welcomeChampions of change are active

TOOL 3 - Setting up a buddy system

Project developed in collaboration Collaboration leader:

What is a buddy system?Traditionally,abuddysystemisaprocedureinwhichtwopeople(thebuddies)operatetogetherasaunittomonitorandhelpeachother,usuallyinunfamiliarsituations.Eachbuddyhasresponsibilityforoneotherpersonandviceversa.

How would a buddy system be useful to a club?Thinkofabuddysystemasasupportnetworkorasawayformemberstohelpeachother.Abuddysystemcouldbeusedto:

• Helpnewmemberstofeelpartoftheclub.Forexample,introducingthemtoothermembersincludingkeypeople,showingthemaroundthefacilities,andmakingsuretheyknowwherethevenuesare.

• Ensurethesafetyofplayersduringtripsaway.Pairingupwhentravellingisagreatidea,notonlytoensureno-onegetsleftbehindbutalsotolookoutforeachother’ssafetyinunfamiliarplaces,ortomakesureeveryoneisbehavinginawaythatreflectsthevaluesoftheclub.

• Giveyoungmemberssomeonetoturntowhentheyneedofhelp.Veryyoungmemberscanbeassignedteenagebuddiestohelpensuretheirsafetyandgivethemsomeonetotalktoifthingsaren’tgoingright.Thiscanalsobeagreatwaytobuildconfidence,self-esteemandresponsibilityinoldermembers.

• Encouragepositiverelationshipsbetweenclubmembers.Fosteringrelationshipsbetweenpeersandagegroupsthatwouldnotusuallyconnectisagreatwaytoencourageclubspirit.

• Assist,welcomeandtrainnewvolunteers.Pairupnewvolunteerswithmoreexperiencedvolunteerssotheycanquicklylearntheropesandgettowork!

How does a buddy system differ from a mentoring program?Inmanywaysbeingsomeone’sbuddyisverysimilartobeingamentor.Eitherway,oneoftheprimarygoalsofamentoringorabuddysystemistosupportsomeoneelse.

However,abuddysystemisalessformalarrangementandgenerallyappliestotwopeopleofequalstandingintheclubwhohelpeachotherout.Inamentoringrelationship,amoreexperiencedorknowledgeablepersonisassignedtoguideandsupporttheotherpersontoachieveaparticulargoal(forexample,tobecomeaqualifiedcoach).

welcomeChampions of change are active

TOOL 3 - Setting up a buddy system

Project developed in collaboration Collaboration leader:

Unlikeamentoringrelationship,abuddyrelationshipdoesnotnecessarilyrequirea‘contract’butincertainsituationsitcouldbeuseful.Itshouldincludethefollowing:

• Atimeframeforthestartandfinishofthebuddyrelationship.

• Descriptionsofwhatitmeanstobeabuddyandresponsibilitiesofeachperson.

• Whattodoifthebuddyrelationshipisn’tworking.

Set up a buddy system in four steps1. Define the system goals. Doyouwanttowelcomenewmembers?Helpensurethesafetyofmembersontour?Helporientnewvolunteers?Startwithoneclearandspecificgoal.

2. Pair up the buddies. Thereareallsortsofwaystopairupbuddies.Youcouldchoosethemrandomlyoraskforvolunteers.Agoodbuddyrelationshipreliestosomeextentonthepersonalityofeachperson,soyoumaywanttogettoknowthembeforeyoumatchthemup.Enlistthehelpofthosewhoknowthepeopleconcerned–aparentorperhapsacoach.Developa‘contract’ifyouthinkoneisneededandmakesureeachpersonclearlyunderstandswhatitmeanstobeabuddy.

3. Measure the success of your buddy system.Althoughyoushouldallowthebuddiestoworkouttheirownrelationship,it’simportanttomonitorprogressandsuccess.Isthesystemachievingresultsinlinewithyourgoalinsettinguptheprogram?Arethebuddiesdoingwhattheyaremeanttodo?Thisisparticularlyimportantwhenitcomestoyoungchildren.Aretheyoungerchildrencomingtowatchtheirolderbuddiesplay?Haveretentionratesforvolunteersimproved?Youcouldconductasurveyofbuddiestogetvaluablefeedback.

4. Implement a buddy system in other areas of the club.Ifitworks,replicateit.Thinkaboutsomeoftheissuesyourclubfaces.Perhapsabuddysystemcanplayaroleinaddressingotherchallenges.