Eastern Iowa communities seeing need for volunteers in community sports

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Communities across Eastern Iowa say they’re seeing a need for more volunteers to help with kid’s community sports.

“We are all out there as parents, as other coaches that want everybody to succeed in this,” said Michelle Wenzel, parent and volunteer.

Michelle Wenzel’s daughter plays soccer through the Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation Department. As the summer season rolled around she said leaders with the department were looking for help finding coaches.

“Received a phone call from Cedar Rapids Parks and Rec and they said that they were in a great need for coaches. There were over 100 kids that needed coaches to be a part of the season and I thought, oh man,” said Wenzel.

So she signed up to coach her Daughter’s team. And so far, she says there are many benefits to helping out.

“You learn a little bit about yourself. You meet a lot of people along the way and then you’re part of something so much bigger in this community,” Wenzel said.

But Cedar Rapids isn’t the only town seeing this need.

Leaders with Swisher Youth Sports said getting coaches is one of their biggest hurdles.

“That’s what seems to be the most challenging. The last four seasons that our older son has played, I’ve coached three out of the four seasons just because if we want league, we need, we need coaches,” said Alyssa Stratton with Swisher Youth Sports.

Stratton said in the past they’ve even been on the verge of not being able to have teams because of not having enough coaches.

“It might feel intimidating at first, but the impact that you’re having on the kids, it’s… it’s really great,” said Stratton.

And leaders in Marion said they’re also seeing similar issues.

“We are struggling to find those volunteer coaches for our sports,” said Karlene Hummel, Marion Recreation Superintendent. “They just are that leader for those young youth participants and giving them that initial start.”

In the end, Wenzel said it’s all about the kids.

“These kids need to, you know, be connected. Feel like they are a part of something bigger and there’s, you know, mental health components to this. Well-being and physical well-being and when we are connected together as a team and as a community, these kids feel so much more self-worth,” she said.

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