The Respectful Rhythm: Starting & Ending Football Training on Time

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When we talk about starting training on time, it’s not just about adherence to a schedule; it’s a commitment to the values we want to instil in our young players. And this commitment begins with something as simple yet profound as the warm-up.

If it’s possible, set up your warm-up routine so that it’s visible to parents as they drop their children off for training. The exact minute training is scheduled to start, the warm-up starts. Not a minute later. It’s a silent yet vivid message to every latecomer: “You’re missing out.” It’s not intended to guilt but to signal the importance of being part of the collective effort from the very start. And this isn’t a lesson just for the kids. Parents see it, feel it, and understand it. It’s a visual reminder of the value of punctuality, making it real and immediate.

If parents can visually see that dropping their child off 2 minutes after the start time is causing them to miss out, you have more chance of players turning up on time next week. On the flip side, if a parent shows up 2 minutes late, and training still hasn’t started, people are standing around socialising, kids are running amok, then why bother getting there any earlier?

“To be early is to be on time. To be on time is to be late. To be late is to be forgotten”

~Elin Hilderbrand

But this narrative of respect doesn’t just start with the beginning; it carries through to the end. Ending on time is our way of showing respect for the parents’ time, mirroring the respect we ask for ours. It’s a mutual dance of acknowledgement that says, “We value your time as much as we want you to value ours.” It closes a circle of trust and respect, reassuring parents that their schedules, their commitments, and their time are just as important as ours.

This practice of punctuality isn’t merely about time management; it’s about the deeper lessons we’re teaching these young players (and parents). It’s about showing what it means to respect one another in the most basic yet profound ways. You as a coach, probably arrived to the training ground 30-60-90 minutes before the start time, as a volunteer, to plan and set up a great session for other peoples kids. Isn’t it nice when in turn, everyone shows up on time?

Every session that starts and ends on time becomes a microcosm of the larger life lessons we hope to impart: responsibility, commitment, and the importance of showing up.

In this simple act of starting and finishing on time, we’re doing so much more than just sticking to a schedule. We’re modelling the behaviour we want to see in the world. It’s a lesson that extends far beyond the football field, into the very essence of how we live our lives and honour our commitments to each other. In the grand scheme of things, it’s a small act. But sometimes, it’s the small acts that carry the most significant lessons.

Pocket Coaching Cards

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