Players Who Routinely Don't Show

[Grinder 2]

I just finished a night of playing iron man inline, as only four players showed to play. At age 41, that's a lot of f*ing skating. We have three players who are routine no-shows. We're five weeks into the season, and they've only shown once, on different nights.

I'm the first to say that everyone has to meet life's challenges, and that sometimes means missing hockey, which is the (excusable) case for a few other fellas on the team tonight, but these three are just taking up roster spots. No phone calls, no reason, just no players. These three had a history of brutal attendance (looking at the stats, they average below 25% attendance) last year, but at least they were on different teams so it didn't really screw things up. We have 10 player rosters, goalie included, so it puts a big dent in our bench.

Our league is based on players registering with the league and being drafted, so it's not just a simple matter of a team's internal administration, or 'the team' just kicking them out. I'm curious if anyone's teams or leagues have policies in place to deal with this. I'd like to hear what's out there, so our team can approach the league management with a suggestion/solution that goes beyond just complaining.

Thanks in advance.

[durke 0]

It's kind of like my gym membership, I pay every month and hardly use it. The owners must love me. Seriously though, I don't think the league will do anything to the players and shouldn't. They're getting the money they need to keep the league going and stay in business. I would just give the management a heads up to make sure they don't end up on the same team again. Just try to look at the bright side for one season, that you'll be getting all the practice you need and a good workout. Most of us would be equally pissed off. Just bad luck.

[BucksAway 16]

Get a roster going or something...they can fill in when they will be available and when they dont show make a fine system for your team.

We do it and just use the money at the end of the year to have a party or something... it will get them showing up or they pay penalties for letting the team down.... im not sure this would work in this occasion but it is worth a shot

[fieldofdreams 0]

Get a roster going or something...they can fill in when they will be available and when they dont show make a fine system for your team.

We do it and just use the money at the end of the year to have a party or something... it will get them showing up or they pay penalties for letting the team down.... im not sure this would work in this occasion but it is worth a shot

Sounds good in theory, but if they aren't showing up to play, it's doubtful they are going to show up to pay fines. It's not like you could bench them until they pay either, no one except the league admin has the power to do that.

[Chadd 916]

The league created the team, they are responsible for addressing the problem. You can ask them to split the guys up and move them around or allow you to draft friends from other teams or any other solution you come up with. The key is to present the rink with solutions and let them pick one, don't just complain.

[junior 1]

My team is having the same problem with this one guys who still hasn't paid for the season. If he decides he's not going to play, I don't know how we're going to find a replacement so far into the season who will pay full cost.

[Kevin 5]

It's not fair to ask someone to pay the full cost who joins late. If no extra charge was included in the initial per player cost to insure against a drop out, then it's fairer to spread the extra cost over each player. Alternatively, the GM can pay the difference out of his pocket and make it up next season.

My team is having the same problem with this one guys who still hasn't paid for the season. If he decides he's not going to play, I don't know how we're going to find a replacement so far into the season who will pay full cost.

[chk hrd 164]

we always make players pay half up front, then if they don't want to play or show up it doesn't put a burden on the team and makes it easier on a replacement.

We also roster more guys than we really need and let everyone know how many at the beginning so there is no whining. For ice a good number is 12-13 including the goalie. If one or two guys don't show up you still have two line. If everyone shows than you try to play a little shorter shifts.

[jcp2 2]

Our manager doesn't finalize the roster or payment details until the third week into the season. Then the full timers split up the league fees, with the half timers (weekend or weekday only) being pro rated. We also have a short list of rostered subs who are called when we are really short. They pay a sub fee which goes towards funding the beer. We have to let our manager know two days ahead of time whether we are in or not for a game so that he can call for subs. The only time we've been short is for the midnight weekday games, but that's not such a big deal as everybody is paid. Losing one of those is something we're willing to accept.

[SouthpawTRK 1]

It definitely seems like the league should be solely responsible for the players on your team that are consistently truant. You and your teammates that actually show up for games, should not have to be penalized by having to play a short bench or no bench at all. Hopefully, the league will help amend things for your team and get the truant players out of the league (possibly with a suspension for a season?).

[junior 1]

It's not fair to ask someone to pay the full cost who joins late. If no extra charge was included in the initial per player cost to insure against a drop out, then it's fairer to spread the extra cost over each player. Alternatively, the GM can pay the difference out of his pocket and make it up next season.

My team is having the same problem with this one guys who still hasn't paid for the season. If he decides he's not going to play, I don't know how we're going to find a replacement so far into the season who will pay full cost.

I agree. Its just frustrating that this player may be inconsiderate enough to stick us with the bill when he has no intention on playing because he doesn't want to pay.

[nichols735 0]

I'm not sure how much your league runs, but in our league each player pays up front for the entire season. Even with this, there are people who don't show, don't call and let people know, and just dont care. 90% of people show for games, but sometime you get a couple of the people from that 10% who dont on the same team. I guess my point is sometimes there is nothing you can do except "pay it forward" and let the appropriate people know who doesn't show, so the next team doesn't get f'ed the same way. Also, why can't you add someone mid-season and just prorate the fees? So if they are playing half the number of games, charge them half of everyone else.

Ben

[start_today 770]

Chadd is right on in that you need to find ways to help the league. The problem with draft leagues like this is that players aren't very accountable to the team, because you won't be playing with the same guys next season. Maybe suggest a policy where players call in if they can't make it, so the rink can try to field subs (which then puts a lot of work on the rink they probably don't want).

Another option is try to get contact info for people on the team at the first game. Then email/call them a day or two before each game to see who's in or out. You'll have to do some extra leg-work as "captain" but it's probably better than having to play a whole game with no subs. If you're missing a significant number of people, try to get a walk-on player of your own. If the league says you can't field your own extra players, then you can point out they have to do something about the players who routinely aren't there.