Volunteers in Asia / Oceanian Sport for All
Prof. Dr. Yasuo Yamaguchi, Japan



Although there is no consensus about the meaning of sport volunteers, we define sport volunteers as those who support sport clubs or associations in coaching and managing and those who perform a necessary task related to a game or event, without payment.
Table 1 indicates the types and roles of sport volunteers. Club/Organisation volunteers include both volunteer leaders(coaches, trainers, instructors, etc.) and management volunteers(managers, directors, officials, supporting staff, etc.). Event volunteers include both special volunteers(officials, interpreters, directors, medical staff, etc.) and general volunteers (guides, aid station, host family, supporting staff, etc.). In addition to club/organisation volunteers and event volunteers, athlete volunteers can be identified as another type of sport volunteers.
Table 1 Types and Roles of Sport Volunteers (Yamaguchi, 2004)

Type Role

Club/Organisation Volunteer
Volunteer Leader
(coaches, trainers, instructors, etc.)
Management Volunteer
(managers, directors, officials, supporting staff, etc.)

Event Volunteer Special Volunteer
(officials, interpreters, directors, medical staff, etc.)
General Volunteer
(guides, aid station, host family, supporting staff, etc.)

Athlete Volunteer Professional Players & Athletes, Top Athletes,


Figure 1 shows the model of structure on sport culture (Ministry of Education, Sciences, Sports & Culture, 2000). This model indicates that sport culture consists of sport participants, sport spectators, and sport volunteers. Increased numbers of sport participants has been a major topic in sport policies. In Japan, promotion of spectator sport became a target since the professional football league, called “J-league”, started in 1993. Since the mid-1990’s a third type of involvement, sport volunteers appeared, specifically in local sport events as well as big sport events. It is said that without support by sport volunteers, sport events can not accomplish successfully.

Figure 1 Structure of Sport Culture
A questionnaire survey on sport volunteesr was conducted in 9 Asian and Oceanian countries. Table 2 indicates volunteer development programs for Sport for All in Australia, Iran, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Singapore. In Australia, the VIP (Volunteer Involvement Program) started in 1993, while the “Active Australia” campaign was initiated in 1995. The Club Development Network and Volunteer Management Program, aiming at improving the management systems and skills of clubs and individuals, is conducted under the campaign of “Active Australia”. In addition, the National Coaching Accreditation Scheme, Club Development Network and Volunteer Management Program are conducted by the Australian Sports Commission.
In Iran, the National Olympic Committee conducts Multi Sports Competitions for villages and locals and Local and Traditional Sports Competitions with the support of volunteers. Their Women’s Sport for All Association organises educational programs to develop volunteers effectively.
In Japan, the National Sport Leaders Accreditations Scheme is adopted by the Japan Amateur Sports Association, while Club Managers and Staff Seminars are held by the Japan Sport Clubs Association. A number of volunteers are sent to developing countries to teach sport skills and strategies by the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers. At the local level, several local governments conduct Sport Volunteer Training Seminars, while Sport Volunteer Leader-banks are established in a number of local governments.
In Korea, Summer/Winter volunteer Programs for students, Youth Leaders’ Clubs,
Mothers’ Volunteer Groups, and SABA Volunteer Groups are organized by the Sport for All Busan Association.
In Malaysia, “Rakan Muda”, the Youth Sport Development Program, has been promoted by government and includes a variety of leadership development programs.
In New Zealand, the Hillary Commission (now Sport and Recreation New Zealand) started the VIP (Volunteer Involvement Program) in 1989. Most coaches are volunteers, even among their national coaches. The “Coaches Count!” campaign emphasises the 3R’s (Recruiting, Retaining, Recognising) of volunteerism. Recently, the “Running Sport” program promoted focus on fundraising, event management, training for running meetings, secretarial and financial skills with strong emphasis in the importance of volunteer staff and leaders.
In Singapore, the “Sport for Life”(SFL) campaign started in 1996 to make it easier for Singaporeans to enjoy the benefits and fun of playing sports and keeping fit at modern facilities close to their doorsteps. In the SFL Volunteer Development Program, a database of volunteers from schools, Constituency Sports Clubs and the public is kept. These volunteers are involved in planning and executing of programs and national events.
Table 2 Volunteer Development Programs for Sport for All

Country Name of Campaign
Australia National Coaching Accreditation Scheme
National Offciating Accreditation Scheme
Club Development Network
Volunteer Management Program
Iran Multi Sports Competitions of Villages and Local (NOC)
Local and Traditional Sports Competitions (NOC)
Japan Youth Sport Leader Courses
Promotion of Multi-sports Club
Sport Volunteer Training Seminar (local governments)
Korea Summer/Winter Volunteer Program for Students
Youth Leader’s Club
Malaysia Rakan Muda (youth sport development program)
Singapore Sport for Life: Volunteer Development Program
New Zealand Running Sport Program
The following conclusions can be presented:
  1. Most countries in Asia and Oceania are conducting a variety of volunteer programs.

  2. Three major difficulties concerned with volunteer management in sport clubs are
  3. 1) recruiting volunteers, 2) training volunteers, and 3) retaining volunteers.
  4. Model programs in volunteer management are VIP (Australia, England), Active Australia (Australia), and Running Sport (New Zealand).
  5. Development of programs for youth sport leaders is important for children’s socialisation processes.
  6. Sport for All organisations can collaborate with sport federations and NOC’s in athlete volunteer programs.
  7. Professionalism and voluntarism should be more emphasised and considered separately.





http://www.icsspe.org/portal/bulletin-january2004.htm