How to handle almost entire team showing up late for game?

[bmakj]

maybe collect $100 deposit for each family before true travel weekends, and if they are late, but within 15 min, they get 75 back, later than that, they forfeit it (have the money go towards the accounts of the girls on time).

radical idea, but with that many being way to irresponsible, might work.

 

[Eric F]

Since you (AC) and the HC are running things, and this involves multiple players, and the players are reliant on the parents, I say it's time for a team meeting - players, parents, and coaches. Explain - very clearly - that travel events are about softball, not about party time. Having fun between games is fine, but softball MUST be the priority. That means players need to show up on time for pre-game warm-up, dressed, cleats-on, ready to play, AND well-rested. If the parents want to be social, and have some fun late into the night, that's up to them, BUT they still have to be responsible parents when it's time for their DDs to do what they came there for. If the parents aren't able to do that, maybe it's time to reconsider whether this team is the right place for their DD.

 

[_MIA_]

I never sleep well when DD is playing a tournament..usually toss and turn all night in particular when on the road (when at home half the time I sleep at my office because otherwise I just keep my wife up all night with my restlessness). I could never imagine not getting her there on time. It is kind of like the recurring nightmare I used to have about signing up for a course and then forgetting I did so only to realize at the end of the semester that I had signed up...

 

[Northball]

... the recurring nightmare I used to have about signing up for a course and then forgetting I did so only to realize at the end of the semester that I had signed up...

You too?! Must have been the same class.

 

[_MIA_]

You too?! Must have been the same class.

I had that nightmare well past the time I stopped taking classes..I think it only stopped when I had kids and stopped sleeping well enough to have dreams..

 

[Orange Socks]

To add to this. DD's former TB team had a process when arriving for the first game of the day. Game time is 8am. All of the players meet at a designated spot usually in front of the entrance at 6:45am. Once the last person shows, they ALL walk in together carrying all of the buckets, nets, etc. If they are late, the team captains are to be notified or through group text which in turn is shared with the coaches. If you are late, there is going to be some shaming going on as the whole team is waiting for you.

 

[whiporee]

There might have been a bunch of parents pissed off about the way Saturday went. Maybe HC had them arrive an hour early to sit around for a half hour, and the parents are protesting that. Usually an 8 AM start means Saturday didn't go great. Also, COVID limitations are in place -- maybe they didn't want to spend a whole hour sitting in their cars.

Maybe HC was unclear about arrival times. Maybe they all went out to breakfast and service was slower than they thought.Maybe they were waiting in the lobby with the hotel breakfast waiting for the two who were already at the field to get there. Our team usually meets up in the lobby before heading over to make it easier to find stragglers, and since you were all at the same hotel, maybe they were looking for you. Maybe they were waiting trying to find the girl who was totally missing to make sure she was okay. My experience has been that in a team of 12, if 2 do one thing and 10 do the other, the mistake/misunderstanding is usually on the 2, not the 10.

Last weekend was Daylight Savings (or the other way around) time. I know my phone/watch didn't update until late in the morning. Did HC make a point to remind everyone? Even if they did at 7 the night before, I know I've missed that earlier wake up a few times, and (the equivalent of) 5:30 comes along very fast, especially after a few beers.

Did anyone ask the parents what went on? Did all the girls come in separate cars, or was there carpooling?

If this is a reoccurring thing, then a coach needs to find out why they are facing a parental mutiny. My guess is they got caught in the time shift and were hustling to make it there at all, and then got pissed off when people gave them crap about it.

 

[Lance Steckler]

falling back screw ups would have had them all there 60 minutes early not late. dismissing that as an excuse.

I'd have an all hands team meeting and reiterate the time expectations. And honestly, as a coach who is always there 15-20 minutes prior to the time the girls are supposed to be there and warm up, I have very short fuse when it comes to tardiness. the worst player on the planet can read a clock and arrive on time. And as a adult, GET YOUR rear MOVING AND HAVE YOUR PLAYER WHERE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ON TIME!!!!!! IF you can't have a beer and meet obligations, maybe you should drink water.

 

[jdint]

I had that nightmare well past the time I stopped taking classes..I think it only stopped when I had kids and stopped sleeping well enough to have dreams..

I'm 51 and still having variations of the same dream.

 

[uncdrew]

I never sleep well when DD is playing a tournament..usually toss and turn all night in particular when on the road (when at home half the time I sleep at my office because otherwise I just keep my wife up all night with my restlessness). I could never imagine not getting her there on time. It is kind of like the recurring nightmare I used to have about signing up for a course and then forgetting I did so only to realize at the end of the semester that I had signed up...

Hah. I have that nightmare. Only one I have.