Head to any sportsground around Canberra on a weekend and you'll see them. Volunteers.
They are the lifeblood of every community sport organisation, and this weekend was a chance for Canberra clubs from different codes to recognise the important work they do.
Down at the National Hockey Centre at Lyneham on Saturday, where hundreds of juniors, seniors and social players take to the fields to strut their stuff, there was no shortage of adoration for volunteers essential to their sporting endeavours.
Whether competition organisers, coaches, umpires, officials, board or committee members, the hockey community was grateful for their volunteer workforce.
Some volunteers are parents, others former players, and many are so ingrained in sports clubs that they are cherished by the community like an extended member of the family.
"They are incredible people who sacrifice so much of their own time for the benefit of others, and we're nothing without them," Hockey ACT chief executive Rob Sheekey told The Canberra Times as National Volunteer Week wrapped up on Sunday.
"We've got 6000 participants in hockey in the ACT and 10 staff, so nothing happens here without our volunteers.
"Our club network is all volunteer driven, so they make the sport happen.
"They continue to be the lifeblood of our sport, and we take every opportunity we can to express our absolute gratitude for them."
Cooper Evans is one such dedicated volunteer, who is also a rising junior hockey star.
The 15-year-old has been playing since he was five years old.
Even though he plays top grades in the afternoon for St Patrick's Hockey Club, he still arrives at Lyneham early on Saturday morning to cheer on the next generation, dressed in a colourful Irish-themed mascot outfit.
And when he's not playing hockey or supporting young kids starting out, Cooper devotes his spare time to umpiring.
"I love the community," the teen said. "You can have a good chat with people and I like to help inspire the younger kids to get to the level they want to get to.
"I've been playing at Lyneham since I was five years old, and it's definitely grown... there's so many more people playing hockey."
Kathy Mumberson, St Patrick's Hockey Club president, said the Gungahlin-based club boasts more than 400 members and as one of the larger clubs in Canberra they rely on the amazing efforts of their volunteers.
"Without volunteers, the club just wouldn't operate," she said.
"Our volunteers do everything from coaching, managing, and umpiring teams, to promoting the club and helping find sponsors.
"Also in community sport there's a lot more governance and expectations around how we operate, making sure that we comply with laws, run the finances, have meetings and hold social events.
"So our volunteers do work very hard."
