Olympic legacy: Volunteers needed as waiting list grows at Shropshire sports clubs
As people are being more and more inspired by the heroic efforts of Team GB in Tokyo this year, sports clubs in Shropshire hope more coaches and officials will come forward to secure their future.
The chair of the Shropshire Athletic Association said there are children on waiting lists to join clubs, and they always have an influx in interest around the Olympics and Paralympics, but without volunteers to help run the clubs and competitions, no new members can join.
Adie Pottinger, chairman of the Shropshire Athletics Association, said they are in desperate need of volunteers to help run the competitions and training sessions so anyone who wants to take up a new sport is able to.
"Traditionally all our coaches and officials tend to come from parents whose children have been competing," Adie explained. "If we haven't got officials we certainly can't put events on.
"That's where people are struggling at the moment. It's the same people who are doing it over and over again."
He said clubs have long waiting lists, and never want to turn children away but without the people to officiate, it's difficult to secure the future of the sport.
"We don't want to ever turn any children away from the sport – we might be missing out on the next Usain Bolt or the next record holder, you never know," she said.
"Clubs have got long waiting lists of kids wanting to join athletics and they can't take them on because of the limits on how many they can have in each session. So there is a very big hole in the process."
With the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics finishing soon, many young people could be inspired to take up an Olympic sport such as shot put or vault pole.
Team GB's efforts and big names like Tom Daley and Sarah Storey can inspire the next generation of athletes, Adie said, but if they aren't given the chance on a local level, they could miss out.
"We are at the end of the summer season now – there is only a handful of meetings left – but we are desperately in need of officials and coaches," he added.
"After 2012 Olympics there was a huge influx of people wanting to take up athletics and we build on that every four years. The Olympics certainly do have an effect.
"We haven't seen the effects of Tokyo yet but hopefully it will inspire more people."
Paul Sanderson, member of Telford Athletics Club, and secretary of Shropshire Schools Athletics, said more coaches are urged to come forward to help.
"Most clubs have had an increase in interest and waiting lists," he said. "But not enough coaches. There is a limit on how many people one coach can take in a class.
"There is good facilities in Shropshire, if there is anybody out there thinking they fancy doing it, the coaching opportunities are there.
"There are plenty of chances to do the sports at school because there are teachers – it's the next step that's a problem. I think it's a bigger issue than just athletics."
Anyone, from ex-athletes to people still competing themselves, can offer their help to the club, which operates in Oswestry, Shrewsbury, Wenlock and Telford. DBS checks will be carried out.
Visit telfordathleticclub.co.uk/contact to get in touch.
