Sport Volunteerism and Social Capital

Abstract

This study focuses on the relationship between sport volunteerism and social capital, defined here as a resource that stems from participation in certain social networks. A position generator and a resources generator were used to measure the social capital of respondents. Results from this pilot study survey, exploring several aspects of volunteerism in sport in two Canadian communities (one in Québec, the other in Ontario), show a strong relationship between volunteerism in sport and social capital but do not allow a precise measure of the direction of this relationship. Results also show stronger relationships between sport volunteerism and social capital when we control for gender, language, and age.

Sport volunteering, active citizenship and social capital enhancement: what role in the ‘Big Society’?

“…Most notably, the funding structure of repayable loans from dormant bank accounts, the increased competition for resources, and the increased bureaucracy attached to obtaining such resources (Coote 2011), all corroborate with the neo-liberal stance and heap more pressure on the voluntary sector to keep pace with their private sector counterparts. Moreover, any link to volunteering that the 'Big Society' does attest, appeals to the rational self-interest aspects of volunteering, where immediate others are the beneficiaries, as opposed to the more altruistic, longer-term voluntary work that, firstly, aids a broader section of society, and simultaneously enhances social capital and other key citizenship qualities for the volunteer (Putnam 2000;Harvey et al 2007). …”

“…Nevertheless, as Harvey, Levesque & Donnelly (2007) discovered empirically, the relationship between sport volunteering and social capital is contingent on the duration of the engagement in volunteering. Importantly, engagement needs to be longer-term to accumulate social capital and even where an individual inherits a relatively high level of social capital this needs to be reinvested, exchanged and developed to maintain it.…”

“…For example, Harvey et al (2007) observed that many volunteers in sport engaged to accentuate the immediate advantages that their children would receive from their voluntary work rather than the more intangible consequences that longer-term volunteering would convey. A second, related issue identified by Harvey et al is the need for inherited social capital to be continually reinvested to maintain its value.…”

“…Clearly, self-preservation and self-interest, rather than altruistic, community focussed action, appears prevalent in this case. Moreover, where voluntary action is undertaken, often it is short-term in nature with the express intention of benefitting immediate others (such as family) rather than wider sections of the community (Harvey et al 2007). The neo-liberal message also manifests itself within the expectations of amateur sports club members, which Enjolras (2002) explicates as a relationship of consumption rather than participation, with members anticipating 'high quality service' and 'value for money', to further burden the voluntary sports club For sporting organisations that rely on voluntary involvement for their governance and operation, the 'Big Society' ideology would appear to speak to their aims, intentions and purpose.…”

Motivação, Satisfação E Comprometimento: Um Estudo Sobre O Trabalho Voluntário Em Megaeventos Esportivos

“…Por se tratar de um evento de curto prazo e alta complexidade, verificou-se um excelente campo de desenvolvimento profissional. Outro impacto relevante do ponto de vista profissional foi a criação de uma rede consistente de contatos (HARVEY et al, 2007). Também cabe ressaltar que os entrevistados que tiveram experiência anterior com o trabalho voluntário, mesmo em outras instituições, como igrejas e associações de moradores, demonstram alta capacidade de adesão à proposta de trabalho em um megaevento esportivo.…”