Why Engagement Matters in Sport Volunteer Motivation

Abstract

Over the years, sport management scholars have been interested in sport volunteer research. Considering there is a heavy reliance on sport volunteers to successfully stage sporting events, knowing how to recruit and retain these volunteers allows sport event managers and organizers to continue this success. One such way is through understanding the engagement of sport volunteers, specifically the in-fluences of engagement. Through survey methodology, this study examined how engagement of 464 sport volunteers at college football bowl games influenced motivational factors to volunteer. Structural Equation Modeling found that meaningfulness and safety, but not availability, had a significant impact on love and purposive motivation through engagement, but there was no significant relationship with rewards. An implication for sport event organizers working with volunteers is to assign meaningful roles that have an impact on the community as well as for the volunteers themselves.