Inspire
club roles
There are many different roles required to run a grassroots football club.
A summary of some of these roles with a brief explanation of their responsibilities and the key skills needed to be successful at the role can be found within this section. Mandatory roles are required as part of the club accreditation with FAW and others are roles or functions that should be considered based on your own club’s circumstances.
A template job description has been provided for each of the mandatory and recommended roles, which can be downloaded by clicking below. You can use these to help you with resource planning, new volunteer recruitment and induction.
Volunteer roles
Role Type
Chairperson
Mandatory
Typical tasks
- Leading club meetings
- Providing overall leadership of the club
- Supporting or developing the club culture/philosophy
- Ambassadorial tasks for the club
- Liaison with local partners such as local business, colleges and universities, other sports clubs
useful skills for this role
- Enthusiastic and motivating
- A good leader who can be objective as well as empathetic
- Confident and a good communicator; able to represent the club at external meetings
- Able to ensure meetings run smoothly and efficiently
- Easy to approach with good listening skills
- Well organised and happy to delegate
Treasurer
Mandatory
Typical tasks
- Keeping accurate records of all incoming and outgoing money on behalf of the club
- Recording and collecting subscriptions from club members
- Providing regular financial reports to the committee
- Ensuring accounts are audited (if required) and presenting at AGM
- Long term financial planning to ensure the club’s sustainability
useful skills for this role
- Enthusiasm
- Well organised – able to keep up to date financial records
- Meticulous when handling money and cheques
- Honesty and integrity
- Good understanding of numbers
- Simple communication of finance to non-finance people
- Able to answer questions of a financial nature in meetings
Secretary
Mandatory
typical tasks
- Looking after the main administrative duties
- Overseeing affiliation to leagues and cup competitions
- Collection and payment of fines
- Administration of all club correspondence
useful skills for this role
- Enthusiasm
- Well organised
- Experienced in computer and administration skills
- Able to maintain confidentiality
- A good communicator, both verbal and written skills
- Good listening skills
Club Safeguarding Officer (CSO)
Mandatory
Typical tasks
- Administering criminal records checks – called DBS checks (Disclosure & Barring Service)
- Ensuring coaches and relevant personnel have current and valid DBS checks and have registered with the club on the COMET system
- Ensuring coaches and relevant personnel have the necessary qualifications to undertake their roles
- Ensuring the club meets at least the Standard level of the Club Accreditation Programme (in partnership with club colleagues)
- Acting as the point of contact for minor safeguarding/welfare issues at club level
- Reporting issues that cannot be dealt with at club level to League Safeguarding Officer or the FAW safeguarding team
- Implementing safeguarding best practice at club level
- Complying with the CSO Code of Conduct
useful skills for this role
- Enthusiasm
- Ability to maintain records
- Ability to provide basic advice, based on club and FAW safeguarding policies
- A child focussed approach
- Integrity and trustworthiness
- Good communication skills
Team Manager / Coach
Mandatory
Typical tasks
- Organising training sessions
- Leading teams on matchdays
- Communicating logistics to players
- Supporting the development of players
useful skills for this role
- Enthusiasm
- Attention to detail
- Forward planning
- Motivator
- Relevant coaching qualification and DBS check
First Aider
Mandatory
typical tasks
- Manage any first aid incident
- Ensure everyone is safe
- Liaise with medical professional, parents, carers
- Keep accurate records of incidents
- Keep first aid kit and equipment up to date and well stocked
useful skills for this role
- Enthusiasm
- Ability to maintain records
- Ability to administer first aid, based on the FAW first aid course
- Integrity and trustworthiness
- Good communication skills
- Ability to remain calm under pressure
- Works well in a team
COMET Champion
Mandatory
Typical tasks
- Supporting other club members in using the system
- Setting up and amending users within the club system
- Helping to resolve club issues experienced on COMET
- Keeping records up to date
- Be a key contact for the FAW
useful skills for this role
- Enthusiasm
- Well organised
- Experienced in computer and administration skills
- Passion to learn and develop especially in relation to COMET
- Interest/experience with technology is helpful, but not required
- Attention to detail
Equality Champion
Recommended
TYPICAL TASKS
- Leading on matters relating to equality, diversity and inclusion
- Promote active conversations about equality, diversity and inclusion throughout the Club
- Ensuring the club has up to date policies, procedures and is adhering to Equality legislation and FAW guidelines
- Providing advice and guidance to Club Officials and Members, signposting to appropriate services where required
useful skills for this role
- Enthusiasm
- Good listening skills
- Honesty and integrity
- A person-centred approach with the ability to inspire others
Groundskeeper
Recommended
Typical tasks
- Preparing and maintain the facility(ies) in accordance with the annual maintenance programme
- Ensuring the pitch(es) are matchday ready
- Preparing and maintain any equipment
