How to know who's coming to training without chasing replies

"Who's coming Thursday?" in a group chat gets a few replies, a few thumbs-up, and silence from the rest. Then you find out at the pitch. A few habits get you a real headcount.

Ask one clear question

Ask about one session or game at a time, with a yes or no answer. "Training Thursday 7pm, can you make it?" beats "who's around this week?". Put the time and place in the question so nobody has to scroll back.

Set a reply-by time

Give a deadline: the evening before training, or two days before a game. It tells families when the answer matters, and it gives you time to pick a team or move a session.

Remind once, then stop

One reminder to the people who haven't answered is enough. More than that and people stop reading your messages. Keep reminders for those who haven't replied, not the whole squad.

Make it easy to answer

The fewer steps, the more replies. A link that opens straight to Yes and No works better than asking people to sign in to something first. For under-12s, the parent is the one replying.

Treat injuries separately

An injured player isn't unavailable for the same reason as someone on holiday. Keep the detail private to the coaches and physio, and mark them as out so they aren't chased.

Look at the pattern

Over a few weeks, replies show you more than any single session: who's drifting away, which nights don't work, and which families need a word.

In My Coaching App

Each training and game asks every player for a reply, with a reply-by time. Anyone who hasn't answered gets one reminder, and can reply from the link in it without signing in. Replies show as they arrive under Who's available. See asking who's available.