As the international rugby season kicks off in earnest, and other sporting codes compete for TV airtime and fans’ disposable income, something worrying is happening down at the grassroots.
Sports clubs across many codes are running with drastically fewer volunteer coaches and administrators, and the pressure is rising.
According to the NZ Amateur Sport Association, the average number of volunteers has fallen more than 40% since the onset of the COVID pandemic, and those who remain are close to burnout.
