Frequently asked questions: training and attendance
Running training schedules from a notebook or spreadsheet eats hours every week: shifting timetables, paper attendance lists, and families who never hear about a cancellation. Here we answer the questions academy owners ask most about training and attendance in Cantera Soccer: how sessions are generated, how roll call works, and which notices families receive.
How are training sessions scheduled? From the Amateur plan
You define a cadence per team: the days and times it trains. When you save it, Cantera Soccer instantly creates the sessions for the next 7 days, and every Sunday night it automatically generates the following week. No one has to enter sessions one by one. If you change the cadence, future sessions are regenerated with the new schedule; past sessions and their attendance records remain untouched.
How does roll call work? From the Amateur plan
The coach opens the day's session from their phone and marks each player with one of four statuses: Present, Absent, Justified, or Late, with an optional note per player. When finished, they close the session on save; the system won't let a session be completed with a half-finished list, so no record stays incomplete. Attendance is stored in each player's history.
What happens when a training session is cancelled? From the Amateur plan
There is an approval flow so sessions aren't dropped casually: the coach submits a cancellation request with a justification of at least 10 characters, and the coordinator or administrator approves or rejects it with an optional note. Administrators and coordinators can cancel scheduled sessions directly. On the Pro plan, the team's families also receive an automatic WhatsApp message with the date, the team, and the reason for the cancellation.
Does the system alert me when a player keeps missing training? Pro plan
Yes. When a player reaches 3 consecutive unjustified absences, Cantera Soccer sends an automatic WhatsApp alert to the team's coach, the coordinator, and the administrator, based on the per-role notices you enable. One attendance or one justified absence resets the counter, so you spot families at risk of leaving before it's too late, without reviewing lists one by one. Available on the Pro plan, which includes 300 WhatsApp messages per billing cycle.
Which plan includes the training module? From the Amateur plan
It's available from the Amateur plan ($49.99 USD per month, up to 80 players) and on the Pro plan ($59.99 USD per month, unlimited players and 300 WhatsApp messages per cycle). The Basic plan ($39.99 USD per month, up to 40 players) does not include training. You can try the full module with the 15-day free trial, no credit card required.
Can I track late arrivals and justified absences? From the Amateur plan
Yes. Roll call goes beyond present or absent: it distinguishes Late and Justified, with per-player notes to leave context (an injury, a school commitment). Reports reflect what actually happened, and you avoid flagging a player who gave notice as a no-show. Parents also see each child's upcoming sessions and a weekly and monthly attendance summary in their own portal.