Acceptable Absences vs. Unacceptable Absences
As much as we would like to draw a clear line between what constitutes an acceptable absence and what is unacceptable, our experience is that it is not possible. That being said, we expect Gamers Baseball to be of extremely high priority to all of our players - and missing games for events of lower priority is not acceptable.
For example, college showcases/camps (once players get older), middle or high school sports practices, [some] important family events or vacations, exams, and family illness or emergency are clearly acceptable reasons to miss games (if reported ahead of time, of course.) Parties, dances, friends' graduations, little brother's soccer game, girlfriend's birthday party, or you have tickets to a Nats game, etc. are not even close. Also, please note that temporarily injured players are expected to attend practices and games with their teammates.
One final note on this: of course academics and exams are of higher priority than our games or practices - but if you have been lazy about your preparation, are therefore cramming as a test or exam gets close, and have to blow off a game or practice as a result, we don't think you're holding up your obligation to our teams.
For example: you have an exam on a Wednesday morning, procrastinated all weekend, went to a movie on Monday night, then decide to bail on the Gamers on Tuesday night to study....this is obviously not acceptable – and these bad habits will eventually catch up to you if they have not already.
Of course, if you have any question as to whether a particular reason is acceptable or unacceptable, feel free to ask.
How to Report Absences
First, please download our Travel Team Absence Policy
At the beginning of the season, each player will be expected (himself) to sign and date this policy (below). Page 2 of this document is a form that each player will fill out (himself) and note every practice or game for the entire season that he knows (at the time of filling out the form) he will miss. Each entry will require the date of the event, the details of the event, and the reason for the absence. This form SHOULD BE EMAILED TO gamers@playheadfirst.com BY A DEADLINE WHICH WILL BE ANNOUNCED and will then reviewed by the program Directors to make sure all absences are acceptable. These forms will then be compiled and given to each team’s coaching staff so they can keep track of their roster during the season.
We understand that there will be conflicts that arise during the season, due to a change in the player’s schedule or, quite possibly, the team’s schedule. When this happens, the player will be expected (with as much lead time as possible) to email his team coach, with a copy to gamers@playheadfirst.com. Coach emails will be provided before the season.
This email should start with an introduction by the player (name and age group/team), and include the date of the event to be missed, the details of the event (game/practice, etc.) and the reason for the proposed absence. The player will receive a response to this email to know that we have gotten the message.
PLEASE NOTE: THERE IS NO OTHER WAY THAT ABSENCES WILL BE OFFICIALLY REPORTED. WHILE IT IS GREAT IF EACH PLAYER REMINDS HIS COACH IN PERSON THAT HE WILL BE MISSING AN UPCOMING EVENT, THIS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED A PROPERLY REPORTED ABSENCE. SIMILARLY, REMINDERS BY PARENTS, WHILE NICE, WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED A PROPERLY REPORTED ABSENCE. EMAILS OR VOICEMAILS FROM PARENTS REPORTING ABSENCES WILL BE DELETED IMMEDIATELY AND DISREGARDED.
UNREPORTED ABSENCES = TWO GAME SUSPENSION
From this point forward, any absences from games that are unreported/unexpected (BY THE PLAYER HIMSELF, AT LEAST ONE DAY IN ADVANCE OR MORE IF THE ABSENCE IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR A LONGER TIME) will result in the player being asked to sit out two consecutive games. Unreported absences will also include same-day excuses (i.e.: “Dear Coach, I forgot I have XYZ to do tonight, I can’t make it to the game later on”) that do not involve sickness, injury, or other special circumstances as cleared only by our Gamers GM’s.
If players or parents have any questions with these absence policies, please let us know. In sum, we are asking our Gamers to take responsibility for this themselves – and dedicate themselves to our program over the next two months. Thanks in advance for your efforts in this regard.