(Author’s note: This post has been updated to add a few openings to the list.)

The Philly Soccer Page needs your help.

Many of you know this is an all-volunteer gig. We are now in our fifth year of running PSP this way. We can’t do it without good, new volunteers joining to help keep it going.

The reality of any volunteer activity is that it has a lifespan. Life changes or burnout eventually force people to scale back their involvement. It’s just the way it goes.

The key is cycling in new people, either to replace departures or to help share the load. For example, Kyle Mathiot joined PSP as our webmaster last year and helped fix the site’s instability problems, but he just got a great new job that unfortunately prevents him from continuing his PSP volunteer efforts. On the flip side, Jeremy Lane joined PSP a year and a half ago, showed his quality and reliability, and is joining a broader PSP team handling Philadelphia Union game day coverage this year.

That’s how it works with volunteers. The more good people we have, the better PSP will be.

So we need to find quality people to help fill the holes that inevitably emerge. We’re looking to you.

What can you get out of contributing to the Philly Soccer Page?

We don’t expect volunteers to help just out of charity. You need to get something of it. We want to give it to you.

Access and a spotlight: PSP gets as close to the soccer world as you can get. We’re in the locker rooms and press box. We talk with the players and coaches. Our photographers are standing on the sidelines. PSP can put you up close and personal to the game and give you a broad audience to reach.

Professional opportunities: Former PSP photographer Nicolae Stoian parlayed his work at PSP into shooting sports professionally in Europe. Daniel Gajdamowicz is already a terrific freelance photographer, and he has expanded his resume by doing quality video production for PSP. Kyle Mathiot learned a new technology that broadened his professional skill set. Some of us have gotten freelance writing opportunities for other publications. It’s great training, and it can produce good connections to take you places professionally.

Be a core part of the local soccer community: PSP is grass roots. It grew out of the Casa Soccer League. Its hangout is a Northern Liberties soccer pub. We’ve played on the same fields as you and watched games in the same pubs as you. PSP is a voice of the local soccer community, and you can be at the center of that.

Support a free resource you’re consuming: PSP is free. And available. Because of volunteers.

It’s fun: Do you think we’d still be doing this if we didn’t enjoy it? (If you think Adam and Eli are funny in their posts, wait till you see their emails behind closed doors. Some day, we’ll put together a greatest hits version — when it’s safe.)

We never ask you to do more than you can do

If you have time to write once a month, we’ll take it. Once a week? That’s fair game too. Whatever you have time for, we’re open to.

We’ll never ask you to do more than you are able to. We all have full-time jobs, and some of us have families. This isn’t a blog-in-your-pajamas-in-the-basement sort of crowd. So we get that everyone needs to find time in their personal and professional lives to be able to volunteer at PSP. We always work with that. As long as we know in advance what you’re capable of, we can plan for it.

Here are the openings

We’ve identified some specific holes we’d like to fill, but we’re always looking for good people in general. So the list below is not comprehensive. If you have a good idea for something that’s worth following, please suggest it. If it’s soccer in the Philadelphia area, it’s fair game. We’re always open to good ideas.

Anyway, without further ado, here’s the list. You’ll also find it on our Help Wanted page. If you’re interested, please email PSP editor Dan Walsh at dwalsh@phillysoccerpage.com or contact us through our Contact page.

• Webmaster

This role can be a true webmaster or a consultant who helps out as needed. Ed and I know all the basics, but neither of us is a coder or tech guru. Sometimes, we need someone with more coding experience. That could be you. There is no set time commitment, but realistically, you put the time in when you have it and we’re grateful for it.

• Philadelphians Abroad

Every week, we do a roundup of how professional soccer players from the Philadelphia area have fared. (To read them, click here.) With our regular man having to step back while he’s in grad school (and he and his wife have a baby), we need someone to step in to fill the role. It’s generally one of the quicker posts to write at PSP, but it is also one of the more widely read features. 1 post/week.

• Fan writers

Each season, we put together a rotation of four writers to write specifically about the fan experience. This is not the type of column where you do tactical analysis or rate players. Rather, you’re being the voice of the fan here. We try to put together a balanced roster to give voice to different aspects of the fan experience. For example, we’d love to have a soccer mom as part of the group this year, as well as someone who is closely tied in with a Union supporters group and someone to write about the fan experience following a local minor league or college team. This is open to anyone. 1 post per month.

• Ocean City Nor’easters writer

The writer would do a weekly or biweekly report on the USL PDL team in Cape May County, N.J. You can have the freedom to determine its layout, or I can design a format for you that will make it easier and quicker to write. Your choice. 1 post per 1-2 weeks during PDL season.

• Reading United writer

The writer would do a weekly or biweekly report on the USL PDL team in Berks County, Pa. You can have the freedom to determine its layout, or I can design a format for you that will make it easier and quicker to write. Your choice. 1 post per 1-2 weeks during PDL season.

• Harrisburg City Islanders writer

The writer would do a weekly or biweekly report on the USL PRO team in central Pennsylvania. You can have the freedom to determine its layout, or I can design a format for you that will make it easier and quicker to write. Your choice. 1 post per 1-2 weeks during USL season.

• Junior Lone Star FC

The writer would do a weekly or biweekly report on the NPSL team in Philadelphia. (The NPSL is part of the 4th tier of American soccer, parallel with the PDL.) You can have the freedom to determine its layout, or I can design a format for you that will make it easier and quicker to write. Your choice. 1 post per 1-2 weeks during NPSL season.

• FC Sonic Lehigh Valley

The writer would do a weekly or biweekly report on the NPSL team in Allentown, which made the U.S. Open Cup last year. (The NPSL is part of the 4th tier of American soccer, parallel with the PDL.) You can have the freedom to determine its layout, or I can design a format for you that will make it easier and quicker to write. Your choice. 1 post per 1-2 weeks during NPSL season.

• Youth soccer writer

The writer would do a monthly report on the youth soccer scene in the Philadelphia area. You can focus on whatever topics you want. Each post would also include a short list of notable events (tournaments, tryouts, etc.) coming up. 1 post per month.

• Local soccer scene

The writer would do regular posts on whatever catches his/her interest in the local soccer scene. This could be anything from the local pickup game scene and soccer pubs to an interesting travel soccer team or even something related to the professional game. This is more a general interest feature than something with a specific beat, with the frequency of writing depending upon your availability. 1-4 posts per month.

• Women’s soccer

Writer(s) wanted to write about local women’s soccer clubs at the college and high school level. This could be one writer covering college soccer and another covering high school, or both topics could be covered by one writer. Coverage would ideally be done in the form of a weekly roundup/report that could take the format of the writer’s choice. Additional posts could be written as desired by the writer. 1-4 posts per month in autumn.

• Local clubs in big tournaments

Writer wanted to follow how local teams do in the U.S. Open Cup (including qualifiers) and other key tournaments. This could be anything from storied local amateur clubs like Phoenix SC and United German Hungarians on up to the semipro and professional teams. Posts as needed.

• Suburban high school soccer

Writer(s) wanted to write a regular column about suburban high school soccer. Can focus on south Jersey, southeastern Pennsylvania or northern Delaware — or any combination of the three. We currently have someone following high school soccer in Philadelphia itself and would love to add suburban coverage to that. This column can be weekly, biweekly or monthly, based on your availability. 1-4 posts per month in autumn.

• Other topics

PSP generally tries to produce as diverse an array of content as possible. If you have ideas for good content that you think you can offer, please get in touch and let us know your ideas. If it’s related to soccer and the Philadelphia area, we’re interested.