RVP Volunteering Guide
Marin FC's Referee and Volunteer Program (RVP) requires either refereeing in the Marin soccer community or volunteering. All players pay an RVP deposit with registration at the start of the season. Upon completing 5 games refereeing (any position; CR, AR or Fourth Official) or completing and reporting 5+ hours of volunteer work, a player earns a $200 return on their RVP deposit. Please note that all non referee volunteer work has to be pre-approved at the discretion of Marin FC.
As getting started can be complicated, the following guide is intended to help and includes a schedule of upcoming volunteer opportunities.
By AGE GROUP
U8 through U13 Players and Parents
At the 'Youngers' age group, players are not yet old enough to become licensed referees. Marin FC then asks for parents to become licensed referees, or players and/or parents to volunteer either for their team or for the club.
U14 through U19 Players
At the 'Olders' age range, players are expected to become licensed referees and referee games. The RVP requirement is to referee 5 games assigned by Marin FC. Players may also volunteer 5+ hours in the Marin soccer community. All non referee volunteer activity needs to be pre-approved before volunteer activity begins and is subject to approval at Marin FC discretion. Games refereed for Marin FC must be reported using the online reporting form, no partial credit, all 5 games need to be completed for credit. For questions please reach out to RefereeProgram@marinfc.com.
Team Roles
Particularly for the Youngers, volunteering is most easily accomplished by a parent taking on a major and consistent role for your player's team for the season. Such roles include ...
Team Manager
Team Treasurer
Travel or Event Organizer
Equipment Manager (corner flags, bench, tent(s))
Photographer
Social Media Person (responsible for writing stories about the team for the club to publish)
Medical Kit Manager
Your team manager will report your volunteering in one of these roles to the club for your RVP refund.
Volunteering
The advantage in the RVP to refereeing is that a referee is paid and helps the club with an essential need! However, for those not yet old enough to obtain their referee license, or otherwise unable to referee (due to injuries etc), the program encourages volunteerism in any form needed in the soccer community. Some examples include:
Tutoring - Help a younger player with their training or skills.
Field clean up - Take the opportunity to canvas a field and remove all unwanted debris or trash.
Assist at a club event - Help out at Field Day or at a WPSL (Marin FC Siren) home match.
Assist a local youth club - Many local clubs have needs a Marin FC player might fill.
Donation Drive - Collect used equipment or apparel for donation to groups in need.
Social Media Content - Write a post or article about your team (or anything soccer related) and submit it to the club for use.
Player Mentoring - See below for this very special effort.
If you are planning to volunteer via one of these activities or one of your own invention, please seek pre-approval and you may then report the activity via the RVP reporting form on the website (link below) for credit towards your RVP deposit refund. For questions please reach out to RefereeProgram@marinfc.com.
Player Mentoring
Our 'Olders' may mentor our 'Youngers'.
Little inspires the youngest players more than getting attention, ANY attention, from older and more accomplished players. In the Marin FC environment, this is an easy and fun way for players to volunteer and quickly knock out their RVP commitment.
As Marin FC publishes our training schedules, all our older players need to do is scan the schedule for U8 through U13 trainings which they could attend and then assist as directed by the head coach.
After mentoring, players can report their volunteering through the same reporting form as refereeing.