People who sign their kids up and then don’t show up

[Anonymous]

Why would someone do this? We have a rec MSI 1st grade girls team. 14 girls signed up, so it was a full team. Only 9 showed up for the game today, so we had no subs. Our girls had to play the entire game, so they were exhausted. They were real troopers, but it’s just annoying that people would sign their kid up and then just bail.

Hoping this isn’t a trend throughout the season. I know it’s only little kid rec, but it isn’t fair to the kids who show up and then have to play 40 minutes of soccer. The other team didn’t have that issue, so they were much more energized.

[Anonymous]

That's not unusual for Rec and the 1st practices and games. ect. Rec parents often find other things to go do and soccer usually is not the biggest priority. Also, it helps if the coach e-mails and or calls all the parents to cajole them into coming to the 1st game ect. Also, in my rec ant travel team experiences as coach and manager, some English as a second language families do not respond to team e-mails. We still have travel kids on the 2nd team, where English is a second language, and I have no idea if they will show up and often act surprised when we do have games. After talking with the parents, it seems e-mails from the club go right to the trash and they understand a text or phone call or an in person communication to get them to come. Its frustrating when everyone is not committed the same way.

[Anonymous]

They had conflicts. Not all 14 are going to show up to every game.

[Anonymous]

Because it's rec and that's how they do. You have to have many more kids than needed on the roster.

14 roster for 9v9 are travel numbers and most of them show up.

Why are first graders playing 9v9? First grade should be

5v5, maximum 7v7.

[Anonymous]

We wouldn't miss anything unless we were out of town, but I find it annoying that we still don't have game schedules yet for our rec soccer (ASA), for which practices start this week (and we just got the practice schedule last weekend). It's making it difficult to make any other weekend plans this fall, so I could understand if people are starting to have conflicts at this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because it's rec and that's how they do. You have to have many more kids than needed on the roster.

14 roster for 9v9 are travel numbers and most of them show up.

Why are first graders playing 9v9? First grade should be

5v5, maximum 7v7.

+1 to all of this. The expectation that 14 families are going to make every single practice and game over several months, with a bunch of 6/7 year olds? Please. They have other kids, family commitments, their kids get sick, etc.

I honestly think you were fortunate to have 9 show up, and also that the league is being run poorly with unrealistic expectations. Rec soccer for 1st graders should be a very casual endeavor. No one owes you anything.

[Anonymous]

This is not on the parents but the team management. You don't force little kids to play for 40 minutes. You get them some rest, do less intense exercise, etc. The management also need to communicate way better with parents.

But this is rec, so management is poorly paid and does not care.

My kid's private orchestra program requires $1000 up front and has strict rules of attendance that are communicated to parent very explicitly. Makes parents pay attention!

[Anonymous]

I think it’s expected not everyone can make all the games but to not let the coach know is rude and disrespectful.
My kid is a bit older but still plays rec and if we can’t make a game I let the coach know ahead of time. I’d never just no show.

[Anonymous]

Next time this happens, just ask the other coach can you play with 5 or 7 kids for thr game (which you should be doing anyway). I'm sure they will agree and you'll both have plenty of subs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s expected not everyone can make all the games but to not let the coach know is rude and disrespectful.
My kid is a bit older but still plays rec and if we can’t make a game I let the coach know ahead of time. I’d never just no show.

Agree I'd tell them in advance.

Though I bet you anything at least some of the no-shows literally just forgot they'd signed up for soccer. You have to sign up for everything so far in advance, with start of school everyone's schedules are changing, I'm sure it happens. I only have one kid and can keep track, but I wouldn't say it's super easy. And I'm a very organized person with a good memory. I think about having 2-3 kids in different activities and then doing the switch from camp/swim/vacations to school/soccer/basketball/ballet/whatever and I can see how it would be easy to drop the ball.

We make this all so much harder than it needs to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because it's rec and that's how they do. You have to have many more kids than needed on the roster.

14 roster for 9v9 are travel numbers and most of them show up.

Why are first graders playing 9v9? First grade should be

5v5, maximum 7v7.

They’re doing 4x4 on two fields at once.

[Anonymous]

These are really just scrimmages and if you need to sit a child out because they are tired just have them sit out. What is the big deal?

[Anonymous]

Because living in this area requires to sign up for an activity as soon as it opens—even if you aren’t sure about it. Otherwise, you get shut out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Next time this happens, just ask the other coach can you play with 5 or 7 kids for thr game (which you should be doing anyway). I'm sure they will agree and you'll both have plenty of subs

+1
The other thing to do is borrow some of the other team's players if they have kids on the bench. There are always very energetic kids who want to play the entire time so they would be happy to jump in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because it's rec and that's how they do. You have to have many more kids than needed on the roster.

14 roster for 9v9 are travel numbers and most of them show up.

Why are first graders playing 9v9? First grade should be

5v5, maximum 7v7.

They’re doing 4x4 on two fields at once.

Oh makes sense. Next time request 1 field.