ABSTRACT
Sport clubs, especially soccer clubs, have a long tradition in many European countries and still play an important role by providing sporting activities for the whole population. However, in nearly all European countries, voluntarism plays a central role in the organization of sport club activities. The majority of board members, coaches, and referees in grass-roots soccer are volunteers, although there are a few instances of professionalization. The status of volunteering can, for example, manifest in a strategic plan to promote and support volunteering in the club. There are numerous relevant factors at an individual level as to why club members actively volunteer in a sport club. To analyze individual and structural factors of long-term volunteering as well as decision-making processes questions, a multilevel framework was developed based on the structural–individualistic social theory. The analysis of decision-making processes implies that sport and soccer clubs should adopt a more systematic and strategic approach to volunteer management.
