The social costs and benefits of volunteering for a public agency
Researchers have highlighted the many benefits for children who participate in youth sports. However, little research has been conducted to examine the experiences of parent volunteer coaches. The lack of research on parent volunteers is particularly surprising given the increased importance of volunteers for many municipal agencies. This study explored the social costs and benefits for volunteer coaches at a municipal park district. The study was conducted with the support of the Urbana (IL) Park District. A total of 14 volunteer youth sport coaches were interviewed. Utilizing grounded theory, the data were organized into categories and subcategories through open, axial, and selective coding. The findings were organized into six main themes: the decision to coach; children first, parents second; it’s not just about soccer; the most challenging aspects; program improvements needed; and core groups. Ultimately, the findings from this study led to the generation of a new theory called the theory of secondary outcomes for parent volunteers. This theory states that while most parents volunteer primarily as a way of helping their children, parents also realize secondary benefits through their volunteer involvement. The theory posits that these benefits likely play an important role in the recruitment, training, and retention of volunteers at municipal agencies.
social capital, volunteerism, youth sport, the theory of secondary outcomes for parent volunteers
University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign