Cricket bosses call on clubs to boot long serving volunteers who are past ‘best before’ date
Cricket Australia has appealed for the dismissal of thousands of long serving club volunteers, declaring their innings closed at the start of National Volunteers Week — an insulting move that will alienate cricket’s grassroots support, experts have warned.
Cricket Australia has appealed for the dismissal of thousands of long serving club volunteers, declaring their innings should be closed.
The sport’s ruling body has urged clubs to raise the finger to stalwarts “hanging on” past their “best before” date and send them on their way.
The insult to dedicated committee members came at the start of National Volunteers Week and has been condemned by experts who warn it risks alienating cricket’s grassroots support.
The strategy was contained in a Cricket Australia document about managing its volunteer network which identifies barriers to succession planning within its ranks including volunteers “hanging on too long”.
“This involves a situation where Committee members who have served the club or association well for many years are being held onto despite the fact that they may be reaching their ‘best before’ date,” the Volunteer Management Framework said.
The passage was removed from the online document yesterday after The Daily Telegraph asked about it.
But other contentious passages remain including identifying “gate keepers” who hold “all the knowledge in a system only they understand”, believing some staff/volunteers are irreplaceable, seniors “taking all” where older members assume all administrative responsibility restricting the inclusion of juniors, and a fear of change and new ideas.
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The document aims to help clubs find new members to ensure the “longevity of cricket at a community level”.
Griffith University sport researcher Prof Graham Cuskelly said: “I think sport definitely benefits from volunteers being better managed.”
But he warned forcing change could alienate the people who keep organisations going.
“There is always a risk that if you push volunteers too hard they might push back.”
Ronald Cardwell, 66, has spent more than 40 years helping out in Sydney cricket clubs and said telling volunteers they were “past their best before date” was degrading.
“That demeans what they have contributed,” Mr Cardwell said.
The diehard St George Cricket Club official said older members played a key role in recruiting new members.
“You’ve got to ensure younger people understand the legacy.”
A Cricket Australia spokesman yesterday said the language used in the guidelines didn’t reflect the organisation’s view of volunteers.
“We actively encourage all clubs and associations to embrace diversity in their volunteer teams no matter their age, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, ability or religion,” he said.
Other sports said volunteers were their lifeblood.
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