How volunteers contribute to sport
Volunteers form the backbone of community sport in New Zealand.
Did you enjoy the TV ad?
We've had lots of great feedback about the 'Volunteers: the heart of sport' TV ad, which acknowledges and celebrates teh fantastic contribution that volunteers make to sport. The music is 'Pulled along by love' by the Muttonbirds.
Watch the new SPARC television commercial 'Volunteers; the heart of sport' (WMV. 1MB)
There are 41,000 people paid to work in sport in New Zealand, but 500,000 people working unpaid.
Volunteers are incredibly important at every level. Without grassroots helpers, sport simply wouldn’t happen - and players could never advance to world-class level.

What do volunteers do?
Volunteers are:
- coaches
- umpires
- referees
- judges
- scorers
- starters
and other officials.
Volunteers also include the people who:
- wash the uniforms
- transport the team
- cut the oranges
- fill the water bottles
- clean the clubrooms
and give their time in other ways.
Where you can find out more
Updated | 22 Aug 2007.
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