“Waverly Wanderers v Savage United”;
PART 1: EVENT ANALYSIS
1. SPORT AND IMPORTANCE OF EVENT
This event analysis focuses on the ‘Waverly Wanderers v Savage United’ soccer match that took place on Sunday April 3rd, 2016 at the Carlson Reserve. Teams are registered through VicSoccer and compete every weekend against other teams in their registered division (Mornings East Division). Each team will play a total of 18 matches in this year’s season, at home and away venues. At the end of the season, a winning team will be crowned. According to Shilbury & Kellett (2011), sport has six characteristics:
1. Has set and defined rules
2. Is highly organized
3. Is play-like in nature and is based on physical prowess
4. Is dependent upon specialized facilities and equipment
5. Involves uncertainty of outcome based on skill, strategy, and chance
6. Competition, cooperation, and conflict form the basis of the sporting contest and sporting leagues
Concurring to Shilbury & Kellett’s characteristics, the ‘Waverly Wanderers v Savage United’ game inhibits all six features that make it a sporting event. Evidently, the competition is highly organized; the season fixture is prepared well in advance, with teams able to access an online schedule of when and where they will be playing and against whom, as well as, the results following the game. Club members, who act as volunteers during game days, take the appropriate actions to make sure the event runs smoothly from start to finish. The competition is dependent upon specialized facilities and equipment; venues must have a soccer field with goals, a mid-field line, a centre circle, and a penalty box. Overall, the field should measure 100 x 60 yards. As far as equipment goes, each team is required to have a uniform, shin guards, proper footwear, appropriate uniform and gloves for goalies, and of course a soccer ball! (That meets official regulation rules). It goes without saying that soccer has a set of defined rules, competition, cooperation, and conflict form the basis of the sporting contest and sporting leagues. Despite it being a competition, soccer is play-like in nature and is based on physical prowess. It involves uncertainty of outcome based on skill, strategy, and chance. You never know what you’re going to witness until you’ve witnessed the game.
Sport is a universal language that has the ability to bring people together, and teach teamwork and tolerance. But what is sport? When it comes to defining ‘sport’, a reasonable description of the word is, the ‘Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively’ (www.freedictionary.com, 2013), or an ‘Outdoor game or competitive activity involving physical exercise’ (Oxford Dictionary, 2013). Although these definitions are capable of defining ‘sport’, they can incorporate more detail. For example, according to social scientist Günther Luschen, sport is an ‘Institutionalized type of competitive physical activity located on a continuum between play and work’ (Delaney and Madigan, 2015). Supporting this definition, Professor John Loy, described sport as ‘A game occurrence, as an institutionalized game, as a social institution & as a social situation or social system’ (Loy, 1968). Loy indicated that four essential categories made up a sport:
1. The activity should be play-like in nature
2. It should involve an element of competition
3. It should be based on physical prowess; and
4. It should involve elements of skill, chance, and have uncertainty of outcome
Concurring to Loy’s definition, soccer inhibits all four categories. It is play-like in nature, involves competition from grassroots participation to high performance athletes, is based on physical prowess, and the outcome of the game is only known after it has been played. Thus, making soccer a sport.
The Australian Sport System
The Australian Sports System is comprised of a range of government and non-government organizations, business entities, and community groups, working to develop and deliver elite sport, sport participation and physical activity opportunities, and other related products and services to the Australian community. Australian sport has always catered for the masses, and community sport is available to anybody and everybody, regardless of ability. The Traditional Sports Structure illustrates the system linking the local community club to the national governing body and subsequently to the international governing body. Daly (1985) summarizes the system with the following extract:
“Those who are the ‘best’ at local level are selected to represent their region in interstate contests and the elite are ultimately selected to represent Australia. Theoretically, this ‘system’ of club responsibility for development and administration of a sport in a district, an association of clubs for state level sport, and a federation for national representative teams should encourage everyone to find a level appropriate to his or her skill level”.
As government influence in sport increased, from funding to including responsibility for policy development and programming, the traditional sports structure became the contemporary sports structure. The traditional sport structure expanded to incorporate support from the three levels of government and increased support for elite performers.
Soccer Australia (SA) was the governing body for soccer in Australia up until 2004, when it was dissolved and a new entity was created – the Australian Soccer Association – which in 2005, was renamed the Football Federation of Australia. The Football Federation of Australia directly manages most facets of the game, including grassroots development through the state associations.
1b. VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers are the backbone of Australian sport and support almost every part of the sports club system. At the community sport level, volunteers serve as coaches, officials, team managers, administrators, board and committee members; with many individuals filling multiple roles. From grassroots participation to high performance sport, volunteers make an enormous contribution. Volunteers support and sustain the sports club system, and without them, it would be impossible to uphold an event. When it comes to volunteers, there are two types: systematic volunteers and event volunteers. The later, refers to one-off events (that occur once a year, once every two years etc.) where volunteers are expected to perform core event functions, from planning to operations. Systematic volunteers make recreational and competitive sport opportunities possible for community members by engaging in administrative roles and providing ongoing commitment and time on a regular basis. Volunteers are the backbone of the grassroots soccer community. VicSoccer is extremely fortunate to have so many capable, hard-working and dedicated volunteers working on field and off field to support the players who play soccer week in, and week out in the community.
