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Clarence Long, Head Coach of the Hustle & Muscle Mat Club, a USA Wrestling youth wrestling club in Washington, D.C., says he sees two kind of volunteers: One is the young ex-wrestler who wants to coach and possibly make the sport a career; the other is a wrestling parent who is willing to roll up mats and organize transportation the or help in any other way needed. They fill different roles and have different expectations, but each is invaluable in their own way, he says.

"I recruit both types of volunteers by telling them that their thoughts and suggestions will matter," Long says. “They will get a chance to be an active part of teaching boys and girls how to wrestle and that it will be a positive experience for them and the kids.”

He’s right, volunteering is a great experience. But it’s particularly vital for youth sports like wrestling. Which is why recruiting and retaining volunteer coaches, referees, and parents is an ongoing challenge that affects the long-term future of the sport.

"The good ones want to assist wherever they are needed," says Rick Pummel, of the volunteers he works with. Pummel and his wife, Keely, of Russells Point, Ohio have two boys—ages 12 and 8—active in youth sports. Rick has coached his son's soccer, baseball, football and wrestling teams and both parents have held board member positions in the various sports. Like most volunteers, he and his wife don’t get paid for the time they devote to youth sports, despite an already extremely busy personal and professional schedule. That’s why gratitude is a key currency in rewarding volunteers, he says.

"The last thing a volunteer needs to hear is criticism that they are not doing enough," says Pummel. "So making sure they understand how much they are needed is key."

Recognizing volunteers can also serve as an effective recruiting and retention tool, says Coyte Cooper, who was a 2004 All-American wrestler at Indiana University. "When compensation is not an option, the staff needs to go out of their way to show their appreciation for the volunteers and their service," he explains. By publicly honoring volunteers both in marketing materials and at events, you foster an inviting culture where people want to get involved, he says. “The point is that showing appreciation can go a long way to keep people engaged."

Fred Engh, founder and president of the National Alliance for Youth Sports, agrees. When individuals feel genuinely gratitude for their efforts, they are more likely to return than if they don’t receive any type of feedback, he says. "The more quality individuals you can bring into your program to work with children and keep them around for many seasons, the stronger your program will be and the more benefits children will gain from learning from them,” Engh adds.

One of the most under appreciated—and overlooked—volunteer groups in youth sports is officials. That's why Long works hard to recruit new wrestling referees. "You can’t have a legitimate match or tournament without them," he points out.

A tactic he favors involves recruiting local high school wrestlers, or recent ex-wrestlers that are now out of competition, to officiate matches. Long has found it’s an effective way to staff many local youth matches or tournaments since many of these candidates live nearby and are willing to trade their time for experience instead of pay. But, he cautions, coaches, parents, and competitors must understand that even if they do get paid, no official is perfect."It is important to understand their limitations and lack of experience," says Long.

Referees are also a critical element of the sport, Cooper notes, because they impact both the quality and safety of competition. "Programs need to be adamant about learning to treat referees the right way so they keep them engaged in the sport," he says. The longer officials stick around, the more they learn the rulebook, the more likely it is that everyone in the sport benefits.“Parents can educate their athletes and others on how important it is to treat referees the right way," he says.

Dr. Bill Welker, an inductee on the West Virginia chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, says inviting new officials to practice room wrestle-offs and pre-season tournaments is a good way to help them gain experience in a more relaxed environment. He also makes a concerted effort to assign young officials matches at the youth, middle school,and junior varsity levels. This allows them to display their refereeing skills in front of wrestling coaches at various competitive levels and learn from a wide variety of veterans.

Welker has a laundry list of other ways to attract new officials. He suggests contacting area colleges to propose they incorporate a "wrestling officiating" class into their physical education curriculum. And he pushes everyone to encourage women to become officials. He also suggests local referee associations or youth programs create an adopt-a-ref mentorship program.

For his part, Pummel works with his local youth wrestling program throughout the offseason to stay in touch with families to continue to develop and promote a culture of giving back to the sport. Spring freestyle and Greco-Roman events and offseason events like open wrestling rooms or summer camps can be another way to share the positive effects of the sport and draw people in.

"The enjoyment of having a five-year-old boy walk up to you and say ‘You are a good coach' is the reason I help out," says Pummel.“As long as that child learns and enjoys the sport without becoming discouraged, I have done my job. I don't need to be paid for what I do. I just want them to be grow up and remember that I was a coach or volunteer who was there for them and someday they will return the favor."