MONDAY'S PRACTICE - LET'S BE ON TIME!

I think the game with the Outlaws confirms that we have to put forth our best effort against the top teams in the league if we expect to win. The Outlaws practiced twice last week in anticipation of playing us. I offered to treat the team to pizza if we had twelve people show up on time for our practice. Only five were there at 5:30. At the game Thursday, the Outlaws had over a dozen players loosening up and preparing for the game at 4:45. We had six. It's obvious which team wanted that game the most and it wasn't us.

We practiced twice per week through most of May and on Mondays since the season started. To date we've had eight practices and not once have we been close to a full house. Gary and I have a schedule of drills to run at each practice and we've been forced to abandon it EVERY time because our team isn't there.

We play the Master Blasters Thursday at 5:15. We're practicing Monday at Washington Park. Practice begins at 5:30. It is expected that everyone is going to be at Washington Park, ready to play at 5:30. It is expected that everyone who works at the Frank Hagel Federal Building is going to be at Nicholl Park for Thursday's game by 4:45 to loosen up and be ready to play at 5:15. It's understood that those who work off site may arrive a little later. The FHFB is one mile and four minutes away from Nicholl Park. If one gets to work by 7:30, one will be off duty at 4:00. It shouldn't take anyone more than 45 minutes to get into one's uniform and get to the park by 4:45.

We take roll call each Thursday afternoon so Gary can have the lineup card filled out before he leaves the office. He has other things to do than re-write our lineup several times between 4:45 and 5:10. Please show him some consideration and be on time. If you know you're going to be late, let him know.

I understand that we will sometimes experience circumstances preventing us from arriving on time but this obviously hasn't been our problem. Every week we have the same six players showing up on time. I doubt very much that everyone else's time is more valuable than theirs. It's time to start showing our teammates the consideration and commitment they deserve.

I have tried to be diplomatic about this but now I'm going to be blunt. When you show up late to practice or skip practice entirely, you aren't just hurting yourself -- you're also holding back your teammates. Female players, when you are late or skip a game, you also force one of our male players to the bench. Please keep this in mind when you're "not feeling it."