I think it is a great idea, in theory, as long as it is actually stuck to.
We as parents pay too much and our children (and us) invest too much time and hard work for kids to miss practices, show up late, not bring shoes etc.
Yes, the fines would suck, BUT I would guess it would surely make people try harder to get to practice on time. I see people stroll into CPs practices all the time, 20 minutes late, McDonalds cup in hand, not dressed, walking in like they are 10 minutes early.
I bet if that Mom knew she was going to be charged she would NOT have stopped at McDonalds, CP would have dressed in car AND RAN into practice.
It is all about commitment, in our house it is a FAMILY commitment, CP is commitment as are my husband and I. If one of us is stuck in traffic or something similiar, the other takes CP. We are an hour away from our gym, so it is hard to ask a neighbor/family member/teammate to be our "back up" plan, but, if someone is in a situation where it is known that CP is going to consistently be late, then maybe a fine would encourage a back up plan.
When one girl is late, the whole team suffers, at the very least there are 3 other girls that can not build....