Board Member

Company Description

The United States Volt Hockey Association (USVHA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to bringing the adaptive sport of volt hockey to athletes with disabilities across the country. The USVHA provides equipment, training, and national leadership to help new teams form, support existing teams, host training clinics and tournaments, and expand access to inclusive athletics nationwide. To learn more, visit https://www.volthockeyusa.org/

About the Sport

Volt hockey is a fast-paced, competitive team sport designed for people with disabilities and played in specially designed motorized wheelchairs. Players use a front-mounted paddle to maneuver and strike a ball on a standard basketball court, reaching speeds of up to 10 miles per hour. The chairs can be customized with features like headrests, lateral supports, or custom joystick mounts to meet individual needs, making the sport accessible to many who have never been able to participate in athletics before, even within the adaptive sports community. With no classification requirements, anyone who can operate the chair safely with a joystick and understand the rules can take part. Volt hockey uniquely creates an equal playing field where skill and strategy matter most.

History of the Sport

Volt hockey began in Denmark in the early 1990s and is now popular across Scandinavia and Canada. The sport was introduced to the United States in 2021 with the formation of the Boston Whiplash, and now includes a second U.S. team, the Rolling Warriors, also based in Massachusetts. In 2022, the USVHA was formed by volt hockey athletes, coaches, and volunteers to serve as the central governing body and resource for the expansion of volt hockey in the United States.

Role Description

USVHA Board Members are mission-driven volunteers who guide the organization’s strategy, governance, and growth. As a national board, we meet virtually, making it possible for board members from anywhere in the U.S. to serve. Board members champion the sport’s nationwide expansion, ensuring that decisions benefit the entire U.S. volt hockey community, not any single team or partner organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Governance & Strategy: Provide guidance on organizational priorities, approve budgets, and uphold fiduciary duties of care and loyalty.
• Meetings: Attend monthly virtual board meetings on the second Wednesday from 7:00–8:30 PM ET and participate in occasional committee work.
• Engagement & Advocacy: Promote USVHA and volt hockey within personal and professional networks, serving as an ambassador for the sport’s national growth.
• Fundraising & Support: Make an annual personal donation in any amount you feel comfortable with, and assist with fundraising events, sponsorship outreach, or community partnerships.
• Communication: Respond promptly to board communications (within 3 business days for non-urgent matters, or by any stated deadlines).
• Team Culture: Collaborate respectfully with fellow board members, staff, and volunteers, fostering an inclusive and positive environment.

Desired Skills & Experience

We are especially interested in candidates who can offer experience or interest in one or more of the following areas:

• Fundraising, donor cultivation, sponsorships, or partnership development
• Marketing, communications, public relations, or brand strategy
• Adaptive sports, disability recreation, or national sports development
• Nonprofit governance, strategic planning, or organizational growth

Experience with volt hockey is not required. We especially welcome applicants who can bring an outside perspective and help us approach the sport’s growth on a national level. People with lived experience of disability and candidates from backgrounds currently underrepresented on our board are strongly encouraged to apply!

Time & Term

• Approx. 5–3 hours per month including meetings and committee work.
• Board members serve a one-year term and may be re-elected annually without term limits; after two terms, each additional term requires a two-thirds membership vote.
• Board members serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses.
• All elected board members are required to complete a criminal background check prior to beginning service.