ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the volunteer recruitment and investigate motivations and barriers to volunteering. Volunteering is the lifeblood of sports programmes across the world. There are numerous challenges in setting up a mentoring program in the volunteer sport sector: time is limited, volunteering is optional, and sharing knowledge is yet to become a cultural practice in many sports clubs. Participants were recruited through regional sports partnerships, National Sport Governing Bodies, and the Irish Sports Council. Learning opportunities impact the participant experience and influence retention. Management of volunteers is a significant barrier to retention and the sustainability of the sport club or organization. Mentoring has a long history and has been used extensively as a learning tool in work and training environments. In the volunteer context, psychosocial development would enhance an individual's sense of competence, identity and effectiveness.
