Mandatory Training Periods

Designate periods where session attendance is compulsory. Athletes marked absent during these periods, without an approved absence, can be fined.

Switch fines on first

Mandatory periods only work once the fines system is enabled. Go to Settings → Fines, switch on Enable Fines System and click Save Fines Settings. Until you do, the Mandatory Periods tab shows "Fines System Not Enabled".

Creating a mandatory period

1. Go to Sessions and open the Mandatory Periods tab
2. Click Create Period
3. Enter a Name (e.g. "Pre-nationals mandatory training") and, if you like, a Reason
4. Set the Start Date and End Date (e.g. 1 June to 30 June)
5. Set the Fine Amount (£) per missed session (e.g. £10)
6. Select the Teams this applies to
7. Tick Send notification email to affected parents if you want them told now, then save

Notifying parents

If you didn't send the notification when you created the period, click Send Notification on it later (it becomes Resend once sent). The email explains the dates and the fine amount. Transparency is key — parents should know about mandatory periods well in advance.

How fines are generated

1. A session for one of the selected teams takes place during the mandatory period
2. An athlete is marked Absent in the attendance for that session
3. If the athlete has no approved absence for that session, a fine is created
4. The fine waits as Pending until you invoice it

Athletes who are not marked at all are not fined. Fines are raised when attendance is saved, and a daily check also picks up any that were missed.

Invoicing fines

Fines are not charged automatically. Go to Payments and open the Fines tab. Click Invoice on a fine, or Invoice All Pending to raise them all. This creates a payment for the family, due after the number of days set in Settings → Fines. Only then does the fine reach the parent.

Absence requests during mandatory periods

Parents can still request absences during mandatory periods. They see the fine amount on the Absences page. If you approve the absence, no fine is generated.

Waiving fines

Click Waive on a fine in the Fines tab. You'll need to give a reason (illness, family emergency, etc.) for the record.