Subject: Respecting the Role and Limits of Parent Volunteers in Minor Sports
To All Minor Sports Associations,
I am writing to raise a concern that appears to be becoming more common across minor sports: the increasing expectation that parent volunteers can be assigned duties without prior agreement, and that once assigned, it becomes the parent’s responsibility to find coverage if they are unavailable.
Parent volunteers are exactly that — volunteers.
Minor sports depend heavily on the time, effort, and goodwill of parents. Coaches, managers, scorekeepers, timekeepers, tournament helpers, fundraising coordinators, and countless other roles are often filled by parents who are already balancing work, family obligations, other children’s schedules, and personal commitments. Their contribution should be appreciated, not treated as an automatic obligation.
In recent years, there seems to have been a shift where team managers or association representatives delegate volunteer shifts to parents and then place the burden on those parents to find replacements if they cannot attend. This approach is not reasonable.
There is a significant difference between asking for help and assigning responsibility without confirmation. A parent who has not agreed to a specific shift should not be treated as though they have failed in their duties when that time does not work for them. Likewise, if a volunteer schedule is created without first confirming availability, the responsibility for adjusting that schedule should remain with the person or group organizing it — not with the parent who was simply placed into an unsuitable time slot.
This concern is particularly noticeable in some U7 to U9 tournaments. At these younger age levels, many tournaments appear to function less like meaningful competitive events and more like association fundraisers. Association teams are often expected to pay an entry fee to participate in their own association’s tournament, provide parent volunteers to run the tournament, and also contribute a gift basket or raffle item, often valued at approximately $300.00.
Individually, some of these expectations may be understandable. Paying an entry fee may be reasonable. Helping run the tournament may also be reasonable. Contributing to a raffle or fundraising basket may also be reasonable in the right context. However, requiring all three at the same time places too much burden on families who are already supporting registration fees, equipment costs, travel, team fees, and their own time commitments.
For U7 to U9 families in particular, associations should be careful not to turn introductory-level hockey or minor sports into an excessive fundraising obligation. These tournaments should first and foremost be about player development, team bonding, fun, and positive early experiences in sport. Fundraising may be part of the event, but it should not become the primary purpose, nor should it rely too heavily on the same families who are already paying to participate and volunteering to operate the event.
This is not a criticism of team managers, many of whom are also volunteers and carry a heavy workload. However, associations need to provide clear guidance and structure so that volunteer coordination is handled fairly and respectfully.
A more appropriate approach would be:
Ask parents for availability before assigning shifts.
Confirm that a parent has accepted a specific volunteer time before treating it as their responsibility.
Maintain a central list of available volunteers or alternates.
Avoid language that suggests parents are required to “find their own coverage” for shifts they did not agree to.
Be transparent about tournament costs, fundraising goals, and where the money is going.
Avoid stacking multiple obligations on the same families, especially at younger age levels.
Recognize that families contribute in different ways, and not every parent has the same availability or financial flexibility.
Minor sports should be built on community, respect, and cooperation. Parents should absolutely be encouraged to help where they can, but volunteer participation should not be managed as though parents are employees on a work schedule.
If associations want strong parent involvement, the process needs to remain respectful. Clear communication, advance notice, confirmed availability, and reasonable fundraising expectations will go much further than assigning duties and shifting the administrative or financial burden onto families.
Parent volunteers are the backbone of minor sports. They deserve to be treated accordingly.
Sincerely,
A concerned parent