The volunteers observed at the ‘Waverly Wanderers v Savage United’ game are considered systematic volunteers, as they volunteer on a weekly basis to ensure the season runs smoothly. Club members make up the majority of volunteers, and perform roles such as ‘water boys’ (men and women), canteen staff, and ‘marshalls’ – who act as security for referees. Without the consistent help of club members, upholding the competition would prove to be very difficult. Volunteers add great value to local sports clubs by ensuring that organized activities are accessible and well run.
What motivates sport volunteers? It is fair to assume that volunteering is a leisure activity, and people choose to do it because they enjoy it. In the context of sport, volunteering can be categorized into two groups: serious leisure volunteering (systematic) and project-based leisure volunteering (event). What motivates individuals to participate depends on the type of volunteering. Serious leisure volunteering is represented in activities such as coaching and serving on a committee in a grassroots sporting organization. Project-based leisure volunteering, however, is represented in volunteering for events. Caldwell and Andereck (1994) contend that there are three categories of motivations explaining volunteering in a recreation setting:
1. Purposive (doing something useful to help society)
2. Solidarity (social interaction, group identification and networking), and
3. Material incentives (tangible rewards)
Individuals observed at the ‘Waverly Wanderers v Savage United’ game fall into the category of serious leisure volunteering. Their main reason for volunteering has to do with achieving purpose and solidarity. They enjoy helping others in the community because it gives them a sense of self-esteem, it makes them feel good about themselves because they are doing something useful to help society. Therefore, it is important for sport managers and event organizers to do what they can to create a working environment that allows for volunteers to have a positive experience when they contribute to the event. Solidarity plays a big part in motivating volunteers to do what they do. Naturally, volunteers are ‘people person’, they enjoy and are particularly good at being around people. The ‘Waverly Wanderers v Savage United’ game provides the perfect environment for solidarity. Volunteers are big on social interaction and in doing so; it makes them feel a part of a group of like-minded people. The material incentives are just an added bonus. ‘Waverly Wanderers v Savage United’ volunteers do not receive material incentives. The satisfaction of having a purpose and doing what they can to help the community is enough, and material rewards are not necessary.
Sport managers at the ‘Waverly Wanderers v Savage United’ game recognize volunteers for their contribution to the event by showing consistent and ongoing appraisal and thanks after every game. They make sure volunteers are aware of how much they are needed and appreciated. This makes volunteers feel valued and helps keep them motivated. This strategy helped to maintain and enhance volunteers’ personal satisfaction, as well as contribute to recruiting and retaining new and current volunteers, respectively. For systematic volunteers, sport managers must understand their unique sport context to be able to recruit and retain volunteers. They must also understand the importance of the experience of volunteering as motive. According to the Australian Institute of Community Practice and Governance, the successful management of volunteer programs for Australia’s not-for-profit sector involves a number of operations, and by developing and implementing a volunteer management plan, organizations can feel confident that volunteers are better managed and appreciated. Overall, sport managers must recognize the need for volunteers and what they do for the sport, the event, and the community.
1c. GOVERNMENT
The Australian government, State and Local governments largely determine the organization of sport in Australia. All three governing bodies play an important role in terms of funding, policies and facilities.
Australian Government
The Australian government’s serious involvement and investment into sport came with the establishment of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in 1981. The purpose of the AIS was to improve Australia’s performances in international sport. In 1985, the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) was established to improve the Australian Government’s administration of sport in terms of funding, participation and elite sport. The 1989 Senate Inquiry into drugs in sport resulted in the establishment of the Australian Sport Drug Agency (ASADA) in 1990, to manage Australia’s anti-doping program.
The Australian government is committed to supporting sport in Australia from grassroots participation to elite level athletes. According to Jay Coakley, the aim of Federal government in Australian sport is to maintain and develop fitness and physical ability; promote national prestige to other countries; promote a sense of identity and unity; increase support of political leaders; and promote economic development. This commitment encourages greater participation in sport by all Australians and contributes to a competitive and clean Australian sports sector, based on the pursuit of excellence, integrity and leadership. The level of government involvement depends on political ideology and polices, and the key areas associated with are funding, programs and support, facilities and events. A decline in international performance, and the realization of the social benefits associated with a fit, healthy and occupied community prompted the Federal government to be more involved in Australian sport. The belief that sport and recreation was part of the ‘good life’ that all Australians should be entitled to regardless of a capacity to pay, also contributed to this movement.
