Practices that run late/over

[Anonymous]

I have a 3rd grader who, due to space constraints, has a practice this season that ends at 8 pm. I consider that pretty late already but it's the only option for now.

She has a coach who repeatedly holds them late at practice until 8:20 or 8:30, including tonight, which is a school night. There is also another practice tomorrow that goes until 8 pm plus a special clinic Saturday morning at 8. The other age groups who have the same practice time are middle school and high school age, but even they need their sleep and presumably have homework and other obligations.

I think a coach who holds 8-10 year olds late at evening practices is pretty irresponsible and/or oblivious to kids' needs. My DH and other team parents seem to think it's normal. Am I the crazy one?

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I was really impressed at little league a few years back when one of the other dads just said “it’s 8:00-time to go”. The coach we had was VERY tough on “early is on time; on time is late; late is very late”, but then held them late? The other dad just said he pressures us to be on time so he can let us go in time and just pulled his kid at end of states practice. You can give notice at the start of practice or just pull him when it is end time. Athletes need their sleep!

[Anonymous]

That’s normal, you don’t have to play sports though.

[Anonymous]

It is pretty normal due to tight field availability and such. Hopefully it is seasonal? I found my kids could easily handle one late weeknight per week without being cranky, but more than that was a challenge but usually was seasonal/temporary. On non-school nights the later nights were always fine.

So- not ideal but very normal. I generally found it to work out ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is pretty normal due to tight field availability and such. Hopefully it is seasonal? I found my kids could easily handle one late weeknight per week without being cranky, but more than that was a challenge but usually was seasonal/temporary. On non-school nights the later nights were always fine.

So- not ideal but very normal. I generally found it to work out ok.

I think a late-ish night is ok once in a while but holding the kids past that time and expecting them to do it again the next night plus an early morning...that's a lot. They're kids playing sports, not corporate drones in a client-facing environment.

[Anonymous]

My kid plays soccer at Sully Highlands and it ends at 8PM. An adult flag football league takes over at that time. They are literally partying in the space between the two soccer fields starting around 7:40 until the kids leave - smoking weed and drinking. All the kids make comments about the smell when they are walking off the field.

[Anonymous]

Yeah I am surprised the field isn't booked at 8 pm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That’s normal, you don’t have to play sports though.

Not normal for practice to run 20-30 minutes over repeatedly.

[Anonymous]

Not normal at the rec level. No idea about the superstar Olympic level though.

[Anonymous]

This was normal when my kids played football, lacrosse and wrestled. We didn’t see it as much in other sports. It seemed to have to do most with court, gym or field availability. Practices for certain teams always ran late.

[Anonymous]

An 8 year old has practices two nights in a row, is this travel ball? The expectation is that the coaches push the kids.

On a nice night like last night I used to run practice until all the kids got called away by their parents and there were no more kids left to coach. It could rain the next three weeks, practice when you can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not normal at the rec level. No idea about the superstar Olympic level though.

The strict early start times doesn't sound like rec level. The op wants the prestige of travel ball without the work

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:An 8 year old has practices two nights in a row, is this travel ball? The expectation is that the coaches push the kids.

On a nice night like last night I used to run practice until all the kids got called away by their parents and there were no more kids left to coach. It could rain the next three weeks, practice when you can.

Did you tell the parents that? I would be livid if my kid’s coach ran practice that way.

[Anonymous]

Our ES didn't start until 9:20. MS bus comes at 6:25. I would have preferred my 3rd grader to go to 8 over my middle schooler.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s ridiculous, especially at that age. If the practice will be until 8:30, then say it will be until 8:30. We are all so busy and we plan for an 8 pickup we need an 8 pickup. Youth sports is ridiculous. Including the ones my kids are in.