Multi-Team sport practices, just a P.I.T.A. to coordinate

[Melensdad]

FAAAAAAK

It is too late at night.

Fencing club contacted me to do some sort of joint practice.

Of course we have 2 time zones to coordinate. Purdue is on Eastern Time down in W. Lafayette but the club who contacted me is in Chicago on Central Time. Of course, dates are in conflict too. So we have to hash out a date. Purdue has a great space, and good time locked in for our practices, so we can host it on the main W.Lafayette campus.

But can we get anyone to agree on a date?

Pretty much herding cats at this point. I was hoping to be sound asleep 2 hour ago.

Literally have 4 and 1/2 clubs that want to participate.

I didn't ask for this. Somehow I got thrust into the middle of it. How much does a volunteer fencing coach get paid? My contract says I can't have sex with the students but I do get parking privileges on campus. There are are not many additional benefits to my official contact with Purdue. Not that I'm complaining. But a bare bones contact seems like I might be getting taken advantage of in this sort of situation. I'm happy with what I get for coaching. This is above and beyond my scope of duties. But seems worth it for the kids. While an inconvenience for me.

At what point is the coach over-stretched? Or is that even a possible thing. Coaches tend to do what is 'above an beyond' the norm. Honestly if I can inspire someone, then that is my goal. But we are closing in on midnight. So FAAAAK. Maybe I need to scale things back. But what are the odds of that? ZERO? Or is 0.001% closer to accurate?

 

[Doc]

Sounds like a nightmare. Offer up 3 dates and have them pick. Majority rules, unless they are woke, then the one with the least votes wins. Good luck.

 

[chowderman]

what Doc said - but more better . . .

my solution to parties-who-always-had-"reasons":

Dear XyZ,
The meet has been scheduled for MMM-dd at HH:mm.
Given the conflicting issues we all experience, please indicate whether your team will attend.

which was frequently followed by:
Dear XyZ,
The meet scheduled for MMM-dd at HH:mm has been canceled as insufficient participation was indicated.


that's it - there is absolutely no way to make everyone happy.
if they are happier doing something else, cancel.
p.s. two rounds of "canceled critical events" generally affects their priorities.

 

[Melensdad]

Most of the problem is with MY team.

I literally have not heard back from the officers on MY team.

While I am the contracted coach for the Purdue University Fencing Club, the contract actually states that that the administration of the club is BY THE STUDENTS. So I have coaching say so. I get to coach as I wish. But I can't act as the admistrator for the team, I can't set the schedule, etc. The other clubs, all private clubs, are willing to drive 100 miles to have this practice, they are willing to set up carpools, and, if any dates work, they will attend. Honestly not too much hassle from the private clubs. More of a situation that they may have 5 or 15 or 25 fencers show up, depending on the date. But they are pretty much game. It is the STUDENTS at Purdue that seem to be far more casual, far less committal, and therefore far more frustrating to the ADULTS who have jobs, families, obligations in life.