Why replies stall
Most managers send the availability poll and then spend Friday night chasing the same five people. The poll isn’t the problem — it’s when it goes out and how easy it is to answer.
This season a few of the managers we work with changed small things about their poll. Here’s what made the biggest difference to how many players answered by Thursday.
Timing and wording
Send the poll on the same day each week, early enough that players can check their plans. Ask one clear question with an in or out answer, and put the kick-off time and venue in the message itself.
“When the poll goes out at the same time every week, players start expecting it — and answering it.”
Anyone who hasn’t answered by Wednesday evening gets one automatic reminder, so you don’t have to chase anyone yourself.
What changed
- More of the squad answers by Thursday, not Saturday night.
- You know early whether you need to borrow a player.
- The group chat is back to being about football.
Takeaways
TRY IT WITH YOUR TEAM
Pick a fixed day for the poll, keep the question to in or out and let the reminder catch the stragglers.