State Governments
Each of Australia’s states and territories now has a department responsible for sport and recreation. As state and territory governments change, so too does the organization of government departments and the location of sport. In 2009, sport was represented in each state or territory by the following agencies:
Departments are responsible for increasing opportunities for participation in sport and recreation at all levels underlying the mission of each department is the quality of life in all communities.
Local Governments
Local government is the third tier of government system and has a particular role to play in the delivery of sport and recreation to the community. Local government involvement in sport has been significant for many years, there are over 700 Local government authorities (LGA) in Australia, and each faced with different needs in sport and recreation. The Local government is becoming an increasingly powerful stakeholder in the provision of sport programs, facilities and the delivery of sport. To conduct its activities, the LGAs rely on four major sources of funding:
1. Land taxes known as ‘rates’
2. Service charges for rubbish collection, building applications, facility usage
3. Commonwealth and State government grants, and
4. Loans for major projects.
Local government was observed to have the most input at the ‘Waverly Wanderers v Savage United’ game. They are responsible for the wellbeing of the community and do so, through the provision of the sports centre and sports ground where the game was held. The match was played at Carlson Reserve, which is overseen by the Monash Council. The Monash Council maintains over 125 parks and reserves, and is represented by 11 Councilors, who are elected by the community. The Council is planning to upgrade the Carlson Reserve, to make it more interesting and fun for the local community. The collection of rates from property owners is the Council’s primary means of raising revenue to pay for its services.
Additional inputs could have been utilized at the event to enhance the experience of the game, in the sense that, the stadium lighting for the outside soccer field at Carlson Reserve was broken. It is important that the Monash Council look into this problem, and allocates funds where necessary to make the Reserve more beneficial for players, volunteers and the local community.
PART 2: SUMMARY OF EVENT
CONCLUSION
VicSoccer does not have an official mission statement or objectives; however, their motto is ‘The Game That Unites The World’. The ‘Waverly Wanderers v Savage United’ game, and the competition as a whole, contributes to VicSoccer’s motto in the sense that it provides an environment that unites local soccer players. VicSoccer caters for all locals, including juniors, seniors, reserves, and ladies etc. They exist purely for the enjoyment of soccer and competition.
A clear strength regarding volunteers at the ‘Waverly Wanderers v Savage United’ game would have to be the level of commitment and excitement expressed by individuals. Volunteers are there for the right reasons and are motivated by the excitement that the event offers, and to achieve purpose; they are satisfied with helping their local community and do not expect material incentives in return. Another strength perceived at the ‘Waverly Wanderers v Savage United’ game would have to be the level of government input. Local government was well involved in the sense that, they were the main source of funding for the Carlson Reserve. Evidently, the Monash Council recognizes community needs and caters to them; this is shown through the Council’s intentions to upgrade the Carlton Reserve, to make it more interesting and fun for the local community.
Despite its strengths, the ‘Waverly Wanderers v Savage United’ game did have its weaknesses. One of these weaknesses involved the level of Government input. Although the Monash Council had plans to upgrade Carlson Reserve for the benefit of the community, there are existing problems that the Council should deal with first. For example, the broken stadium lights. It is important that existing problems be dealt with first, before the Council starts new projects, as introducing new projects will only delay fixing current and problematic issues. Another ‘weakness’ would have to do with volunteer management. It was observed that ‘Waverly Wanderers v Savage United’ volunteers did not receive material incentives for their contribution to the event. Although this may not seem much of a weakness, it can be in the sense that, if material rewards were introduced, it would only encourage volunteers to be more motivated.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Referring back to the volunteers at the ‘Waverly Wanderers v Savage United’ game, an important way to encourage volunteers to remain at Carlson Reserve is to give them adequate recognition. To be effective, recognition should be consistent and ongoing because volunteers can quickly lose motivation if they feel their work is not valued. It is important that recognition is given to volunteers soon after the work is performed, is personal and specific, is consistent, is positive and upbeat and does not favor certain volunteers. Event organizers should develop and make use of a volunteer management plan, this will contribute to the acquisition and retention of volunteers at the event.
In regards to government involvement at the ‘Waverly Wanderers v Savage United’ game, it was learnt that the stadium lighting for the outdoor soccer fields at Carlson Reserve were broken. As previously stated, the Local government has a major role to play in the delivery of sport and recreation to the community. It is vital that they fulfill these responsibilities and continue to meet the needs of the local community. The Council should perform routine check-ups of the reserves and its facilities, to make sure everything is up to standard and to develop plans to further benefit anyone and everyone that uses their facilities. It is also important for LGAs to recognize that sport and recreational needs change over time and local authorities need to evolve to meet those needs in an efficient and cost effective manner.
All these recommendations should be taken into consideration by event organizers and applied to future games in 2017 at Carlson Reserve to better the overall experience for players, volunteers, and the local community.