The people in our rugby clubs are the most vital. Recruiting and retaining your volunteers is the key to your club being successful in the future.

As a club your must develop practices to support your volunteer base. Clubs should work towards having a volunteer management plan that is innovative and flexible so they can meet the needs and expectations of their club's volunteers.

The Volunteer Management Model

The Volunteer Management Model is a cycle that involves recruiting volunteers into your club, looking after them while they fulfil their duties and then planning for when they leave. This model gives an overview of the 1-6 stages.

1. Recruitment - the process of attracting new volunteers to your club.
2. Selection/Screening - making sure you appoint the best person for the best position.
3. Orientation - once a volunteer has been appointed, making sure they settle in, fell well informed and valued.
4. Training/Development - ensuring your volunteers have the knowledge and skills to perform their volunteer roles to the best of their ability.
5. Recognition - making sure your volunteers know that the work they are doing is appreciated and valued.
6. Retention/Replacement - planning for and managing the process of volunteers leaving your club so there is little impact on the running of the club.

Volunteer Management Action Plan

It is a good idea to develop a Volunteer Action Plan to help you adopt and implement appropriate volunteer management strategies at your club. When developing this action plan for you club, try to incorporate each of the 6 stages in the Volunteer Management Model above. A sample action plan is available below.

Fact Sheets, Templates and Club Documents / Case Studies are available below.

Please use, adapt and implement these resources to meet your club's needs.