A crazy sports season

Today is the official end to the fall sports season at the Y. Both my kids played this year in a season filled with more surprises than any other. I and many other parents were incredibly disappointed in the non-profit's organization. Non-profit doesn't mean it's OK to be disorganized, screw up schedules, run out of the correct-size uniforms, decide not to return phone calls because too many parents called, etc. You still pay for the privilege of playing (and a Y shirt that fits).

The low lights:

On the week of the first game, we still didn't know who our coach was. A friend stopped by the Y to find out why we hadn't been called and found out our rumored coach was actually coaching another team. Luckily (and this is a highlight) a friend, who I convinced to try the Y, volunteered to coach. This we found out the Tuesday before the game. (Side note: a friend of mine who's kids play for another Y said he's had seasons canceled days before the first game because the Y didn't have a coach. Instead of calling parent to help, he said they just called to cancel. Boo, I say!)

When I and other parents called to complain, we didn't get return phone calls. I stopped by in person (as a parent, not a journalist), and was given an excuse: "I'm new" and "I had 35 voice mails" were among them. I felt like saying big deal, that's your problem not mine. But I played nice in hopes to have some changes. I should have asked for my money back - oh, but I did in one of those voice mails she didn't check or return or whatever.

When I complained (others did, too) about not taking into consideration the school's fall break, I was told by the same woman making excuses for not calling back, that not all schools have fall break. I don't know about ALL schools, but the schools in the East Valley affected by her schedule - all of them had fall breaks....just some were longer than others. I told her that, and then asked why my son's team had a break during fall break; she responded, "I'm new."

The schedule had 5, 6 and 7 year olds playing games at 11 a.m. and noon. Kids that young need early game times to avoid getting sun sick and heat stroke. It still swelters in September and October. On the plus side, a few games were moved up an hour - my guess is only after many complaints.

Lack of communication between the Y and the teams seemed to be business as usual. For example, a game time was moved up without notice (unless you count the web site). I arrived at the park 45 minutes early thinking I was 15 minutes late (I looked at the wrong Saturday on the schedule). The other team waited because parents thought maybe we weren't told. They weren't - it just happened one of the moms accidently found out the game time changed. She looked on the Y's web site to double check the team's color that week. This happened again (one of the times was a venue change), but parents started checking the site because we knew not to expect a call from the Y.

The only saving grace were the kids. They enjoyed the time out even if it was too hot for them or the fields were poorly graded or parents had to stay on notice for schedule changes.

We've considered trying another league - it seems many families have already done so as our Y now plays games against teams from other Ys in the East Valley. I remember when there were enough kids that all the teams were from the same Y. I don't have hard numbers, but my guess is previous disorganization - but not to the extreeme of this season - has driven some parents away.

We believe in supporting our community, so we're going to give the Y one last shot. The sports person isn't new any more so hopefully the fiascos of the fall season are behind her (I'm saying a little prayer). Besides, this time my husband will coach my daughter's team, so we know we have a coach. Let's hope we get a schedule at least a week before the first game so that the season at least gets off to a positive start.

Arizona Moms Editor Yvette Armendariz shares stories about raising her kids and tips for busy parents in her Time-starved (goddess) Mom blog. She and her husband are raising two children, ages 8 and 11.