- May 29, 2015
- 3,826
- 113
@Chris8 hit the nail on the head. In my rec days I (think I) saw it all, including a kid who we arranged transportation for because dad was a registered sex offender who literally could not bring his kid to the park. More often it was due to a single parent who couldn’t get the kid there because they were trying to make ends meet by working two jobs. Or it may just be you were the two-hour babysitter while they went to the bar ... and didn’t come back. Or they got a DUI while leaving the bar and can’t drive the kid to practice. (Yes, I have seen ALL of that and more.)
It isn’t the kid’s fault, and REC ball is RECREATIONAL. For many kids, this is the only few hours they get to escape a crappy home life. It may be the only few hours that they get to spend outdoors and socializing with kids their own age. It may be some of the only positive reinforcement they have with an adult or authority figure.
I know it is tough because you feel as if giving The Flute Player playing time is penalizing the kids who do show up, day in and day out. Technically, it may be. However, you are missing the point of rec if that is your philosophy.
Try reaching out to the parent again. Have a frank conversation: “I know you paid good money for her to play, is there an issue with getting her here? Not only does her team count on her, but so do the teams we play against. Without enough girls, we can’t play. Is there something we can do to help get her here? Kathy Karpo lives a few blocks over; maybe we can talk to her about giving The Flute Player rides?”
It isn’t the kid’s fault, and REC ball is RECREATIONAL. For many kids, this is the only few hours they get to escape a crappy home life. It may be the only few hours that they get to spend outdoors and socializing with kids their own age. It may be some of the only positive reinforcement they have with an adult or authority figure.
I know it is tough because you feel as if giving The Flute Player playing time is penalizing the kids who do show up, day in and day out. Technically, it may be. However, you are missing the point of rec if that is your philosophy.
Try reaching out to the parent again. Have a frank conversation: “I know you paid good money for her to play, is there an issue with getting her here? Not only does her team count on her, but so do the teams we play against. Without enough girls, we can’t play. Is there something we can do to help get her here? Kathy Karpo lives a few blocks over; maybe we can talk to her about giving The Flute Player rides?”
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