Missing Coach

If a coach can not make a game, should they let the team know (if possible) prior to game day? or Is it better for the team to find out 45 minutes before kick off that their coach has a conflict and won't make it to the game?

Coaches expect the team to communicate with them. Is it wrong or right to expect the same from the coach?

It's my opinion that the coach should respect the rules that the kids are REQUIRED to adhere too. So, without a doubt, I believe the coach should provide the most advance notice of being late or not showing up as possible. Unless there was an emergency, this is unacceptable and unprofessional.

Agree with Thunder3 - understandable if Coach is with another team and they go to extra-time or the game is running late - usually communicates with Team Manager to give to parents. If they are going to be absent or miss, we have always received plenty of notice with all of the coaches we have had.

Who are we talking about? If this is a problem then call them out (club and coach)!! This is a public forum so informing others would be a public service.

He was at another game coaching.

At least you have a better understanding of where your son's team ranks on this coach's list of priorities. A conflict is one thing but to not notify the entire group is something else entirely. That coach should have been aware of this issue as soon as the schedules were published and made plans accordingly.

Agree. Like most teams (I think) a parent coached the game. I am personally grateful he was there for the team. He is very good with the boys and knows the game.

soccerfever wrote:Agree. Like most teams (I think) a parent coached the game. I am personally grateful he was there for the team. He is very good with the boys and knows the game.

I disagree. In select, the typical "bigger club" response would be to get another coach (hopefully that is familiar with the team) to fill in for a practice or game. In academy (younger boys), having parents fill in is slightly more common but still not the norm.

Just keep in mind that in "select" league, only ROSTERED ADULTS are allowed on the player side of the field. You don't want to get caught breaking that rule.

I think a lot of assumptions are being made about this coach. Maybe he thought he would be able to make the game and got stuck in traffic. Maybe he already had a plan B in place in case he was unable to be there. Maybe he knew his parents would overreact to the prospect of him being absent, so he didn't say anything. Maybe the coach is just a bad communicator, that certainly is typical.

Your posts indicate he missed, was at another game, didn't let anyone know ahead of time (not even the manager?), right?

Prior to select, I wouldn't worry about it too much - you can always move around if you don't like what they are doing at that age.

But once your team gets to select age he should communicate if possible, at least to the manager - if its a regular thing, then its a problem.

If its just a one-time thing, or once in a blue moon thing - then its probably just an oversight, or another game he was coaching was delayed or went into overtime that he didn't expect, or something of that nature.

I'd be peeved a little, but I'd also give the coach the benefit of the doubt - unless he started making it a regular thing and never communicated with anyone on the team to let them know ahead of time.