so far. Programs are also needed to specifically address women and equip them with qualifications.”

He cites the German Handball Association as a positive example: it introduced a quota regulation for the association and qualification programs for female referees. Four of the eleven members of the executive board are now women.

A lot has also happened in the German Gymnastics Association in recent years. Especially in the youth sector, women are specifically supported and introduced to positions of responsibility. “Women’s participation is already part of the culture in all areas,” says Holze. “You don’t need a crowbar like the quota.” The General German High Speed ​​Sports Association has a mentor program in which older women pass on their experience to younger ones and support them.

Women in particular are often faced with the challenge of balancing family, job and volunteer work. Holze would like clubs to take this into account more, for example by adjusting their meeting times and having conferences take place digitally.

3. More appreciation

A central aspect is also the topic of appreciation. “The fact that people do this for free in their free time is often hardly acknowledged,” says Holze. “And even if they receive a small amount of compensation, that doesn’t justify every interaction.”

Holze is also referring to hostility and even physical violence, for example in the referee area. “This scares other people away and leads to fewer people volunteering.”

In order for this to change, Holze is calling for sanctions to be enforced more consistently. “There needs to be a clear approach to those who don’t follow the rules. Insulting the referee is not a trivial offense. You have to set strict limits and, if in doubt, issue bans from the house. This is the only way those involved can feel comfortable and safe.”

4. Empower underrepresented groups

People with disabilities in particular are underrepresented in volunteer work. According to Holze, there is a lack of role models as well as the “courage of clubs and associations to devote themselves to these topics”. The so-called “sports billion” could also provide relief: the federal government has pledged at least one billion euros for the renovation of dilapidated sports facilities. “It should not only help to renovate sports facilities, but also to make progress on the issue of accessibility,” said Holze.

5. Address older people

A look at the federal government’s volunteer survey also shows that the commitment rate is highest in younger age groups. As people get older, the number of people involved decreases. Holze therefore advocates addressing pensioners more specifically. “This is also because sport likes to present itself as young and hip – and thus alienates older people. Clubs and associations should specifically use the life experience of older people and include them in an appropriate way. There is often still a lack of flexibility.”