My sons are just two weeks into their flag football season and already have each missed one of the two scheduled practices. Three of their friends have also missed one and a fourth has missed both of his once-a-week practices. 

So what are the most common acceptable excuses for missing practice? Here’s a hint: “I don’t feel like going” isn’t on the list.

1. Sick or injured

This is the easiest one. If a player is sick or injured they should not participate in practice. One might argue that if it’s an injury, the player should still attend and participate in any non-physical segments of practice. But that often depends on the level of the team and the age of the child. A general rule of thumb to use is if the child is sick enough to miss school, they’re unhealthy enough to skip practice.  

2. Weather issues

While the coach has the final decision whether or not to cancel practice because of poor weather conditions, if a parent isn’t comfortable driving in certain elements, then it’s an acceptable excuse to not bring the player. As the saying goes – better safe than sorry.

3. Going to a friend’s birthday party

I allow each son one opportunity to pick a friend’s birthday party over practice or even a game. If I didn’t, my middle son would have missed his first overnight camping trip and my youngest would miss his best friend’s party at a trampoline park. Kids get invited to a lot of birthday parties and so I do think a limit has to be placed on how many they can choose over the team. But let’s not forget, they are kids first, and then, kids who play football, second.

4. Family outing

Whether it’s grandma’s 80th birthday party or a planned college football game – our excuse last week – it’s OK to miss a practice or game for family functions. But like the friends’ birthday parties, it shouldn’t happen more than once, maybe twice, a season. Youth sports is a commitment, usually by the entire family.

5. Schoolwork 

A good youth sports coach makes it clear to players early on that schoolwork – completing homework or studying for tests – is always a priority over attending practices or games. That being said, as parents, we can’t complain if the same coach then doesn’t start our child because they skip practice for school-related reasons because, let’s face it when they do miss it’s usually because of procrastination, not an overload of work.

Even professional athletes miss practices or games once in a while, and so it’s to be expected that our kids will too. However, those times should be few and far between, and when it does happen, should be for a good reason.

Jon Buzby has been involved in and writing about youth sports for the past 30 years, originally as a coach and board member with his now-adult son and most recently "just as a dad" with his 8- and 10-year-old sons. Jon is an award-winning writer and his latest book, “Coaching Kids Made Easier,” is available on Amazon. Send comments or future blog topics you'd like to see to JonBuzby@hotmail.com and follow him @YouthSportsBuzz on Twitter.