Last updated – 11th February 2025
Athletics within the UK is largely run by volunteers. Many coaches, club leaders and officials get involved in volunteering initially to support their child who participates in athletics. Ayr Seaforth is no different. We depend on people giving up their time to help us in a variety of roles including assisting with coaching, officiating at events and helping to organise behind the scenes. We welcome any offer of support from club members, parents, grandparents etc, or from anyone in the community who is passionate about sport and athletics.
Below is an indicative list of the types of volunteer roles we have available at our club. If you think you might be able to take on one of these roles, or even if you have other skills that you think may benefit the club, please complete this short form.
The club will cover the cost of training and expenses for coaches and officials in exchange for a commitment to volunteer for an extended period of time. The Level 1 Coaching Assistant course currently costs £215.
Coaching
Our main training nights are Tuesdays and Thursdays but we also have Run, Jump, Throw and a variety of junior and specialist sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays. We are keen to expand training options on Mondays and Wednesdays! Examples of training groups that need support are:
- Development Group (General athletics for competing athletes aged 9+) – currently Tuesdays and Thursdays 6pm until 7:30pm
- Junior Development (Age 7 and 8) – currently every Wednesday, 5-6pm or 6-7pm
- Run, Jump, Throw (Age 9-12) – Currently every Monday and Wednesday, 5:30-6:30pm
- Endurance Running – currently Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7pm until 8pm
Ideally, we are looking for individuals who are interested in coaching long-term and are keen to progress through the coaching qualification levels. That said, we also want to hear from individuals who are looking to assist in a training group but aren’t ready yet to become a qualified athletics coach. We would also love to hear from local students who are specialising in coaching and/or sport development.
The first step is to join a group and gain experience working alongside the qualified coaches. If you decide to complete a qualification, the club will cover the cost. Follow the links below for more details about coaching qualifications. All volunteers working with children are required to complete a PVG check prior to getting started.
UKA Coaching Assistant – Level 1
Time Commitment – 3 hours per week, over 2 evening training sessions
Under the supervision of a UK Athletics Coach or Event Group Coach, assist with the delivery of training sessions.
UKA Athletics Coach – Level 2
Time Commitment – Minimum of 3 hours per week delivering training sessions plus additional 1-2 hours preparing sessions and communicating with athletes, parents and other club members.
Officiating
Officiating
Time Commitment – Flexible
Graded Officials (judges) are essential for the smooth running of athletic competitions. Perhaps you may start off as a parent helper at competitions, raking the long jump pit or retrieving the shot put but why not go a step further and be trained in all field or track events? You might find yourself eventually officiating at a major international event in the future! Your time commitment can vary widely as an official but you would be expected to officiate at most local competitions and the occasional national event.
Club leadership and other roles
Welfare Officer
Role Profile
Club Committee/Board of Trustees
Our Board of Trustees meet quarterly to review the health of the club and make important decision on behalf of members. If your time is limited but you would like to make a significant impact, this role may be for you!
Time commitment = 4 x 1 hour meetings across the year with occasional email communication
Volunteer Recruitment
As a volunteer lead organisation, we are never done recruiting volunteer help. Whether it’s nurturing potential volunteers for the future or sending out urgent appeals for assistance, you will play an important role in the club’s ongoing success. You will need to be a confident communicator as talking to people face to face at the club and at events (e.g. competitions) is very effective.
Time commitment = Flexible
Athlete Recruitment
Can you help with our athlete recruitment process? This currently entails receiving joining enquiries, providing basic information, updating our waiting list and co-ordinating trial and induction sessions for prospective athletes. We have already moved to a simpler digital process, however we have more work to do. We will provide you the necessary guidance and templates.
Time commitment = 1-2 hours per week on average