Volunteering

I think it just comes from within. But there might be a parent who is shy and just by being asked to "help" for a little while turns into "leading" help efforts in a few months.

I'm kind of in your boat now...been doin' a bunch of stuff from about 20 years and I'm worn out. Just wanna sit in the stands and watch.

i think some times the volenteers appear clicky. you've known each other a long time etc. i'm not saying you are clicky, it's something i;ve seen happen here.

i found that people want to help, they just need to be invited. give that a try.

quote:

But there might be a parent who is shy and just by being asked to "help" for a little while turns into "leading" help efforts in a few months.

I agree. It's the 80/20 rule. 80% of the work will be done by 20% of the parents.

One way to even out the workload is to be the coordinator. I've found that a lot of people will do things that you 'assign' them to do.

But your right, I haven't found anyone that likes to do something that prevents them from enjoying the game. We've fixed that by having parents staff things at games that their son/daughter isn't playing (e.g. girl's basketball does the snack bar during boy's basketball and vice versa).

A little play on Lasorda's 3 player quote. You have 3 types of parents, those who make it happen, those who watch it happen, and those who complain about everything that happens. Group 1 makes up 65% of all the help, group 2 about 34% (would be more if asked) and group 3 1% and usually hang around one season just to gather intel.

Parents who volunteer to help are the backbone of baseball. Without them baseball would have lost all it's popularity. I especially admire those parents who continue to help even after their son has moved on. Major League baseball, more than anyone, should feel greatly indebted to all those volunteers!

Most parents have to "volunteer" time in some respect as part of a team committment. IMO, most real volunteers have a "Type A" personality, like to have their fingers in the pot, wants a say in related issues, think highly of their abilities, does whatever they can for the team and their own kids, and is somewhat stubborn with their opinions in regard to their specialty. Some of those don't sound like attributes you want to brag about, but those are the people that keeps programs running. Every successful program has them, and every successful program needs them. I would never look at those attributes as negative as long as the volunteer respects the coaches authority and respects the thoughts and feelings of the players/parents and opponents.

I doff my hat to all dedicated volunteers

quote:

i think some times the volenteers appear clicky

I think you're right, 20dad. There is that perception. rz1 is also right about the Type A personality - those things together can sometimes scare the shy new folks. Thank goodness we have one of those Type A's - she does the website and coordinates the rest of us for concessions and gate. I asked for and got some help from the new dads this year - they didn't think the "Little Lady" could hang those signs. What they don't know won't hurt em. And it was very nice to have the help.

My husband complained once about something he thought should be done. I asked him, "are you going to do it?" He shut up.

2bmom

even a blind squirel gets a nut now and then, could you hold that thought till my wife gets home.

she say's i'm never right. good luck with the new vols. things just work out sometimes.

I see four kinds of volunteer parents:

1) Those who are just into it.
2) Those into it because they think it will help their son.
3) Those who step forward when asked or it's announced more help is needed.
4) Those who don't volunteer and complain about those who do.

I've been volunteering in community sports from the time my kids started playing into high school. I've stayed away from volunteering at school starting in 7th grade until now (son's soph year) when I was asked to manage the website. It includes entering game data. When I received garbage data from the high school girl doing the book, I volunteered to be the official scorer. I guess this falls under, if you think you can do better don't complain, volunteer.

I'm going to duck under a table after I post this, but from elementary school through high school there seems to be a group of mothers on a power trip. They volunteer and fight over responsibilities. They try to lock newcomers out of the circle. For school stuff they act like they own the school. Fortunately, our baseball group of volunteer mothers is not this way.

I am so thankful for those that volunteer their time to help kids have an even better experience. People are motivated for many reasons. But the vast majority just want to help anyway they can to make the experience the best they can possibly make it. There will always be a few that do it for ulterior reasons. But so what? As long as you do not allow anything done outside the lines to dictate or influence what goes on inside the lines appreciate the help and encourage them to be a part of the experience.

When I ran our town youth leagues I found that it was same parents everywhere who would volunteer---I knew who we count on to coach etc

Without the volunteers there would be no youth sports leagues---keep that in mind

I say thanx to all of those who I knew back then and who worked with us to make our leagues what they were

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
When I ran our town youth leagues I found that it was same parents everywhere who would volunteer---I knew who we count on to coach etc

Without the volunteers there would be no youth sports leagues---keep that in mind

I say thanx to all of those who I knew back then and who worked with us to make our leagues what they were

While I agree with your statement...in my area it may be a bit different.

Sure there are some team Moms (mainly rec league) that volunteer just to help, and they know little Johnny isn't much of a ballplayer etc...BUT

More and more there are parents who think that being a Team Mom or a "coach" will help little Johnny make the next level. And my hats are off to those people who volunteer to Coach when no one else will step up, and they put the time in to LEARN to at least try and help the kids get better...but I'm seeing more and more "Coaches" who think they are entitled to coach at each level, simply because they have been there since T-Ball. I've seen Dad's who KNOW the game, silently sit on the sidelines while Dad's who didn't have a clue took the reins...it can get ugly.

And of course since many kids I have coached are reaching HS age, I see more and more Dads "volunteering" to help the JV or Varsity the year before their son will be able to try out.

Last year one of the local NEW Varsity Coaches inquired through a mutual friend if I would be interested in helping out. So I went out and had a beer with him and talked. I told him he was new still...he didn't want to make that many enemies that quick. He told me it wasn't like that. I ran into him around Christmas time and he told me he owed me another beer...and then proceeded to tell me his new policy of parents not being allowed to come to try outs or practices. I asked him out that went over...he just laughed and said that's what a winning season will do...LOL

Some things have happened around our team lately that may let me see how much volunteering is really altruistic but I won't be able to comment on that one way or the other until I see how the season plays out. In general I've seen volunteerism tracks fairly closely with a team's record.

My approach has always been that as long as my kid is treated fairly I'm going to volunteer. And no fairly doesn't mean playing time, fairly means a fair chance at earning playing time.

In general I don't think that people volunteer out of altruism. However, I do know of one person at our school who put in an incredible amount of time to support the program and continues to volunteer to support HS baseball in general and in his case it was almost always altruistic. I've also seen some young ex-college and ex-pro players helping out in the off-season for little or no compensation and I'm thrilled to see that.

I guess over the years there are lots of different reasons I have volunteered my time or seen others do it.

Presently I still volunteer my time for our local little league (both my son and daughter "graduated from that program year's ago) and I guess the reason is just to give something back to a program and experience that meant so much to us and did so much for me and my kids.

And I can tell you one thing, when you have a kid in the program and volunteer, others figure you have an ulterior motive. When you have no child in the program and still volunteer they seem to wonder what's wrong with you

I think it goes to show there really are no hard and fast reasons. You either want to give up some time to something you believe in or you don't and not much more to it than that.

There are some who criticize parents. In some cases I have posted things that were not too flattering. However the problems that occur are from a few. Unfortunately in many cases the few cause a big problem. Somebody has to do it. And the majority that do it do a good job.

Ahhhh, volunteering, a topic close to my heart. I think as a parent it's our responsibility to set a good example for our kids and this is a good way to do it.

My husband and I always volunteered in their school and in LL,Pony, and HS ball. Somebody's gotta do it and it always seems like it's the same group of parents. And yet, in our little beach community I'm sure neighbors wonder why we don't sign up for helping with lots of community events. Oh well, can only do so much.