A netball game in rural Victoria doesn’t just happen because players step onto the court. It happens because someone fills out a scoresheet, because someone holds the stopwatch, and because someone provides first-aid. Often, one person is doing all these things at once.

Marie Bruce was once one of the thousands of volunteers across Australia keeping rural netball programs running. After volunteering in minor roles, she coached junior netball at the Broadford Junior Football Netball Club (BFNC), leading both the under-11 and under-13 teams. Like many volunteers, the commitment quickly grew into something much larger than expected. She even found herself leaving her paid job early most weeks to attend training.

“The role was overwhelming at times due to work commitments,” she tells upstart.

“It was also difficult at times to manage player personalities as well as trying to keep parents happy.”

After three years, Bruce made the decision to step away, a choice that reflects a broader pattern of volunteers quitting as the demands of these roles becomes unsustainable.

Even though netball is one of the most popular sports in Australia, played by over 1.2 million men, women and children across the country, Australian Sports Commission research has found that sporting groups continue to struggle with recruitment and retention, especially as time constraints and work responsibilities rise.

Meanwhile, the Australian Sports Foundation report found that 63 percent of clubs listed “not having enough volunteers” as their main challenge.

Australia has already been experiencing a steady decline in general volunteer participation with national rates trending downward for the last two decades. However, this decline is felt more acutely in rural and small-town communities, where smaller populations mean fewer people are available to fill essential volunteer roles.

So, if netball participation is thriving, why are those working behind the scenes experiencing burnout?

Mitch Itter, a committee member at the Seymour Football Netball Club (SNFC), situated in a rural Victorian town with a population of 6,569, says that volunteers are “essential” to his club.

 “There’s countless number of hours donated to our club in so many different ways,” he tells upstart

The club has around 750 members and 130 club and player sponsors. It holds weekly meals at the clubrooms, runs a canteen and a bar, and requires support staff for each of the eight football and netball teams.

This work is all supported by volunteer staff. Itter says the burnout issue stems from the roles increasingly requiring more time and effort from volunteer staff.

“I’d say most clubs are finding it harder to retain volunteers than a few decades ago given how busy and connected most people’s lives are.”

Netball coach Natalie Fletcher, who has handled numerous volunteer positions at both the Seymour and Broadford clubs, knows first-hand just how unmanageable the workload can be.

“All of these hours of commitment add up, as it’s not only the face-to-face meetings, trainings and game days, it’s the behind-the-scenes communication, organisation and preparation,” she tells upstart.

“I’m usually counting down the weeks towards the end of the season to have my weeknights and Saturdays back.”

Volunteers like Bronwyn Kinnear, an umpire at Kilmore Football Netball Club (KFNC) for over 11 years, recognises that “clubs cannot function without volunteers”, but has found that sometimes they go unappreciated.

“People will rely on the volunteer to get the job done and criticise them in the process instead of putting up their hand to help,” she says.

“It can be mentally challenging and result in sickness or withdrawing the motivation to continue in the role.”

Players are also under pressure to contribute to their clubs. Jayla Laffan-Zoch has been involved in local netball since she was six, playing across clubs including Kilmore and Lancefield as well as social competitions during the week.

Laffan-Zoch’s contributions extends far beyond the court, alongside playing she juggles other volunteer roles. She says volunteering is often expected rather than optional.

Players are not paid, Laffan-Zoch says. Instead, they are paying to participate while also being expected to volunteer. And player volunteers are still not enough. This means performance pressure is compounded by the off-court stress created by the need for extra hands.

“We are beating it right down to the clock before the game is about to start to try and find someone who is willing to help us,” she tells upstart. “We are too busy [worrying] about these sorts of things, and that in turn has an effect on how we are playing.”

Financial inequalities within rural clubs may also worsen this issue, Itter says.

“Being part of a stronger country league, we don’t have many issues with our participation numbers across our football and netball, but there’s certainly a large funding gap,” he says.

Jayla Laffan-Zoch has also noticed the growing imbalance between participation and support.

“If we are getting the same amount of support and the same amount of people coming to watch us, then maybe we could try [to] increase the funding,” she says.

“It shouldn’t just fall onto my back to have to volunteer…when I’m the one that’s technically paying to play,” she says.

For some, the demands of volunteering are outweighed by the sense of community that often exists in regional areas, which drives their involvement. Ellie Fuhrmeister, long-term club member and player at SFNC for over 15 years believes that community spirit is created by the process of giving back.

“I think the club is better for the people that give back to it and in that you can find so much joy in being a part of something,” she tells upstart.

“I love the community,” Itter says. “You definitely get more out of volunteering than you put in.”

As Seymour coach Natalie Fletcher puts it, “many hands make light work”, but right now, too few hands are doing too much. Many volunteers say they need to feel supported rather than overburdened, to actively recruit rather than depend on a small number of people, and that clubs need to clearly outline the responsibilities involved so people understand what is necessary. This would create a shift from depending solely on the goodness of the community, and towards a more organised and encouraging volunteer system.

Laffan-Zoch says more advertising around the community and providing incentives could be a starting point to “attract more volunteers so that they are willing to help”.

Itter says that clubs also need to take the initiative.

“Often people around the clubs are unsure of what they can do to help so the burden is somewhat on clubs to get on the front foot and ask people to chip in,” he says. “If you don’t ask you definitely don’t receive.”

But when it comes to holding onto the volunteers these rural clubs do have, it’s the small gestures of appreciation that can make a difference, Fuhrmeister says.

“Letting people know that their volunteering doesn’t go unnoticed and that the club is grateful for what they put in.”

Article: Milla Webster is a third-year Media and Communications (Journalism major) student at La Trobe University. You can follow her on Twitter @webster_milla.

Cover photo: Seymour netball players during a practice match earlier in the season. This photo has been modified. Photo provided by Chloe Locke