30 Fantastic Volunteer

Retention Ideas

Idea #1

Reward their effort

What kinds of things can you give volunteers to

reward them?

True or False?

These gifts alone keep volunteers coming back.

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False!

All volunteers need to feel that their efforts

are appreciated!

Idea #2

Match the reward to the person.

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Idea #3

Make new volunteers feel

welcome.

Idea # 4

Manage your Region or your

volunteer position with your heart not

your head.

Which is better? A pat on the back and a

sincere thank you versus reading a list of names of people you want to thank?

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“A pat on the back” and sincere thank

you.

Which is better?Offering a spontaneous show of appreciation or a plaque given at the end of the season?

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Spontaneous

appreciation is always

wonderful!

Which is better?An RC taking all new Regional Board Members out to lunch versus buying a lunch gift certificate?

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This lunchIs great!

Which is better?Writing a sincere, heartfelt thank you note sent in the mail versus a standard form email sent out to all volunteers?

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Idea #5

Know your volunteers as

people

Idea # 6

Train your

volunteers

Idea # 7

Accentuate the positive

Catch volunteers doing something good!

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Idea # 8

Ditch the “Volunteer of the Year” and go to

“Volunteer of the Moment”

Idea # 9

Survey your Regional Board

Members

Idea # 10

Praise beyond your own Region

Idea # 11

You can’t lead by

email alone

Idea # 12

Practice what you Preach

Preach the AYSO Philosophies

Give an example of how each of the six AYSO

philosophies exemplifies volunteer retention

How can you use these ideas?

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Everyone Plays®: Every volunteer is importantBalanced Teams Open RegistrationPositive CoachingGood SportsmanshipPlayer Development

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Everyone Plays®Balanced Teams – We need to thank,

acknowledge and reward every volunteer, not just the coaches and referees. It is the “balance” of all the volunteers doing their jobs that makes a Region successful

Open RegistrationPositive CoachingGood SportsmanshipPlayer Development

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Everyone Plays®Balanced TeamsOpen Registration – Every

parent should volunteer in some way. Volunteering is not just for a few people.

Positive CoachingGood SportsmanshipPlayer Development2013 24

Everyone Plays®Balanced TeamsOpen RegistrationPositive Coaching – If we expect

parents to volunteer and stay with AYSO each year, then we (the RC and Regional Board) have to be positive role models

Good SportsmanshipPlayer Development

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Everyone Plays®Balanced TeamsOpen RegistrationPositive CoachingGood Sportsmanship – One of the

secrets of keeping volunteers is to get them together for team building and something fun. Volunteers need to feel that they are part of a team and that they are all valued equally.

Player Development2013 26

Everyone Plays®Balanced TeamsOpen RegistrationPositive CoachingGood SportsmanshipPlayer Development – It is just as

important to train and develop volunteers as it is players. Volunteers need to have training and support to be successful.

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Idea # 13

Give Volunteers Options

Idea # 14

Respect your Volunteers’ Time

Idea # 15

Recruit the Right People

Idea # 16Remember the

Spouses

Idea # 17Encourage each

board member to develop a “TEAM”

concept for the volunteers who work

with them.

Idea # 18Whenever possible,

recognize volunteers in a public way in

front of their peers.

Idea # 19Talk about volunteers

in a positive way behind their back.

Idea # 20

Don’t Deceive Volunteers

Idea # 21

Start and end

meetings on time!

AYSO

Idea # 22

Don’t expect volunteers to stay long if you are always operating in a “crisis management”

atmosphere.

Idea # 23

Don’t recruit more

volunteers than you

need

Idea # 24

Help Volunteers Develop a Succession

Plan

Name_________________

Position________________

What is your succession plan?

If you had to leave your position tomorrow, who would take over?

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Idea # 25

Always debrief at the end of the season or

after an event.

Here’s a Good Idea:Have a “We Survived Registration” lunch after the last day of registration. Remember to invite all the workers from previous registration days. Make sure they know this is a “thank you” for their effort.

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Idea # 26Thank you!!

Say:

And

Idea # 27

Provide something that youth volunteers need.

• Offer to write a letter of recommendation for college or for a job application.

• Offer to be a reference when teenagers are applying for a job.

• You can do the same type of thing for your adult volunteers. Create letters and certificates of appreciation.

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Idea # 28

Keep it fun and volunteers will

return.

Idea # 29Bring your Regional Board Members to a Section Meeting.

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Idea # 30Start a Regional Hall of

Fame The Hall of Fame can recognize any volunteer or player who has made a significant contribution

to soccer and AYSO at the Regional, Area, Section or

National level. 2013 48

Idea # 31Recognize a different volunteer at

the concession stand or on the field every week.

Put a sign up that says: “Find John Buckley, shake his hand

and thank him for being an AYSO volunteer.”

(Secretly get a picture to put up next to his name.)

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Conclusion2013 50

We all deserve a thank you for our volunteer efforts – give thanks freely.

Establish an active plan to reward your volunteers – it’s their “pay”.

Remember, everyone is important.

Keep it fun and volunteers will return.

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Thank you for attending!

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