More than one in four of Bay of Plenty adults volunteer in sport and recreation, according to Sport New Zealand's Active NZ Survey.
The Active NZ Survey showed 26 per cent of Bay adults aged 16 and over volunteered for sport and recreation, slightly below the national average of 28.6 per cent.
Those volunteers will be recognised at a breakfast hosted by Sport Bay of Plenty on Friday, as part of National Volunteer Week from June 18 to 24.
About 200 volunteers from 15 different sports will attend breakfasts around the Bay, including about 20 volunteers from Bowls Mount Maunganui.
Secretary treasurer and club manager Garrick Hamlyn said the club had at least 30 volunteers, who were mostly older people or retirees. The club's youngest volunteer was in his 30s.
Mr Hamlyn said volunteers helped with the running of club tournaments and championships, groundkeeping, running the kitchen, as handymen and running the website.
"That does not sound like much but they do so much, most of it is quite repetitive," he said. "We have two club days a week so that is two lots of people running those.
"We have people who come in the mornings before the tournaments to mark out the greens as appropriate and lay out the score boards."
Mr Hamlyn said the club's volunteer numbers were steady and it was important to recognise them.
Western Bay of Plenty community sport advisor Zane Jensen said volunteers were the backbone of community sport.
"Without volunteers, sport as we know it would simply not exist. These people dedicate their valuable time to insure sport can take place for everyone else rather than for personal benefit."
Mr Jensen said volunteers were not there for the credit or praise but it was nice to be able to say thanks.
"These volunteers are everyone and anyone, the common trait amongst them all is the passion they have for their particular sport and the desire to give back to the community."
Commenting on the survey figures, Mr Jensen said for some people life was so busy sport was sometimes an added extra.
Sport Bay of Plenty worked alongside clubs and organisations to make sure they had the capability and education around volunteer management.
"This enables clubs to recruit and retain volunteers by making them feel valued and appreciated for the time and effort they put into sport," said Mr Jensen.
Volunteering Bay of Plenty general manager Theo Ursum said it was important to recognise volunteering and the place it had in keeping communities strong and healthy.
"National Volunteer Week is a great opportunity to start volunteering or, if you already volunteer, it is a great time to invite a friend to join you."
"Volunteering is good for you, your community and for the social development of the country because it helps build the 'social fabric' that keeps us connected and engaged in our world.
"We all have skills that can help others."
To be apart of the #VBOPDARE challenge, contact Volunteering Bay of Plenty on 07 5713714 or admin@volbop.org.nz
Active NZ survey
The most common form of volunteering in the Bay was coach or instructor at 11.3 per cent, followed by parent helper at 11.1 per cent, officiating roles at 8.4 per cent and administration roles at 5.9 per cent.
Almost half of young people volunteered for sport and recreation in the Bay, with 45 per cent of people aged 10 to 18 years giving time outside classes in a volunteer role.
Volunteer week
- WHEN: National Volunteer Week, June 18-24
- WHAT: Take part in the #VBOPDARE challenge
- Clean for Humanity in Tauranga challenge at Habitat for Humanity Restore from 9am-1pm on June 19-23.
- Donate blood or plasma at NZ Blood Service Tauranga branch from 9am-4pm on June 19-23.
- Volunteer training and information day at the Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club on Saturday, June 24, from 10am-2.30pm.
- Sport Bay of Plenty recognises sport volunteers with a breakfast on June 23.