You羆*e right. I need to talk to the coach.
Having had kids whose coaches didn't respect the schedule, I'd show up at practice at the scheduled ending time and wait. After the third time, I let it go 15 minutes past, then called my kids over to the car and off we go. Sorry coach, we also have a schedule to keep.
That works well for late practices. However, if the coach calls practice off early, it's the coach's responsibility to stay there until the last kid is picked up. We had one coach that left my kid at a diamond alone for about 45 minutes. I had some words with that coach, and his supervisors. That's the last time that happened. I made some suggestions about keeping to a set schedule, the fairness to the parents and kids, the coach committed to the job so stick to the commitment, the importance of coaching kids in life-lessons, not just the sport, etc... these things can usually be worked out, but as a parent, you have to nip it in the bud as soon as you see a pattern forming. In a nutshell, coach, your schedule is no more or no less important than our schedule. It needs to be kept.
If coach needs to alter practice times, he/she has to give parents notice, and it should be days in advance, not during school that afternoon, or during the practice. It's a matter of respect that goes both ways. Coaches doesn't leave kids hanging and parents don't leave coaches hanging.
I also had the opportunity to coach girls grade school softball several years. So I know what it's like from both sides of the issue.
The whole key is mutual respect between coaches and parents. We all have busy lives. Cooperate.
As for your cell phone issues, I got little to help you with, as times have changed quickly. We got our oldest kid a pay-per-minute phone back then. 150 minutes or 300 texts per month (they can do that in a day now). No data. Wasn't needed back then. Next kid comes along 5 years later, and we now need data. So we got that one a WIFI only data phone, with unlimited text and voice. No data over cell service, as that was too expensive.
Today, price is not the issue. I have 5 lines with unlimited data, text, voice for $139 a month. That's 93 cents per day, per line. Dirt cheap for having instant access to parents, siblings, emergency services, the library, maps, all the information ever known to man right in your pocket.
The issue is how to teach the young kids responsibility with instant access to every questionable neighborhood in town, and how to deal with the peer pressure that will happen. That takes some meaningful talks between parents and the kids.
Basically, (and this is what we did, take it or leave it) we told our kids that they can do anything they want to do, as long as they don't give us any reason to take the privileges away. They can write their own ticket. That included doing their best in school, responsible use of the cell phone, responsible use of their finances, honesty, integrity, etc... Our kids had no curfew. They could borrow the car anytime they wanted. They could go out with friends. They could bring friends over. Call us if someone starts drinking/doing drugs. We'll come get you. Just be honest with themselves and think about how their actions will affect their lives and the lives of others.
It worked out well for both of our kids. They were a lot less trouble to us than I was to my parents, that's for sure!
