Commitment, What Do Coaches Want From an Athlete and Their Family?

 Over the years of coaching thousands of athletes there is one issue that constantly drives me insane.  Attendance.  Coaches can't teach absent players.  Don't get me wrong, I am not immune to life and realize that a student athlete can have a tonne of stuff on their plate but for some people it's too much.  I really feel for the community coaches who see their athletes for one practice a week.  Two weeks off and now perform right?
  Parents play a huge part in how much activities the athlete is enrolled in and if their is a primary activity they are usually good to let the coach know well in advance of other commitments.  It is usually the parent holding the power(and the keys to the car) that decide to skip practice because they are tired or don't feel like driving or there is a family function.  Imagine if your coach took this approach?
 Teams need to be together to get better together and it crazy to expect improvement when attendance is an issue.  Get to your practices people!  Your team needs you!