Analysing volunteering strategies within commercial sport. A case study from Scottish Professional Youth Soccer Robert Kielty Glasgow Caledonian University

Objectives Analyse the volunteer strategy adopted Challenges Framing within Volunteer research

Why the quantum leap ? McLeish Report (2010) Competition qualification failure (France 1998) Lack of elite players playing internationally (see EPL / Europe) ECL low rating Bleak financial back drop of associated clubs (‘just too many clubs’) Emergence of ‘academic’ evidence-based research into elite athletic development (Holland) - CONTESTED Asked for Government funding a three-tier structure on the basis of pre-determined “Elite Academy”, “Performance” and “Initiative” criteria.

Commercial Football: Characteristics ‘ Professional’ perspective private business not state Private culture and accountability Models of academic partnerships are rare Lack of consensus ‘Some people think that academies are the way forward and a lot of them work on the blueprint from Clairefontaine in France but I’ve been on courses where I’ve argued about it and studies have come back to say academies aren’t working. “They are not as successful as people thought they were going to be’

Problem & Solution Problem – Scrutiny of criteria requirements – most clubs cannot meet the criteria set by governing body: E.G - Sports Science (Physical Preparation) Salaried specialist staff & equipment (e.g. – testing) Accommodation (indoor 4G AstroTurf) Deliver to 100+ players each week Data base of player profiling Parental support, lifestyle management Solution –Human capital requirement (Volunteers)

Case Study: DAFC ‘Mixing’Lifestyle Pedagogy Physical Preparation UniversityCollege Supervisor School placements

What you get Knowledge Transfer Season ticket Clothing Expenses (> minimum wage) Free accommodation on club visits Free access to SFA CPD programme 1 x In-service KT session per month Video scrutiny of delivery

Results: Numbers Since volunteers have been up skilled 400+ elite players have been experienced 75% of current 1 st team from environment 8 volunteers have employment 85% of pupils studying related themes at FE/HE 4/5 RATING from Governing Body ‘innovative; sector leading model; excellent support structure’

Results: Academic Culture Conference papers (e.g. –WCAA; ISSA; LSA) Journal articles (LSA) Conference in partnership (SSS + SFA) Visiting presentation Evaluation ‘culture’ Usage of social media Network value Club visits Changing status at club Taken seriously Parental activity Less ‘discrimination’ Criteria ‘pawn’

Results: Capital Recruitment 247 applicants for 9 places 44 PhD 100 PG Geography Perceptions Unemployment fear HE = little industry experience Professional soccer – the dream the value Pay to work for free Better than cleaning loos In service = weakness diagnosis

Observations on research Examples DeSouza (2005) – HE – barriers –widening access – avoiding the ‘safe pair of hands’. Case study based x 3. VDS / Sports scotland The success of sport depends on volunteering at many levels’ Implications for DAFC Need serious structure to offer social inclusion (training, travelling and evaluation) DAFC is ring fenced –allowing volunteers to be paid Volunteering is integral (not peripheral)

Observations on research Examples Nichols (2006) -reviewing the question – member /activist model Blackshaw (2008) –re- defining the community in football Implications Conflict between paid and volunteer structure Lack of stake/autonomy is addressed nature of pro football creating a new volunteer monster Creating a ‘new kind of dignity’ (private + public, elitist + wideing opportunities)

Observations on research Examples VEU (2010) ‘Mismatch between supply and demand’ Implications Re-training of volunteers 75% of in-service activity is pedagogical foundation

Challenges Volunteer research LONG TERM APPROACH RESOURCE FOCUS COMPARISONS AGAINST PUBLIC FUNDED BODIES Football Social capital of experience Employment routes Widening access (social inclusion) Elitist recruitment Narratives of ‘free’ full time volunteers

Thank you