Volunteering has the potential to take you everywhere

This week Volleyball Australia is celebrating the hard work and dedication of all our incredible volunteers. Without volunteers that selflessly dedicate their time each week to give back to the sporting community, volleyball in Australia wouldn’t be able to grow.

Ben Abbott knows the effect that volunteers can have on the game and that is why he stuck his hand up to give commentating a go.

“I love being around the sport. I know the feeling you get when you are on the court and I wanted to be a part of that,” Abbott said.

Abbott described the volleyball community as bubbly and excited and he likes engaging a new spectator or participant through his commentating.

“The volleyball community brings this incredible atmosphere with them to every tournament, and they just enjoy being in the environment,” he said.

Being a volunteer has given Abbot a lot of incredible experiences. From being centre court at FIVB events, commentating at the 2019 Volleyball Nations League in Brisbane and to the 2019 Pan American games in Peru. Next on the list is being a court side commentator at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

It is hard for Abbott to pinpoint one aspect of the experience that he is most looking forward to, but he hopes to take as much from it as he can.

To have all the best athletes in the world, with a sport I love in the one city is incredible. I know I will gain so much experience and knowledge from being there, but I don’t think there will be just one singular highlight,” he said.

Abbott credits the positive experience he has at all volleyball events for the drive to continue volunteering.

“Within any sport there are always volunteers, I think the reason people come back to volunteer at volleyball in particular is because of the positive experiences they have with the sport,” he said.

Volleyball Australia would like to thank all of the volunteers who dedicate their time week in and week out to the volleyball community. It is the commitment of our volunteers that allows us to continue delivering volleyball events around the country.

Make sure you thank your local volunteers!