In between sun up and sun down, they'll mark lines, man the gate, sell raffle tickets, cook a few steaks and a handful of sausages, run a touchline, keep the ball boys and girls on the ball (who hasn't seen the kids playing their own game up and down the sideline?), manage a side or two and then pack up when the day's all over.

With limited fuss, of course.

Volunteers are without doubt the backbone of every level of community sport, the same community sport we heard so much about last week.

And those same volunteers are also why you can't blame any administrative board across the region for deciding to pull the pin on 2020.

Community sport of all ages - eventually - was given the green light to return to the field for the remainder of the winter season last week.

Acting Minister for Sport Geoff Lee stumbled when delivering the news, though, and keeping those involved in senior sport hanging was extremely cruel.

Still, Mr Lee said it was "game on for the whole community" come July 1.

Game on, sure, but under whose watch?

Clubs and competitions will still need to adhere to strict guidelines revolving around the sanitation of change rooms and the like, while social distancing will have to be enforced on game day as well.

Some are even suggesting grandparents won't be welcome at junior sport, and game days will be made to run longer to limit the amount of people on the sidelines at any one time.

And the people left to enforce these guidelines? Volunteers. The same mums and dads already jumping through 100 hoops to keep clubs alive.

The same mums and dads who probably miss half of their own child's game so the masses remain fed, or the second field up the back is fit to play on.

So if a sport, or a club for that matter, puts 2020 in the too-hard basket, you can't begrudge them - they're doing it to ensure the pressure volunteers are under every weekend doesn't become crippling.

So, if you're lucky enough to catch, or even compete in some level of community sport this year, thank a volunteer.

Or better yet, lend a hand. There's never enough of those.