The Volunteer Shuffle: Why Retention Needs More Than Gratitude

If your club feels like it’s constantly refilling the same volunteer roles, you’re not alone. Volunteers show up full of enthusiasm… and then slowly fade out — often without a word, just a sigh and a quiet step back.

It’s not always burnout. Sometimes it’s frustration. A lack of clarity. A feeling of “I don’t really know what I’m doing here.”

The truth is, retaining great volunteers isn’t about convincing them to stay. It’s about making them want to. That means:

• Clear roles and expectations

• Simple systems that don’t suck up hours

• Recognition that actually lands

• And a sense of shared purpose, not just shared tasks

When clubs invest in this kind of structure and support, retention becomes less about luck… and more about leadership.

That’s why we’re seeing more and more clubs shift focus — not just recruiting harder, but building a culture volunteers want to stay in.

Sometimes that starts with a short midweek reset — learning a new approach, hearing how others do it, or getting your hands on a tool that makes next weekend easier.

💡 Want to rethink your club’s volunteer approach?
Explore what’s coming up at Strive Sport. We’re running practical, real-talk sessions for clubs ready to make retention less of a revolving door — and more of a welcome mat.

👉 See what’s on offer this spring with our Spring Series Webinars.