Why can’t you reply to my texts??? A coaches frustration.

Ok, I’m not having a go, well I suppose I am kind of. Why is it when I send out a text, even a quite simple text I never seem to get replies and always end up chasing responses??

Last week things came to a head, I was contacted by another coach last monday from another club who requested a friendly played on thursday of last week which is a night we would not normally train. I sent the following text to all parents.

“Hi, as discussed at the weekend we have been offered a friendly on thursday against XXXXXX. They are also moving from 7 – 9 aside so it will be good practice, please let me know asap so I can let them know and so I can juggle some things around at work”

Instantly I received 2 replies, on tuesday morning I received another reply. By tuesday lunch time I had received 3 of 12 replies. I sent another text tuesday afternoon saying “Please can you let me know by 7pm today if you can make it for thursday so I can let the other team know, cheers” I immediately received another 2 responses (5 of 12) and another response later.

By 7 pm I received 6 of 12 replies, knowingI needed at least 12 to play I rang the other coach and cancelled the thursday friendly.

I was slightly embarrassed to inform the other coach that I had only had 6 of 12 replies, he said he had actually received less responses and it was every time he sent a message.

Then came wednesday training, I took the training as normal, after the training as always I sat the team down and was talking to the kids to which one of the parents (who hadn’t gave a reply) said

“So who we playing tomorrow night in this friendly”

Aaaarrrrrgggghhhhhh!!!!

At least it’s not just my team, haha