Practice - Player attendance

[Shrt bus]

Unfortunately.. having some issues on some of our player attending practice on a regular basis.

We have a core group of 8-10 that we can count on being at practice, the rest of the team is a cr*p shoot on them being there.

Always excuses why they arent there or sometimes nothing at all from them.

We have emailed the Parents on this very subject and it seems to fall on deaf ears. I am thinking a "mandatory meeting" and need to discuss this as our season is gearing up and needs to be resolved quickly.

So any thoughts/suggestions on how to get the Parents/Player all in a meeting ? Thoughts on how it should be addressed as we dont want to come jumping on them but really need answers.

Thanks!!

[Jerzy]

Is this a rec team/travel team (US jargon for select)? How'd the kids get put on your team? How old are the kids?

I know how frustrating it can be (a) to put so much of yourself and your time into a team, and not have so many kids not care, and/or (b) to have the no-shows detract from the game the core group is trying to learn.

But, you may not be able to do that much with these kids and their parents. Everybody's busy, everyone's got things to do, and soccer may be way down on the list of priorities. If this is a select team, all I can say is that you may just have to wait until next year and you know who you are going to replace.

[Shrt bus]

Yea.. this is a U15 Classic team (aka select). The boys were picked out of several during a 2 day tryout session.

It is frustrating and just boggles my mind that the parents pay crazy amounts of money for their sons to play and dont seem to care. I do understand they have lives to live and things they wanna do but why make a commitment to the a team if you don't wanna make the effort as Im sure there were boys (not as good skill level) that wanna play and put out great effort.

I do have a feeling we will have to just get thru this season and move on.

[mrsoccerboy]

Short version: I make practice fun. Ask Mia or Christine or Lorrie Fair how long they would play if it wasn't fun. Now fun means different things at different stages. As much as possible I teach a skill then we play a game using that skill or tactic but we play. Sure it is harder on the coach but what do you want?

Then For Select I play those who show for practice. Why reward no shows.

For rec: I beg & plead then threaten to quit and go select again.

[JCoupe]

since its for select, play those that show for practice, most of the time, the kids finally realize that if they want to play they must show up, as not thinking that there a "star" and dont need to show to practice to play in game.

as for meetings with the parents, its going to be tough to get everyone around in one place at the same time. it should have been addressed at the first meeting with the players you selected, about the committment, goals you have, etc..

[mcolwell1959]

I can talk from an English perspective.

Attendance bcomes harder if:

The training is repetitive and not fun

If those who do come to training do not get to play in matches

If the team are suffering a number of defeats

When boys reach 14 or so and discover other things

When parents are not committed

I would ask their parents why attendance is not good? I would question commitment and reward those who do attend. I would replace those who do not attend sufficient training sessions ASAP.

Good luck.

[Shrt bus]

Just an update:

Attendance has made a complete turn around. Season just started and we won our first tourney this past weekend. Good way to start it off.

As most of you stated...the players that start are the ones that have attended practice on a regular basis. Told the boys this as well, poor effort during practice also negates sitting on the sideline.

We mix up the practice alot.. so they dont get bored.. boys will be boys!

[Val]

Good for you, Rick. Sometimes it just takes time. Players need to get more comfortable with you, each other, and have to re-integrate themselves into soccer.

Oh, and winning makes everything better.