Sacramento State’s athletic department is searching for volunteers to help at football and men’s basketball games this year.

The positions include field-gate monitors, press box gate attendees and chair back seating attendees. Basketball volunteers are responsible for ushering spectators to their seats and overall customer service. Football volunteers help with gate monitoring, keeping people out of restricted sections of the stadium, security, ushering and taking care of customer service.

“I have met some of the nicest people while doing this volunteer work and there are more to be met, so I will keep doing it,” said volunteer coordinator Steve Flood.

Flood, who has been volunteering for both teams for more than eight years, said the best part about being a volunteer is getting to meet all of the wonderful people involved in the sports process and having direct contact with Sac State staff members.

“This season I have finally recruited both my children and both will become clock operators, so this will be a family affair. In my recruiting I try to find pairs of people as it is much more fun if you can work with a friend,” he said.

Flood said being a volunteer has all the perks of being on the football team without the sore body after the game.

Volunteering for football games begins at 6:05 p.m on Saturday as Sac State faces Eastern Washington in its home-opener. Volunteers get free admission to the games, and the tasks they must perform are usually pretty easy.

“Being a volunteer for football and basketball is almost as much fun as playing, but (with) no pain the next morning,” Flood said. “This volunteer position I have allows me to be close to the action, to be able to talk with players, coaches and officials and (all without) getting a stiff back on those hard bench seats in the stands.”

All volunteers receive four game tickets to the games they volunteer for as well as a pre-game meal. Volunteers are allowed to sign up to volunteer for as many games as they like. Basketball ushers get seats in the front row. Eight ushers are needed for this upcoming basketball season.

“It’s a fun environment. You’re basically getting to watch a football game or a basketball game for free, and the duties aren’t that difficult,” said Steve Tebbs, director of athletic facilities and operations. “Anyone can do it.”

Jeondra Arrington can be reached at [email protected]