analysing volunteering strategies within commercial sport. a case study from scottish professional...
TRANSCRIPT
Analysing volunteering strategies within commercial sport. A case study from Scottish
Professional Youth Soccer
Robert KieltyGlasgow Caledonian University
Objectives
Analyse the volunteer strategy adoptedChallengesFraming within Volunteer research
Why the quantum leap ?
• McLeish Report (2010)
• Competition qualification failure (France 1998)
• Lack of elite players playing internationally • (see EPL / Europe)
• ECL low rating
• Bleak financial back drop of associated clubs (‘just too many clubs’)
• Emergence of ‘academic’ evidence-based research into elite athletic development (Holland) - CONTESTED
• Asked for Government funding
a three-tier structure on the basis of pre-determined “Elite Academy”, “Performance” and “Initiative” criteria.
Commercial Football: Characteristics• ‘Professional’ perspective
• private business not state
• Private culture and accountability
• Models of academic partnerships are rare
• Lack of consensus
‘Some people think that academies are the way forward and a lot of them work on the blueprint from Clairefontaine in France but I’ve been on courses where I’ve argued about it and studies have come back to say academies aren’t working. “They are not as successful as people thought they were going to be’
Problem & SolutionProblem – Scrutiny of criteria requirements – most clubs cannot meet the criteria set by governing body:E.G - Sports Science (Physical Preparation)
Salaried specialist staff & equipment (e.g. – testing)Accommodation (indoor 4G AstroTurf)Deliver to 100+ players each weekData base of player profilingParental support, lifestyle management
Solution –Human capital requirement (Volunteers)
Case Study: DAFC
• ‘Mixing’• Lifestyle
• Pedagogy• Physical Preparation
University College
SupervisorSchool placements
200 200
180 180
160 160
140 140
120 120
100 100
80 80
60 60
40 40
20 20
0 0:00:00 0:20:00 0:40:00 1:00:00 1:20:00 1:40:00
HR [bpm] HR [bpm]
Time
Person Exercise Sport Note
Date Time Duration
Selection
Heart rate average Heart rate max
PLAYER 10 06/10/2009 02:30 Running
02:30:34 06/10/2009
1:44:45.0 0:00:00 - 1:44:45 (1:44:45.0)
129 bpm 190 bpm
129 bpm
Cursor values: Time: 0:00:00 HR: 86 bpm Calorie rate: 0 kcal/60min
What you get
Knowledge Transfer
Season ticketClothingExpenses (> minimum wage)Free accommodation on club visitsFree access to SFA CPD programme1 x In-service KT session per monthVideo scrutiny of delivery
Results: Numbers
• Since 2009. 45+ volunteers have been up skilled
• 400+ elite players have been experienced
• 75% of current 1st team from environment
• 8 volunteers have employment
• 85% of pupils studying related themes at FE/HE
• 4/5 RATING from Governing Body
• ‘innovative; sector leading model; excellent support structure’
Results: Academic Culture
• Conference papers(e.g. –WCAA; ISSA; LSA)• Journal articles (LSA)• Conference in partnership
(SSS + SFA)• Visiting presentation• Evaluation ‘culture’• Usage of social media• Network value• Club visits
• Changing status at club• Taken seriously• Parental activity• Less ‘discrimination’• Criteria ‘pawn’
Results: Capital
Recruitment
• 247 applicants for 9 places• 44 PhD• 100 PG• Geography
Perceptions
Unemployment fearHE = little industry experienceProfessional soccer –
the dreamthe value
Pay to work for freeBetter than cleaning loosIn service = weakness diagnosis
Observations on researchExamples
DeSouza (2005) – HE – barriers –widening access – avoiding the ‘safe pair of hands’. Case study based x 3.
VDS / Sports scotland 2011-2015 - The success of sport depends on volunteering at many levels’
Implications for DAFC
• Need serious structure to offer social inclusion (training, travelling and evaluation)
• DAFC is ring fenced –allowing volunteers to be paid
• Volunteering is integral (not peripheral)
Observations on research
Examples
Nichols (2006) -reviewing the question – member /activist model
Blackshaw (2008) –re-defining the community in football
Implications
• Conflict between paid and volunteer structure
• Lack of stake/autonomy is addressed• nature of pro football creating a new
volunteer monster
• Creating a ‘new kind of dignity’ (private + public, elitist + wideing opportunities)
Observations on research
Examples
VEU (2010)‘Mismatch between supply and demand’
Implications
• Re-training of volunteers• 75% of in-service activity is
pedagogical foundation
ChallengesVolunteer research
• LONG TERM APPROACH
• RESOURCE FOCUS
• COMPARISONS AGAINST PUBLIC FUNDED BODIES
Football
• Social capital of experience• Employment routes• Widening access (social
inclusion)• Elitist recruitment• Narratives of ‘free’ full time
volunteers
