The Importance of Being On Time to Practice and Games

I want to talk about the importance of being on time for practice and games. For obvious reasons, in order for practices to run smoothly, kids need to be on time so you can follow a schedule. It is annoying for a coach to start a session with 12 players, get that session running, and have 3 kids show up 10 minutes later. This not only disrupts the sessions, but it hinders learning for the other players. 

I want to talk about the importance of being on time for practice and games. For obvious reasons, in order for practices to run smoothly, kids need to be on time so they can follow a schedule. It is annoying for a coach to start a session with 12 players, get that session running, and have 3 kids show up 10 minutes later. This not only disrupts the session, but it hinders learning for the other players. 

More importantly, developing this characteristic of being on time helps kids in the long run. It's hard to keep a job of any value if a person constantly arrives late for their shift. Expecting kids to be on time to training and having consequences for being late, gets them in the habit of planning appropriately for any situation and getting to wherever they need to be in a timely manner.

This concept of having consequences for being late helps kids to learn. For me, if a player is running a little late, it's not a huge concern if some of the following are met: The player or parent has let me know they are going to be late on certain days for a particular reason. When the player arrives late, they should be jogging over to the practice, instead of meandering over at a snail's pace. When arriving, they should look around, see what is taking place and incorporate themselves into the session. Finally, being late happens, but this should not be a consistent issue.

If a player is perpetually late, they should lose playing time in the game and that should be explained to them and their parents. It is important that the player and family understand that one player's actions do have an impact on the team culture. If Billy is consistently late and there never is a consequence, what is to stop Jose from showing up late as well? If three or four kids are now late on a consistent basis, what does that do to team training sessions and culture? If five or six are rolling in late for games, how does that affect performance and team morale? Is this a team that committed, passionate players want to play for?

Showing up on time is a non-negotiable and just one step in creating a culture of mutual respect that allows players to reach their potential. Having players on time and ready to go at training is needed to create a competitive environment where kids want to be there and are ready to give their best effort. We don't want the more driven/passionate kids feeling frustrated at the start of training because only 70% of the team has arrived. We want structure and discipline, where kids can have fun with the game, but where they are there to compete, learn, and are challenge to do their best. This starts with teammates who show up on time, ready to go mentally and physically.

More importantly, developing this characteristic of being on time helps kids in the long run. It's hard to keep a job of any value if a person constantly arrives late for their shift. Expecting kids to be on time to training, and having consequences for being late, gets them in the habit of planning appropriately for any situation and getting to wherever they need to be in a timely manner.

This concept of having consequences for being late helps kids to learn. For me, if a player is running a little late, I don't think it's a huge deal if some of the following are met. The player or parent has let me know they are going to be late on certain days for a particular reason. When they arrive late, they should be jogging over to practice, instead of walking at a snail’s pace. When arriving, they should look around, see what is taking place and incorporate themselves into the session. I do not want to stop what I am doing with the team to catch this individual up to speed. They should not make a habit of being late.

More importantly, developing this characteristic of being on time helps kids in the long run. It's hard to keep a job of any value if a person constantly arrives late for their shift. Expecting kids to be on time to training, and having consequences for being late, gets them in the habit of planning appropriately for any situation and getting to wherever they need to be in a timely manner.

This concept of having consequences for being late helps kids to learn. For me, if a player is running a little late, I don't think it's a huge deal if some of the following are met. The player or parent has let me know they are going to be late on certain days for a particular reason. When they arrive late, they should be jogging over to practice, instead of walking at a snail’s pace. When arriving, they should look around, see what is taking place and incorporate themselves into the session. I do not want to stop what I am doing with the team to catch this individual up to speed. They should not make a habit of being late.

If a player is perpetually late, they should lose playing time in the game and that should be explained to them and their parents. It is important that player and the family understand that one player’s actions do have an impact on the team culture. If Jeff is consistently late and there is never a consequence, what is to stop Jose from showing up late as well? If 3-4 kids are now late on a consistent basis, what does that do to team training sessions and culture? If 5-6 kids are rolling into games late, how does that affect performance? Is that a team that committed players want to play for?

