Examining Social Capital Development Among Volunteers of a Multinational Sport-for-Development Event

Abstract

Much sport-for-development (SFD) research has focused on the impact initiatives have on participants, and not on other stakeholders such as volunteers. Some research suggests volunteerism enables social capital gains, while other scholars have been skeptical, with even less known about how volunteers are impacted by working for SFD events rather than for ongoing programs. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate how, if at all, a large, multinational SFD event contributed to social capital development of volunteers. Findings revealed volunteers experienced social capital development through building relationships, learning, and enhanced motivation to work for social change and reciprocity. As very little research has examined the efficacy of SFD events in contributing to social capital development, the findings extend the literature on SFD events. It would be prudent for SFD events to target programming to impact the experience of volunteers to retain them and contribute to social capital development.

Motivation, Satisfaction, and Retention of Sport Management Student Volunteers

“…The pivotal role of sport volunteers as social capital for the viability of the sport system has been acknowledged and studied by a plethora of academic re-searchers during the past decade (Bang & Ross, 2009;Harman & Doherty, 2014;Kim, Trail, Lim, & Kim, 2009;Peachey, Bruening, Lyras, Cohen, & Cunningham, 2015;Reeser, Berg, Rhea, & Willick, 2005;Strigas & Jackson, 2003). The nature of these studies varies, with some emphasis on event volunteerism (e.g., Kim et al, 2009), and others are executive or coaching volunteer roles (e.g., Harman & Doherty, 2014).…”

“…Sport volunteer motivation is critical to the identification of relevant tasks, increased chances of beneficial experiences (i.e., satisfaction), and increased likelihood volunteers will return (i.e., retention; Strigas & Jackson, 2003). Volunteer motivation studies have routinely taken place at large-scale sporting events (e.g., Aisbett, Randle, & Kappelides, 2015;Fairley, Kellett, & Green, 2007;Giannoulakis, Wang, & Gray, 2008;Reeser et al, 2005), special events (e.g., Farrell et al, 1998;Peachey et al, 2015;Stukas, Snyder, & Gil, 2016;Wang, 2004), and marathons (e.g., Bang & Ross, 2009;Han, 2007;Hwang, 2010;Strigas & Jackson, 2003). Such events offer large populations of volunteers that are easily accessible.…”

NIRSA Championship Series Volunteerism: The Perceived Impact on Professional Development

“…During training, volunteers can be taught functional skills, important social traditions, and build a sense of community (Costa, Chalip, Green, & Simes, 2006). Training sessions also provide the opportunity for volunteers to form initial contact with other volunteers that facilitate organizational knowledge transfer and the social contacts desired by many volunteers (Kay & Bradbury, 2009;Welty Peachey, Bruening, Lyras, Cohen, & Cunningham, 2015). In addition, job satisfaction and satisfaction with training can become one in the same for many volunteers (Green & Chalip, 2004).…”

Other- versus Self-Referenced Social Impacts of Events: Validating a New Scale

“…Social Anchor Theory (SAT) is used to explain psychological benefits that are sustained among group members after experiencing an event, and consists of social capital and social identity [37]. While different authors define social capital in different ways (e.g., [38]), in the context of events, social capital reflects how the event affects the residents and their relationship to the community [33]. The focus of CAT, SIT, and SAT on feelings requires the application of SR items.…”