Logging late arrivals (and making them discussable)
Walking in at quarter past eight for an eight o'clock practice: is that present or absent? Neither, really — and that is exactly why 'late' deserves its own box.
Why late deserves its own status
Logging habitual lateness as 'present' rewards it; logging it as 'absent' exaggerates it. Both pollute your data. A dedicated status does two things: the player sees that it is being recorded (that alone helps), and you build an honest picture — three late arrivals in a month is a pattern, not bad luck.
Logging without hassle
In Koach every player has three buttons on the practice log: present, late, absent. If someone walks in while the warm-up is running, you change their status in one tap — no need to interrupt the practice for it. The season overview counts the statuses separately, so besides the attendance percentage you also see who was there, but rarely on time.
The conversation: curious first, strict after
Habitual lateness is rarely unwillingness: shifts that run over, lectures, kids. So start curious ("I see three late arrivals this month — what is going on?") and look for a solution before you look for a measure. If that fails, your log at least gives you a fair basis: the agreement applies to everyone and the numbers depend on nobody's mood. Record the team rule on this in your season agreements.
Define 'late' in advance: is it after the start time, or after the start of the warm-up? One clear line, communicated at the start of the season, prevents every discussion afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
Should I punish late arrivals?
Only when the conversation solves nothing. Many teams use a light, pre-agreed consequence (collecting balls, starting later in the scrimmage). The logging itself is often corrective enough.
Does late count towards the attendance percentage?
Count it as present for turnout, but keep the tally separately visible. That keeps the percentage honest while you never lose sight of the pattern.
What if players are structurally later because of work or study?
Make it an explicit agreement: 'Joost joins at 8:30pm' then simply counts as present. The late status is for the unannounced — the difference lies in the agreement.
Try it yourself in Koach
Less admin, more coaching — starting at your next practice.
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