Showing up on time is a non-negotiable and just one step in creating a culture of mutual respect that allows players to reach their potential. Having players on time and ready to go at training is needed to create a competitive environment where kids want to be there and are ready to give their best effort. We don't want the more competitive/driven kids feeling frustrated at the start of training because only 70% of their team is even there. We want a structure of discipline, where kids can have fun with the game, but where they are also there to compete, learn, be challenged and get better. For all that to happen, the team needs to be on time and ready to go.I w want to talk about the importance of being on time for practice and games. For obvious reasons, in order for practices to run smoothly, kids need to be on time so you can follow a schedule. It is annoying for a coach to start a session with 12 players, get that session running, and have 3 kids show up 10 minutes later. This not only disrupts the sessions, but it hinders learning for the other players. 

More importantly, developing this characteristic of being on time helps kids in the long run. It's hard to keep a job of any value if a person constantly arrives late for their shift. Expecting kids to be on time to training, and having consequences for being late, gets them in the habit of planning appropriately for any situation and getting to wherever they need to be in a timely manner.

This concept of having consequences for being late helps kids to learn. For me, if a player is running a little late, I don't think it's a huge deal if some of the following are met. The player or parent has let me know they are going to be late on certain days for a particular reason. When they arrive late, they should be jogging over to practice, instead of walking at a snail’s pace. When arriving, they should look around, see what is taking place and incorporate themselves into the session. I do not want to stop what I am doing with the team to catch this individual up to speed. They should not make a habit of being late.

If a player is perpetually late, they should lose playing time in the game and that should be explained to them and their parents. It is important that player and the family understand that one player’s actions do have an impact on the team culture. If Jeff is consistently late and there is never a consequence, what is to stop Jose from showing up late as well? If 3-4 kids are now late on a consistent basis, what does that do to team training sessions and culture? If 5-6 kids are rolling into games late, how does that affect performance? Is that a team that committed players want to play for?

Showing up on time is a non-negotiable and just one step in creating a culture of mutual respect that allows players to reach their potential. Having players on time and ready to go at training is needed to create a competitive environment where kids want to be there and are ready to give their best effort. We don't want the more competitive/driven kids feeling frustrated at the start of training because only 70% of their team is even there. We want a structure of discipline, where kids can have fun with the game, but where they are also there to compete, learn, be challenged and get better. For all that to happen, the team needs to be on time and ready to go.ant to talk about the importance of being on time for practice and games. For obvious reasons, in order for practices to run smoothly, kids need to be on time so you can follow a schedule. It is annoying for a coach to start a session with 12 players, get that session running, and have 3 kids show up 10 minutes later. This not only disrupts the sessions, but it hinders learning for the other players. 

More importantly, developing this characteristic of being on time helps kids in the long run. It's hard to keep a job of any value if a person constantly arrives late for their shift. Expecting kids to be on time to training, and having consequences for being late, gets them in the habit of planning appropriately for any situation and getting to wherever they need to be in a timely manner.

This concept of having consequences for being late helps kids to learn. For me, if a player is running a little late, I don't think it's a huge deal if some of the following are met. The player or parent has let me know they are going to be late on certain days for a particular reason. When they arrive late, they should be jogging over to practice, instead of walking at a snail’s pace. When arriving, they should look around, see what is taking place and incorporate themselves into the session. I do not want to stop what I am doing with the team to catch this individual up to speed. They should not make a habit of being late.

If a player is perpetually late, they should lose playing time in the game and that should be explained to them and their parents. It is important that player and the family understand that one player’s actions do have an impact on the team culture. If Jeff is consistently late and there is never a consequence, what is to stop Jose from showing up late as well? If 3-4 kids are now late on a consistent basis, what does that do to team training sessions and culture? If 5-6 kids are rolling into games late, how does that affect performance? Is that a team that committed players want to play for?

Showing up on time is a non-negotiable and just one step in creating a culture of mutual respect that allows players to reach their potential. Having players on time and ready to go at training is needed to create a competitive environment where kids want to be there and are ready to give their best effort. We don't want the more competitive/driven kids feeling frustrated at the start of training because only 70% of their team is even there. We want a structure of discipline, where kids can have fun with the game, but where they are also there to compete, learn, be challenged and get better. For all that to happen, the team needs to be on time and ready to go.