At Puddletown, volunteers are not just helpers—they’re the backbone of everything we do.
When people hear about our nonprofit, they often ask how we’ve managed to grow so fast or how just four teenagers can organize training & tournaments for hundreds of kids across the world. The real secret? Volunteers. From hosting tournaments to teaching a seven-year-old how to move a knight for the first time, our volunteers make the magic happen.
But getting the right volunteers—and keeping them motivated and supported—doesn’t happen by chance. Over the last few years, we’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) that recruiting isn’t just about finding people who “know chess.” It’s about finding people who are eager to help, building a system that sets them up for success, gives them a reason to care, and creates a path to grow.
This blog pulls back the curtain on how we do exactly that.
Whether you’re building your own club, nonprofit, or project—or you’re just curious how we organize all of this—here’s the strategy we’ve developed for recruiting, onboarding, and growing our volunteer team.
Step 1: Recruiting the Right People
We don’t just look for “good chess players.” We look for kind humans with a growth mindset
When we’re recruiting, we ask:
- Are they excited about helping others learn?
- Can they commit to at least two terms (about 24 weeks)?
- Are they comfortable being coached real-time and giving us continuous feedback?
Most of our volunteers come from school chess teams, friend circles, and even referrals from past volunteers. A few joined because their younger siblings were already in the program!
Once they show interest, we schedule an info call and share what Puddletown is all about—our story, mission, and the crazy journey that led four middle & high schoolers to start a high-growth chess nonprofit.
Step 2: Our 5-Part Onboarding Process
When a volunteer decides to join, we put a lot of energy into helping them feel prepared and confident. Here’s what our 4-session onboarding looks like:
- Welcome + Our Story
We talk about why Puddletown exists, what problem we’re solving, and the kind of impact volunteers have had over the years. - Tech & Tools
We make sure every volunteer knows how to log in to our Zoom classes, use chess.com, lichess.org and other teaching tools, screen share, and troubleshoot the usual tech hiccups. - Classroom Tips & Best Practices
This one’s all about real talk—how to lead a room full of energetic 7-year-olds, what to do if a student goes rogue, and how to keep things fun and on track. - Mock Teaching Sessions
New volunteers actually practice leading a mini lesson while our founders & other volunteers pretend to be students (yes, we sometimes act like chaos goblins). It’s hilarious and helpful. - Shadow experienced coaches
We require new teaching volunteers to shadow at least two sessions taught by an experienced coach, so they see all the action and drama that can happen in a bustling online classroom with youngsters!
Step 3: Growth Isn’t Random, It’s Designed
We’ve got a clear growth path for every volunteer. Here’s how most of them level up:
- Start with Chess Arena or Office Hours: These are group events with less pressure, where you float around helping players or answering questions. This is the least time commitment, usually only about 1-2 hours per week every Thursday.
- Move on to Homework Grading: This helps volunteers build consistency and gives them a feel for where students struggle most. This takes volunteers about 2-3 hours a week depending on the level of homework they are grading.
- Become a Teaching Assistant or Lead Coach: Once they’re ready, volunteers lead actual classes—usually starting with Level 1 or 2. If they continue to excel, they advance to Level 3 or higher. This has one of the highest commitment times, usually about 5-6 hours a week for lesson prep, practice, homework creation, and also actually teaching the class.
Some of our best coaches today started out just helping out during monthly tournaments!
Whether you’re trying to build your own youth club, run a nonprofit, or just love leadership, remember: your volunteers are not just helping you grow your project. You’re helping them grow as humans.
And that’s the best kind of leadership.
