Our head coach decided we needed a new competition leotard three years ago and ran a competition for the girls to suggest ideas. Whenever the parents talked to her about it, all they said is "don't care, just not white". The club mucked around working out designs they liked until the sample arrived just weeks before the first competition for the senior girls, meaning orders had to be made regardless.
The competition leotard chosen is 90% white. The older girls hate it, in fact most of the girls hate it, but at least the younger ones look cute in it. The parents all complained, particularly when it cost nearly $300. What really annoyed me is that the white leo isn't lined so the girls have to wear a nude body suit underneath it. That means that the senior girls are wearing two leotards when they start competing in summer, with some competition venues being very hot (over 30 degrees). The fabric choices were really poor and now 2 years on the leo looks horrible, particularly under their arms and around the butt.
So, this year the parents insisted on a new senior leo for 2016, and so have all the girls. It has been a real arm wrestle to get a decision made, and a few parents have stepped in to make sure that the decision is made in good time, that the girls like it and the parents are willing to accept the price.
The same thing happened with new tracksuits at the beginning of this year, but we are all resigned to them fitting really well in about 5 years time when we change design again.
My advice, for what it is worth, is you need to take everyone on the journey. Either tell them they have a say or they don't, but be upfront about what the principles for choosing something is - is there a price limit, design or supplier restrictions, club expectations etc. Then stick to it.
Nothing bugs me more than the flip-flopping decision making process!
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