- Communicating with coaches, committee members and others about facility usage
- Following necessary health and safety regulations
useful skills for this role
- Enjoys working in the outdoors
- Good attention to detail
- Happy to work alone
- Great self-motivator
- Excellent planning, organisation and time management skills
Volunteer Co-ordinator
Recommended
Typical tasks
- Acting as the initial point of contact for current and potential volunteers
- Encouraging more people to help out
- Putting people in roles that suit their skills, interests and availability
- Providing new volunteers with the support and information to help them carry out their role
- Ensuring the club values and recognises the contribution of its volunteers
- Retaining the existing group of volunteers while growing the base
useful skills for this role
- Enthusiasm
- Good organisational skills
- Friendly and approachable personality
- Great communication skills
- Empathy – being a fellow volunteer helps
- Understanding of time management
Coaching Co-ordinator
Recommended
Typical tasks
- Creating an appropriate coaching structure for the club, based on its’ size and focus
- Implementing a mentoring and support system for new and existing team managers/coaches
- Promoting and signpost coach development opportunities to team managers/coaches
- Signpost team managers/coaches to relevant coach education courses and development opportunities
useful skills for this role
- Enthusiasm
- Great communication skills
- Knowledge on the coaching pathway and development opportunities
- Good listening skills
Fixtures Secretary / Co-ordinator
Recommended
typical tasks
- Booking facilities
- Communicating with visiting team or the league
- Liaise with groundskeepers
- Communicate with home managers and coaches
useful skills for this role
- Enthusiasm
- Well organised
- Experienced in computer and administration skills
- A good communicator, both verbal and written skills
Accreditation Officer
Recommended
Typical tasks
- Determining the level of accreditation the club would like to achieve
- Reviewing the criteria and aligning what the club has and what is needed
- Completing the application process
- Acting as a point of contact for the FAW Trust
- Communicating the club’s achievement to members and the wider community
useful skills for this role
- Enthusiasm
- A good communicator, both verbal and written skills
- Experienced in computer and administration skills
- Passion to learn and develop especially in relation to COMET
- Ability to maintain records and keep a track of upcoming outstanding qualifications
- Understanding of time management
Social Media, Marketing or Communications Co-ordinator
Recommended
typical tasks
- Raising the profile of the club in the community
- Building relationships with local media
- Ensuring the club website and social media feeds provide up to date and relevant information
- Reporting on club events and compiling match reports
- Running mini social media campaigns
useful skills for this role
- Confident and approachable
- Enthusiastic and naturally curious
- A strong communicator, with good writing and verbal skills
- Well organised
- Experienced in computer skills – curious about digital platforms
- Interested in marketing/promotions/social media or dealing with the local media
Committee / Board Member
Other
typical tasks
- Help in making decisions to support the club grow, develop and sustain
- Oversee different areas/activities within the club
useful skills for this role
- A strong communicator, with good written and verbal skills
- Creative thinking
- Good listener
Club Helper
Other
typical tasks
- General support of a club activity either during training, matchdays or away from the pitch
useful skills for this role
- Enthusiasm
- Willingness to give different tasks a go
- A good communicator
Team Support / Helper
Other
typical tasks
- General support of team activity either during training, matchdays or away from the pitch
useful skills for this role
- Enthusiasm
- Willingness to give different tasks a go
- A good communicator
INSPIRE CASE STUDIES
All clubs have a story. It is about connecting and learning how they inspire their volunteers.
inspire
What it is
The message and stories we tell to attract audiences into volunteering.
Why it matters
Being able to connect club members with the community through personal motives and experiences can start a shift in the volunteering culture.
recruit
What it is
Where and how we communicate with potential volunteers.
Why it matters
The ability to encourage new people to be part of our wider football family, may help bring fresh ideas and more helping hands.
train & develop
What it is
How we support volunteers in order to meet both their and football’s goals.
Why it matters
Volunteering can be scary, but with the right support and guidance people can thrive and develop, benefitting the individual, club and wider community.
retain
What it is
How we work to keep hold of our volunteers and make a difference to their lives.
Why it matters
Understanding what motivates your volunteers will help you understand how best to support them and keep them involved within your club.
celebrate
What it is
How we ensure that football volunteers feel valued and rewarded.
Why it matters
By thanking your volunteers and recognising their achievements, you are more likely to retain them for future seasons.
amplify
What it is
Who we get the message out to and how we reach them.
Why it matters
Attracting an array of individuals to your club may help open up new avenues, bring different perspectives and help your club grow, develop and sustain.