5 Reasons Why You Should Consider Volunteering With Your Local MHA
Chris MacDonald
VP, Hockey Programs
Unionville Minor
Hockey Association
1. We need help!
Your local minor hockey association is almost certainly run
by a group of volunteers. They may have a paid office manager/administrator,
but the bulk of the work is done by people who don’t get paid, do multiple jobs
and spend unhealthy amounts of time in arenas. They have to do this because
there simply aren’t enough of them to cover all the work that needs to be done.
You’ve heard the saying “many hands make light work”? In minor hockey, we need more hands! And it doesn’t have to be like taking on another full-time job; you’ve probably got one of those already. A few hours a week would make a huge difference to the folks who are currently working so much that hockey is like a second full-time job.
2. Your kids get to see you “work”
This is an interesting and often overlooked side effect of volunteering in minor hockey, or at school or a camp, where your child can see you work. All of a sudden, Dad isn’t just the maker of sandwiches, the doer of laundry and the guy with the band-aids. Mom doesn’t just go to work and do...something with computers...and then come home at night. In volunteering, kids get an opportunity to see you “work”, whether it’s coaching, convening, or just helping out. They see you in an entirely new light. And they’ll have questions, which is a great chance to teach them a little about responsibility, accountability and being part of something bigger than themselves or your family.
3. Personal satisfaction
Let’s be selfish here for a second: you wouldn’t do this if you didn’t get some pleasure from it, right? The good news is that you’ll feel an enormous amount of personal satisfaction from putting your time and effort into something that makes a difference. You can actually see the difference you make, every time these kids step on the ice. There is a direct cause-and-effect. Without coaches, convenors, board members, and general helpers, there is no minor hockey. This is not an exaggeration. If people don’t volunteer, your local minor hockey association will fold next year, I promise you. If you do step up, local hockey continues. Simple math, and you can see and feel the difference you are making.
4. It looks good on your resume
No one ever got the CEO job because she coached minor hockey (I don’t think), but it doesn’t hurt. In my day job I have looked at hundreds of resumes and I do look for volunteer experience. It tells me that you’ve devoted time to something you care about. It tells me that you’re able to use skills that you’ve developed professionally in another setting. It tells me that you can work with others toward a common goal. Believe me, it’s a way to get a leg up on your competition. Especially for younger workers. If I see a junior employee with limited work experience but who is in a board position or coaching role, that person is getting a call back. It’s like a big flashing sign that says “POTENTIAL”.
5. Community involvement
When we moved into our house 15 years ago, one of the conversations we had was about how much we liked the area and how great the community was. We actively looked for ways to give back, with varying levels of success and engagement. It wasn’t until my son started playing hockey that I realized that the answer was under my nose the whole time: minor hockey! I have been a manager, trainer, assistant coach, head coach, board member and, frankly, I’ll do anything else they need me to do. Why? Because this is my way to support the community. There are countless others. But if you love hockey, not only for the game, but for the life lessons it teaches our youth today, volunteering at your local minor hockey association is for you. Why not give them a call and ask if you can help out?