Gut check - would this annoy you? Last minute request

[Anonymous]

Received a message from travel coach midday Thursday that everyone on the team needs to get a new sock color for tournament we are leaving for at the crack of dawn on Saturday. Team already owns several uniform colors and sock options.

This pi$$es me off. Not the money (at this point a pair of socks is a rounding error) but IT'S THURSDAY. And we already have several sock choices. Pick one.

The team is poorly run in general so I'm sure I'm extra sensitive but would you be annoyed by this? It just seems shallow and frivolous and so last minute and insensitive to busy families.

[Anonymous]

Yes that would annoy me.

[Anonymous]

Yep I’d politely say no that doesn’t work for us.

[Anonymous]

We were told the night before to make sure the kids wore their blue under amour. No mention this purchase was needed ahead of time

[Anonymous]

Yes, would annoy me and I'm guessing some are even leaving tonight. No time for amazon delivery.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like the Coach or Coach's wife should make a trip to Dicks and use team funds to make this easier for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Normal. But ridiculously annoying and happens with our travel team 1x/year. To the coach, the team and the tournament is all that’s going on. Somehow it’s easy for them to forget that for the other 20/hours per day they’re not with our kid, we’re actually doing other things, not just waiting around for practice.

My Dd does gymnastics and the last minute requests have asking at 7:30 pm for a specific pair of Nike leggings to be worn at 8:00 the next morning. I was driving to pickup and literally going in the direction opposite anywhere that had leggings. Fortunately DH was around and got to Dick’s right before it closed at 8.

I think a lot of people on this thread will say push back or to just ignore the coach, but in my experience they will often punish the athlete for it even though that’s totally out of their control.

If there’s a group text, send an SOS out. Maybe there is one parent who can find the right socks for all and you can Venmo them. Or maybe every parent will resist and show up with a different matching color that everyone already owns (we had a scrunchie situation like that). Our team has done but it requires solidarity and some parents are quick to grasp at any advantage they have, and live for stuff like sock drama.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks everyone for making me feel less crazy. Most of the parents on our team are doormats. Friendly doormats who don't complain. Hopefully Amazon 1 day shipping comes through.

[Anonymous]

I would ask if anyone can go get them for the team. It seems crazy that 10-15 parents need to all run out on this last minute request. If I were already going, I'd be happy to grab more than 1. Other parents would surely appreciate it.

[Anonymous]

"Given the last minute request for pink socks and many of us are busy with end of school/graduation activities, would any one be able to place an order/run to Dicks for the team?"

[Anonymous]

My favorite texts are the ones that come at like 12:45 AM the morning before you leave for a tournament that say the coach has decided to change the uniform combo.

At that point, everyone has packed and is asleep. We pull out at 5:30 AM for the tournament. Nothing like a mad scramble at 4 am to find the uniform.

[Anonymous]

Do they wear the short pants? My kid always says the sock color doesn’t matter and he’s a total rule follower.

[Anonymous]

Why? If there is a different sock needed it should come from the league, not one coach. You all should stand firm. NO

[Anonymous]

And OP, is Coach getting a kickback? From the tournament, manufacturer, Amazon seller? This doesn’t pass the smell test.

[Anonymous]

Ignore.