8 Reasons to Volunteer for Your Child’s Sport

Originally posted FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2009

1. It is expected.  Part of being a parent of a player for any team is working for the team.  Some clubs and sports require more time and energy than others.  Do your part.  And seriously, if your club has a “pay to not volunteer” option, only be that parent if you are the President of the United States or Superman.  They need the man hours MORE than the money.
2. Your kid secretly likes it.  They may never tell you that, but I see the look on their faces with their mom is in the concession stand or their dad is helping direct traffic.  Your kid knows you helping out means you care about their sport AND them!
3. Fresh Perspective.  You gain a better understanding of the game when you are around the fields and your child is not playing.  There is something about having your kid on the field that makes parents (or maybe just mom’s) hyper focus on their child.
4. Teaches a Spirit of Service. I hope I am teaching my child that this is not only one of the responsibilities of parenting, but one of the joys as well.  Helping and serving others is something we take very seriously in our household.
5. Keeping up.  I do love volunteering, but even if I didn’t I would do it for this reason alone.  You can find out a lot about your child and their friends working the games.  You see things that they don’t know you see or are aware of (especially if they are teenagers, and they forget anyone else exists!)
6. Relationships are Formed. I have met some of the coolest people volunteering for various jobs and not all of them are adults-children can enrich or life experience as well you know.
7. Networking. I know I am reaching for the bottom of the barrel here, but sometimes parents don’t do what is best for their kid and their development, they are all about the career, if (I pray not) this is you and your situation, think of the contacts you can make!  Keep a stash of business cards in your pants pocket and market the fire out of yourself.*
8. Looks good on a Resume’. Again for the me-me generation, you can put it under “community service” in case you are looking for a job and someone in the company actually sees value in this sort of thing.*