Athletes as Volunteers
Many athletes report that after years of participating in Special Olympics, they feel that they have a grasp of the fundamentals of how the organization works and how they might like to help provide the program, as opposed to always being on the receiving side. Sometimes they help out when parents or friends volunteer, but wish that they could be given a job to do on their own. Many athletes report that they are looking for new activities and challenges, outside of the competitions.
Providing athletes the chance to formally volunteer gives them an opportunity to continue their involvement with Special Olympics in new and challenging ways. Athlete volunteers provide a new source of reliable volunteers to help expand program offerings in sports and activities that the athletes are most interested in.
How do athletes as volunteers help Special Olympics Programs?
When communities and other athletes see athletes stepping up to increasingly responsible volunteer roles, they see the Special Olympics Program as inclusive and cutting edge. When athletes see an opportunity to grow and take on new roles, it keeps them from getting bored and dropping out of Special Olympics.
When athletes serve as equals in a volunteer capacity, they give feedback and input to Special Olympics leadership and other volunteers that makes everyone work harder and glean more satisfaction from the effort. An athlete working in a volunteer role can explain what he or she thinks and sees at each part of an event. That perspective is critical to an organization that prides itself on being athlete centered.
For more information on specific ALPs initiatives, visit the links below:
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Contact Information
Jamie Lazaroff, Athlete Leadership Program Assistant
(860) 779-0761 or JamieL@soct.org
Laura Gremelsbacker, Director of Public Relations
(203) 230.2101 x240 or LauraG@SOCT.org
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