I can only speak for our gym, but you are allowed 3 absences for the first quarter, 2 for the second and 1 during comp season (Jan thru April). If you are on a level 5 team or coed, you are allowed 1 absence only. BUT in the beginning of the season, when you sign up, you are allowed to list the days you will be missing for reasons such as graduation, family reunion, etc. These are not counted against your absence allowance so long as they aren't "I will be at the mall with Sally". And if something is really really going to put a kink in things, the coaches and parents discuss it. You sign a three page contract that states everything the gym expects. And you initital every line or expectation. The parents discuss them all at the meetings in the beginning and understand WHY they are the way they are. Parents are encouraged to come to the gym and SEE why they shouldn't miss if they are new to the gym. We haven't had a single problem so far.

So for the summer, we DON'T have kids missing practices. At all. Even when you are sick, you come to the gym. You come in your PJs, blankets, whatever you wish. But you come. And you know what's funny? They do come!!! (we just had another round of colds, and everyone showed!) I know we personally had graduations and a vacation in May, and they knew we were going and it wasn't a problem. So if an emergency arises, my daughter has that absence still allowed to her. We won't use it, but it's there.

That's how we do it and it works WONDERFULLY. Hope that helps a bit.