Volunteering

Some youth sports organizations ask families to contribute a set amount of volunteer help each season; others simply let everyone sign up for whatever they'd like. If your organization uses credits, Team Scout tracks the contributions this way — and if it doesn't, you won't see credits anywhere:

• Credit requirement — Your team sets a required number of credits per player per season, pooled across your household. This is visible in the Volunteering section of your team page.
• Earning credits — Each volunteer shift you complete earns credits. Different shifts may be worth different amounts based on duration and type.
• Progress tracking — View your current credits earned vs. required at any time. A progress bar shows how close you are to meeting your requirement.

If you do not meet your credit requirement by the end of the season, your organization may apply a volunteer fee. This policy varies by team, so check with your admin for specifics.

Signing up for volunteer shifts is simple and first-come, first-served:

1. Browse available shifts. Go to your team page and tap the Volunteering tab. You will see a list of upcoming volunteer opportunities with dates, times, locations, and credit values.
2. Tap to sign up. Select a shift and confirm. You will receive a confirmation notification immediately.
3. View your schedule. All confirmed shifts appear in your personal schedule. You will get a reminder notification 24 hours before each shift.
4. Check in. When you arrive for your shift, the shift coordinator will confirm your attendance. Credits are added to your account after the shift is completed.

Popular shifts fill up quickly. If a shift you want is full, you can join the waitlist and be notified if a spot opens up.

Life happens. If you cannot make a volunteer shift you signed up for, Team Scout makes it easy to find a replacement:

1. Open your confirmed shift in the Volunteering tab and tap Request Swap.
2. Your shift is posted to the team's available swaps list. Other volunteers who need credits can see it and pick it up.
3. Another volunteer accepts. When someone takes your shift, you get a notification confirming your shift was covered.
4. No phone calls needed. The entire process happens in the app. No need to text around looking for a replacement.

If nobody picks up your shift within a reasonable time, contact your team admin. They can help find coverage or adjust your assignment.

Volunteering is a family effort. Team Scout allows extended family members to contribute credits on your behalf:

• Family accounts. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, or other family members can create their own Team Scout account and join your team as volunteers.
• Linked credits. When a family member volunteers, their credits are counted toward your family's total requirement. You link family yourself by inviting them to your household.
• Independent scheduling. Each family member manages their own shift signups and schedule. They get their own reminders and notifications.

This is especially helpful for busy parents who may have work conflicts during game days. Grandparents often love being involved, and this gives them a structured way to help. To link a family member, send them a household invitation from your profile — no admin needed.

Some organizations understand that not every family can commit to volunteer shifts. The credit buyout option provides an alternative:

• How it works. Instead of volunteering, you can pay a set fee to satisfy your credit requirement. The price per credit is determined by your organization.
• Partial buyout. You can buy out some credits and volunteer for the rest. For example, if your requirement is 10 credits, you could volunteer for 6 and buy out the remaining 4.
• Payment. You pay the buyout through a secure Stripe checkout, the same way other team payments are handled.

Not all organizations offer buyouts. Check with your team admin to see if this option is available for your team. The buyout fee goes directly to your organization to help cover the costs that volunteers would normally handle.