Flagpole wrote:
Umm...how is it that the kids don't show up to practice? Being able to run in a meet that weekend should require that you attend all practices or have a valid reason for missing one. On my son's team, if you have an unexcused absence from practice, you are not running in the meet on Saturday. If it happens a second time, parents are contacted and a third time, there's a meeting with the AD and a possible suspension from the team is in order.
That's the way it was when I was coaching in HS, except a 3rd unexcused absence was automatic termination from the team. Do you really think the football coach would let this kind of stuff go on? And if kids do this in NCAA sports, their scholarship can be cut or terminated (depends on what's in the contract). When it gets tricky is if the #1 guy or gal is pulling this stuff and the team needs them.
This is a perfect example of why there need to be rules, and it's the coach's fault if he allows this kind of behavior to happen. He would get a lot more respect from the whole team if he called a team meeting and announced that everyone who has not be showing up for practice are kicked off the team, effective immediately.